[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 23]
[House]
[Pages 31466-31773]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE
The managers on the part of the House and Senate at the
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the
amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 2673) making
[[Page 31467]]
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and for other
purposes, submit the following joint statement to the House
and Senate in explanation of the effect of the action agreed
upon by the managers and recommended in the accompanying
conference report.
This conference agreement includes the Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004; the Departments of
Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004; the District of Columbia
Appropriations Act, 2004; the Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004; the
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004; the
Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2004; the Departments of Veterans Affairs
and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2004; and the Miscellaneous
Appropriations and Offsets Act, 2004.
DIVISION A--AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004
Congressional Directives
The statement of the managers remains silent on provisions
that were in both the House and Senate bills that remain
unchanged by this conference agreement, except as noted in
this statement of the managers.
The conferees agree that executive branch wishes cannot
substitute for Congress's own statements as to the best
evidence of congressional intentions--that is, the official
reports of the Congress. The conferees further point out that
funds in this Act must be used for the purposes for which
appropriated, as required by section 1301 of title 31 of the
United States Code, which provides: ``Appropriations shall be
applied only to the objects for which the appropriations were
made except as otherwise provided by law.''
The House and Senate report language that is not changed by
the conference is approved by the committee of conference.
The statement of the managers, while repeating some report
language for emphasis, does not intend to negate the language
referred to above unless expressly provided herein.
In cases in which the House or the Senate have directed the
submission of a report, such report is to be submitted to
both the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
In instances where the conference report refers to ``the
Committees,'' it is the intent of the managers to mean the
Committees on Appropriations of both House and Senate.
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Production, Processing, and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
The conference agreement provides $5,092,000 for the Office
of the Secretary instead of $3,468,000 as proposed by the
House and $10,046,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees note that the Congress included an
authorization in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act
of 2002 (Section 10802) for a food biotechnology education
program. This program is intended to provide the public with
science-based evidence on the safety of foods produced with
biotechnology for human consumption. The conferees direct the
Secretary to provide the Committees with a defined plan
within 30 days of enactment of this bill, detailing how the
USDA intends to implement this food biotechnology education
program and fulfill this statutory requirement.
The conferees agree that emergency preparedness related to
field crops, farm animals and food processing and
distribution is of critical importance, and that the
agriculture and food sectors are part of the critical
infrastructure requiring heightened attention and protection.
Given the integral roles of state and local governments and
the private sector in detecting, deterring and responding to
acts of agro-terrorism, the conferees expect the Department
of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security to
coordinate efforts in assisting states, particularly by
providing financial and technical support to initiatives
oriented toward interstate cooperation in joint preparedness
initiatives. The conferees are particularly interested in
those states that have developed or are currently developing
coordinated interstate initiatives.
The conferees note that as of September 30, 2003,
$80,000,000 remains available to the Department from funds
provided through the Emergency Response Fund (ERF), of which
nearly $9,000,000 is available to the Secretary. Since these
funds were provided, USDA has been one of the slowest Federal
agencies to obligate its ERF funds. The conferees are aware
of concerns about security, such as those raised by GAO and
the USDA Inspector General in recent reports and in news
reports regarding ``table top'' homeland security exercises.
The conferees urge the Secretary to act promptly to address
identified security needs and to advise the Committees on
Appropriations of needs for which additional funds may be
necessary. The conferees further direct the Secretary to
advise the Committees promptly of the results of any future
homeland security exercises.
The conferees are concerned about the possibility of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy entering the United States through
the importation of live cattle. The beef industry is the
single largest industry in American agriculture, and an
outbreak of BSE would be devastating to the industry, and to
the public's perception of the safety of American food.
Accordingly, the United States has never allowed the
importation of live cattle from a country that has been found
to have BSE. The conferees believe that the Secretary should
not allow the importation of live cattle from any country
known to have BSE unless that country complies with the
animal health guidelines established by the World
Organization for Animal Health. The conferees also expect the
Secretary to continue to abide by international standards for
the continued health and safety of the United States
livestock industry.
The conferees are aware of current efforts to begin a study
of the use of conservation cropping techniques in
southeastern North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota and
western Minnesota. The goal of this study would be to
identify conservation rotations, cover crops, seeding
techniques, and residue management practices that would make
conservation tillage acceptable and profitable in these
climate transition areas. The conferees encourage the
Secretary to support efforts to begin this study, as
appropriate.
The conferees are aware that USDA was authorized to develop
a Delmarva Conservation Corridor Demonstration Program in the
2002 farm bill, but has not yet done so. This program allows
USDA to target the benefits of watershed-based conservation
programs to farmlands that local stakeholders have determined
to be the most ecologically and economically important, with
the goal of maximizing the ecological and working lands
potential of the landscape. The conferees encourage the
Secretary to support this program, and remind USDA that the
intent of the 2002 farm bill provision was to allow the
Secretary and the states flexibility in using the resources
of existing agricultural conservation and forestry programs.
The conferees encourage NRCS, through the Conservation
Technical Assistance Program, to work with the Thunder Basin
Prairie Ecosystem Association and the U.S. Department of the
Interior to continue work to develop a comprehensive and
multispecies land management proposal for more than 260,000
acres of Federal and private lands within the Thunder Basin
National Grasslands.
The conferees strongly encourage the Secretary to work to
ensure that no chicken purchased for the School Lunch Program
contains fluoroquinolones, including the initiation of a
policy to not purchase chickens for these programs from
companies that do not have a stated policy that they do not
use fluoroquinolones in their chickens.
The conferees are aware that the Farm Service Agency has
been given new responsibilities in carrying out portions of
the Trade Adjustment Assistance program as authorized in the
Trade Act of 2002. The conferees direct the Secretary, within
60 days of enactment of this Act, to provide the Committees
on Appropriations an assessment of the staffing needs for
each state office to carry out these new responsibilities.
The conferees are aware that the mission of USDA is to
support agriculture and rural development in the U.S. and
around the world, and this mission is supported by American
tax dollars. Therefore, the conferees strongly encourage the
Secretary to make every effort to ensure that purchases made
by USDA are manufactured or produced in the United States.
The conferees have provided a total of $3,300,000 for
cross-cutting trade negotiations and biotechnology resources.
Of this amount, the conferees provide $1,000,000 in the APHIS
account, $500,000 in the FAS account, and $150,000 in the
GIPSA account for these activities. Further, the conferees
provide $1,650,000 to the Office of the Secretary for these
activities, and direct that these funds shall become
available for obligation only after the Secretary has
provided to the Committees a detailed explanation of proposed
expenditures.
The conferees commend the Department on the success
achieved with the Lamb Meat Adjustment Program. However, the
conferees also recognize the ewe lamb expansion portion was
curtailed as a result of the serious drought conditions
throughout the United States. The conferees encourage the
Department to continue this portion of the program for an
additional year.
The conferees expect the Secretary to seek the approval of
the Committees on Appropriations before implementing a merger
or reduction of any administrative or information technology
functions relating to the Farm Service Agency, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development, or any
other agency of the Department.
The conferees are concerned that transfers of funds from
APHIS and ARS to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
may result in a shift in focus away from agriculture, and
fully expect the Secretary of Agriculture to seek assurances
from the Secretary of Homeland Security that these diagnostic
and research activities at Plum Island
[[Page 31468]]
will firmly remain tied to agricultural interests. The
conferees direct the Secretary to report to the Committees on
Appropriations by February 1, 2004, on the funding amounts
and the agricultural diagnostic and research activities at
Plum Island that have been agreed upon by USDA and DHS for
fiscal year 2004.
The conferees concur with the language and reporting
requirement contained in the Senate report regarding
geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. In
preparing the report, the Department shall work with the Farm
Service Agency and all other relevant departmental agencies.
The conferees are aware that applications for the Senior
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program are increasing and exceed
the annual $15,000,000 provided in the farm bill. The
conferees urge the Secretary to take maximum advantage of
additional resources available to supplement existing
funding, in order to meet demand for the program.
In order to provide a safeguard against the further decline
of the rice industry and wildlife habitat in Texas, and to
provide information to the Congress in anticipation of and
preparation for the 2007 farm bill, the conferees direct the
Secretary of Agriculture to review the administration of
section 1105(a)(1)(E) of Public Law 107-171 as it relates to
the proper application and implementation of the conserving
use requirements on rice base acreage in Texas. The Secretary
shall review and evaluate the costs, benefits and effects of
the conserving use requirements and actual plantings and
production on rice producers, including tenant rice
producers, the rice milling and processing industry, wildlife
habitat, and the economies of rice farming areas in Texas,
detailed by each of these affected interests and by the
program variables involved.
The Secretary shall post on the USDA website and also
provide to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of
the House of Representatives an annual report detailing the
progress and findings by February 1, 2004 and not later than
October 1 of 2005 through 2007.
The conferees are aware that Section 10502 of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171)
requires the Secretary to investigate the problem of non-
ambulatory livestock, report the findings to Congress, and
promulgate regulations to regulate the humane treatment,
handling and disposition of these livestock if deemed
necessary by the results of the study. The conferees are
concerned that although the farm bill was signed into law on
May 7, 2002, USDA did not publish a Notice of Request for
Approval of an Information Collection in the Federal Register
to begin collecting information for this study until October
28, 2003. The conferees direct the Secretary to work
expeditiously to complete this study at the earliest possible
time, and to provide copies of all interim reports as well as
the final report to the Committees on Appropriations and the
authorizing committees. Further, the Secretary is directed to
provide to the Committees on Appropriations a preliminary
report no later than March 1, 2004.
Executive Operations
chief economist
The conference agreement provides $8,707,000 for the Office
of the Chief Economist as proposed by the Senate instead of
$8,716,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees direct the Department to submit to the
Committees on Appropriations the biofuels report requested by
the House by February 1, 2004.
national appeals division
The conference agreement provides $13,670,000 for the
National Appeals Division as proposed by the House instead of
$13,997,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Office of Budget and Program Analysis
The conference agreement provides $7,740,000 for the Office
of Budget and Program Analysis instead of $7,749,000 as
proposed by the House and $7,544,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
homeland security staff
The conference agreement provides $499,000 for Homeland
Security staff instead of $910,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The House did not provide funding for this account.
Office of the Chief Information Officer
The conference agreement provides $15,493,000 for the
Office of the Chief Information Officer instead of
$14,993,000 as proposed by the House and $15,710,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
common computing environment
The conference agreement provides $119,289,000 for Common
Computing Environment instead of $100,999,000 as proposed by
the House and $118,789,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees are aware that the acquisition of geospatial
data and Geographic Information System technologies is
critical to the Department of Agriculture's plans to
modernize its County Service Centers and install a common
computing environment that optimizes information sharing,
customer service, and staff efficiencies, and dramatically
improves the Department's ability to track and react to
natural disasters, plant and animal disease outbreaks and
bioterrorism events. Within the funds provided in this Act,
the conferees encourage the Department to provide the
appropriate level of support for the acquisition of
geospatial data and Geographic Information System
technologies.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
The conference agreement provides $5,684,000 for the Office
of the Chief Financial Officer instead of $5,785,000 as
proposed by the House and $5,496,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
working capital fund
The conferees are concerned about issues raised by the
Department's recent report on remote mirroring technology and
expect the fiscal year 2005 budget request to adequately
address these needs identified in the report, including how
the costs of the remote data capability should be assigned
and paid for by non-USDA users of the NFC as requested in the
fiscal year 2003 Act.
The conferees deem the study submitted on remote mirror
imaging sufficient to meet the requirement set forth in the
fiscal year 2003 Act for release of funds. The conferees
direct that of the funds provided in the fiscal year 2003
Agriculture Appropriations Act, no less than $4,000,000 shall
be spent for the immediate implementation of an interim
solution to address data vulnerability for mission critical
applications, including data storage hardware and software,
data replication software, and synchronous replication of the
identified mission critical data. The conferees direct that
this interim solution be achieved within six months of
enactment of this Act.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
The conference agreement provides $808,000 for the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights as proposed by
the House instead of $794,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Office of Civil Rights
The conference agreement provides $17,450,000 for the
Office of Civil Rights instead of $15,445,000 as proposed by
the Senate. The House provided no funding for this account.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration
The conference agreement provides $673,000 for the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Administration as proposed by
the Senate instead of $678,000 as proposed by the House.
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments
The conference agreement provides $156,469,000 for
agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments
instead of $156,091,000 as proposed by the House and
$187,022,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Hazardous Materials Management
The conference agreement provides $15,611,000 for Hazardous
Materials Management as proposed by the Senate instead of
$15,713,000 as proposed by the House.
Departmental Administration
The conference agreement provides $23,031,000 for
Departmental Administration as proposed by the Senate instead
of $40,597,000 as proposed by the House.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations
The conference agreement provides $3,796,000 for the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations as
proposed by the House instead of $3,825,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
Office of Communications
The conference agreement provides $9,228,000 for the Office
of Communications as proposed by the Senate instead of
$9,245,000 as proposed by the House.
The Committees directed the Office to provide them with
copies of open source news material made available to USDA
officials through the use of appropriated funds. The Office
has not done so. Accordingly, the conferees direct the Office
to begin doing so no later than 15 days after the date of
enactment of this Act.
Office of the Inspector General
The conference agreement provides $77,281,000 for the
Office of the Inspector General instead of $78,114,000 as
proposed by the House and $75,781,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Office of the General Counsel
The conference agreement provides $34,700,000 for the
Office of the General Counsel as proposed by the House
instead of $35,343,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees note that the fiscal year 2004 funding level
for the Office of the General Counsel does not provide funds
to increase the number of Senior Executive Service employees
of the Office. If the Office of the General Counsel
determines the need to increase the number of SES employees
in the Office, the General Counsel is directed to submit a
reorganization plan to the Committees on Appropriations for
approval.
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics
The conference agreement provides $596,000 for the Office
of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics
as proposed by the Senate instead of $597,000 as proposed by
the House.
[[Page 31469]]
The conferees are concerned that research budgets submitted
by the Department reflect a continuing disregard for
Congressional program priorities. For a number of years,
there has been no adequate justification presented to the
Committees to support proposed project terminations. As a
result, such proposed terminations have been disapproved by
Congress, only to be resubmitted in a budget proposal for a
subsequent year. The conferees direct the Under Secretary to
end the recycling of proposed terminations that have already
been rejected by the Congress. Further, the conferees expect
that any termination proposed in the fiscal year 2005 budget
will include a detailed justification in the explanatory
notes accompanying the budget request.
Economic Research Service
The conference agreement provides $71,402,000 for the
Economic Research Service as proposed by the House instead of
$69,902,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees encourage ERS to coordinate with the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture and North Carolina State
University to collect the economic data and do the
statistical analysis necessary to study the impact that
growth in the horticulture industry is having on that state's
economy.
The conferees provide the requested increase of $1,000,000
for development of an expanded Security Analysis System for
U.S. Agriculture (SAS-USA). This is a scenario-based decision
system, which will aid in evaluating threats to the food
system. Within the amount provided, the conferees encourage
ERS to develop requirements for a system to use available
agricultural data to circumvent an attack on the food supply
chain.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
The conference agreement provides $128,922,000 for the
National Agricultural Statistics Service as proposed by the
Senate instead of $129,800,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees provide $4,800,000 for Agricultural
estimates. The conferees encourage NASS to consider
conducting Monthly Hogs and Pigs Inventory reporting, and
Barrow and Gilt Slaughter reporting. The conferees also
expect that both the potato objective yield survey and the
potato size and grade survey will be continued.
Agricultural Research Service
salaries and expenses
The conference agreement provides $1,088,892,000 for the
Agricultural Research Service, Salaries and Expenses, instead
of $1,014,000,000 as proposed by the House and $1,045,533,000
as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes bill language proposed by
the Senate regarding a land conveyance.
The conferees have agreed to increased funding for the
following laboratories and areas of research:
Budgeted increases, as follows: Babesiosis (Pullman, WA),
$270,000, (Kerrville, TX), $630,000; Maize (Albany, CA),
$180,000; Genetic Markers, Genomics, New Bioinformatics Tools
(Ithaca, NY), $270,000; Computer Networking Capabilities
(Beltsville, MD), $225,000; Soybean and Other Vegetable Oils
(Peoria, IL), $360,000; Turf and Forage Grasses (Corvalis,
OR), $135,000; Pink Bollworm (Phoenix, AZ), $225,000;
Resistant Pest (Wapato, WA), $144,000; Asian Longhorned
Beetle Including Emerald Ash Borer (Newark, DE), $270,000;
Livestock Disease (Ames, IA), $270,000; Poultry Disease
(Athens, GA), $270,000; Forensic Databases of Animal Diseases
Including Nucleic Acid (Clay Center, NE), $270,000; Arbovirus
Threats (Laramie, WY), $270,000; Merek's Disease (East
Lansing, MI), $270,000; Foot and Mouth Disease
(Headquarters), $315,000; Newcastle Disease (Athens, GA),
$270,000; Emerging Diseases Offshore (Headquarters),
$225,000.
Further increases, as follows: Advanced Animal Vaccines (U
CT/U MO), $270,000; Agricultural Law, NAL (Drake University),
$18,000; Agriculture Genome Bioinformatics, Ames, IA
(Bioinformatics Institute for Model Plant Species), $540,000;
Air Quality Research, Logan, UT (Utah State), $900,000; Air
Quality (PM-10), Pullman, WA, $225,000; Animal Waste
Treatment, Florence, SC, $270,000; Appalachian Fruit Research
Station, Kearneysville, WV, $180,000; Appalachian
Horticulture Research, Poplarville, MS (U TN/TN State),
$450,000; Appalachian Pasture-Based Beef Systems, Beaver, WV,
$90,000; Aquaculture Feeds/Aquaculture Research, Aberdeen, ID
(U of ID Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station), $270,000;
Biomedical Materials in Plants, Beltsville, MD (Biotechnology
Foundation), $248,000; Bovine Genetics, Beltsville, MD (U CT/
U IL), $540,000; Broomweed Biological Controls, Albany, CA,
$270,000; Canada Thistle, Fargo, ND, $270,000; Cereal Disease
Research, St. Paul, MN, $45,000; Children's Nutrition Center,
Little Rock, AR, $225,000; Chronic Diseases of Children,
Houston, TX (Baylor U/Peanut Institute), $383,000; Citrus
Waste Utilization, Winter Haven, FL (FL Dept of Citrus),
$360,000; Conservation Tillage, Pendleton, OR, $225,000; Corn
Germplasm, Ames, IA, $225,000; Cotton Pathology Research,
Shafter, CA, $270,000; Cotton Quality, Clemson, SC, $270,000;
Cropping Systems Research (U TN/West TN Ag Experiment
Station), $630,000; Crop Production and Food Processing,
Peoria, IL (Purdue U/U IL), $387,000; Dairy Forage (Madison,
WI) $1,260,000; Delta Nutrition Intervention Initiative,
Little Rock, AR (Southern U Center for Food Nutrition and
Health Promotion), $270,000; Diet, Nutrition, and Obesity
Research (Pennington Biomedical Research Center), $675,000;
Ecology of Tamarix (Reno, NV), $900,000; Emissions from
Livestock Wastewater (Florence, SC), $90,000; Endophyte
Research, Booneville, AR (Univ. of AR/MO/OSU), $135,000; Feed
Efficiency in Cattle (Clay Center, NE), $225,000; Fish
Disease Research (Auburn, AL), $90,000; Flood Control
Acoustic Technology, National Sedimentation Lab (Oxford, MS),
$225,000; Food Fermentation Research (Raleigh, NC), $270,000;
Food Safety and Engineering, Wyndmoor, PA (Purdue Univ),
$90,000; Forage and Range Research (Logan, UT), $270,000;
Formosan Subterranean Termite (New Orleans, LA), $315,000;
Ft. Pierce Horticultural Research Laboratory (Ft. Pierce,
FL), $450,000; Foundry Sand By-products Utilization (Ohio
State/Purdue Univ), $162,000; Geisinger Rural Aging Study
(PA), $135,000; Grand Forks Human Nutrition Lab, Grand Forks,
ND (U of ND School of Medicine and Health Sciences),
$270,000; Grape Genetics (Geneva, NY), $270,000; Grassland
Soil and Water Research (Temple, TX), $225,000; Great Lakes
Aquaculture Research (U of WI, $300,000), $540,000; Human
Nutrition Research Center on Aging (Boston, MA), $225,000;
Invasive Aphid Research (Stillwater, OK), $225,000; Invasive
Aquatic Weeds (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), $135,000; Karnal Bunt,
Manhattan, KS (Kansas State Univ), $90,000; Mid-West/Mid-
South Irrigation, Columbia, MO (U of MO Delta Ctr.,
Portageville, MO), $45,000; Minor Use Pesticides (IR-4) (NJ,
DE, Mid-Atlantic Region), $270,000; Monkeypox Research (Ames,
IA), $900,000; National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture (Orono,
ME), $270,000; Natural Products, Oxford, MS (National Center
for Natural Products), $450,000; Northern Grains Insect
Laboratory (Brookings, SD), $450,000; Northern Plains
Agricultural Research Lab (Sidney, MT), $810,000; Northwest
Hops/Hops Research (Corvallis, OR), $225,000; Nutritional
Requirements Research/Children's Nutrition Research Center
(Houston, TX), $450,000; Ogallala Aquifer (Bushland, TX),
$855,000; Olive Fruitfly Research (Montpellier, France),
$90,000; Ornamental and Horticulture Research (Pear Thrips)
(Ithaca, NY) (Univ VT), $135,000; Paper Sludge Utilization
(Coshocton, OH), $225,000; Peanut Research (Dawson, GA),
$135,000; Phytoestrogen Research, SRRC (Tulane/Xavier/U of
Toledo), $360,000; Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged
Sharpshooter (Davis, CA/Parlier, CA/Ft. Pierce, FL),
$450,000; Plant Genetic Diversity and Gene Discovery Center,
Logan, UT (Utah Ag Experiment Station), $675,000; Poisonous
Plant Research Laboratory (Logan, UT), $1,080,000; Potato
Research (Aberdeen, ID/Prosser, WA), $270,000; Potato Storage
(Madison, WI), $270,000; Rainbow Trout, Aberdeen, ID (U of ID
Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station), $653,000; Regional
Molecular Genotyping (Raleigh, NC/Fargo, ND/Manhattan, KS/
Pullman, WA), $720,000; Seafood Waste, Fairbanks, AK (U of
AK), $180,000; Shellfish Ecology, Newport, OR (Hatfield
Marine Science Center), $270,000; Small Fruits Research
(Corvallis, OR), $225,000; Soil Drainage Research (Columbus,
OH), $144,000; Soil Dynamics Research (Auburn, AL) $270,000;
Sorghum Cold Tolerance (Lubbock, TX), $270,000; Sorghum
Utilization (Manhattan, KS), $360,000; Source Water
Protection Initiatives (Columbus, OH/W. Lafayette, IN),
$360,000; South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory
(Lane, OK), $270,000; Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut
Research (Byron, GA), $270,000; Sudden Oak Disease/Sudden Oak
Disease Syndrome (Ft. Detrick, MD/Davis, CA), $450,000;
Sugarbeet Research (Kimberly, ID), $36,000; Sugarcane
Research (Houma, LA/New Orleans, LA), $270,000; Sugarcane
Variety Research (Canal Point, FL), $360,000; Sustainable
Grazing Livestock Systems/Forage-Livestock Systems,
Lexington, KY (U of KY), $540,000; Sustainable Olive
Production (Weslaco, TX), $270,000; Sustainable Viticulture
Research (Davis, CA), $270,000; Tree Fruit Quality Research
(Wenatchee, WA), $270,000; Trout Genome Mapping, Leetown, (WV
Univ), $450,000; United States National Arboretum
(Washington, D.C.), $810,000; U.S. Pacific Basin Ag Research
Center, Hilo, HI (Univ HI Manoa/Univ HI Hilo), $360,000; U.S.
Vegetable Lab, Staffing (Charleston, SC), $270,000; Vector-
borne Diseases (Gainesville, FL), $225,000; Verticillium Wilt
(Salinas, CA), $360,000; Waste Management Research, Bowling
Green, KY (Western KY Univ), $450,000; Water Use Reduction/
Producer Enhancement Research (Dawson, GA), $225,000; Weed
Management Research (Beltsville, MD), $270,000; Western
Grazinglands (Burns, OR/Reno, NV), $270,000; West Nile Virus,
Gainesville, FL (CT Ag Exp Station), $225,000; Wheat Quality
Research (Wooster, OH/Manhattan, KS/Pullman, WA), $675,000;
and Wine Grape Foundation Block (Prosser, WA), $135,000.
The conference agreement continues the fiscal year 2003
level of funding for all research projects proposed to be
terminated in the President's budget.
The conference agreement concurs with the Agricultural
Research Service's proposal
[[Page 31470]]
to reprogram existing resources into priority initiatives of
emerging diseases, global climate change, biosecurity, and
genomic sequencing.
The conference agreement provides $13,772,000 for increased
costs associated with Federal employees salaries and
benefits.
The conference agreement provides an additional $383,000
for the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Houston, TX,
for a cooperative research project with Baylor College of
Medicine and the Peanut Institute to examine ways to prevent
the onset of chronic diseases and the growing problem of
overweight children.
The conference agreement provides an additional $450,000
for increased investigation of the nutritional needs of
pregnant and nursing women, and children.
The conference agreement provides an additional $225,000
for ongoing cooperative research between the Flint River
Water Planning & Policy Center and the National Peanut
Research Laboratory at Dawson, Georgia.
The conferees provide increased funding for the development
of a wine grape foundation block of certified ``clean''
rootstock at Prosser, WA and direct ARS to ensure that this
funding is not obligated toward other research.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
The conference agreement provides $63,810,000 for the
Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities,
instead of $35,900,000 as proposed by the House and
$46,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The following items reflect the conference agreement: Grape
Genomics Research Center (Davis, California), $2,700,000;
U.S. Agricultural Research Station (Salinas, California),
$4,500,000; U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center
(Hilo, Hawaii), $4,860,000; National Center for Agricultural
Utilization Research (Peoria, Illinois), $2,700,000; ARS
Sugarcane Research Laboratory (Houma, Louisiana), $1,350,000;
Northeast Marine Cold Water Aquaculture Research Center
(Orono/Franklin, Maine), $2,700,000; Abraham Lincoln National
Agricultural Library (Beltsville, Maryland), $900,000;
Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (Beltsville,
Maryland), $2,700,000; Jamie Whitten Delta States Research
Center (Stoneville, Mississippi), $4,860,000; National Plant
and Genetics Security Center (Columbia, Missouri),
$2,430,000; Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory
(Sidney, Montana), $2,520,000; Center for Crop-based Health
Genomics (Ithaca, New York), $3,870,000; Center for Grape
Genetics (Geneva, New York), $2,430,000; Grazinglands
Research Laboratory (Ft. Reno, Oklahoma), $2,160,000; U.S.
Vegetable Laboratory (Charleston, South Carolina),
$3,150,000; ARS Research Laboratory (Pullman, Washington),
$3,960,000; Appalachian Fruit Laboratory (Kearneysville, West
Virginia), $1,800,000; Nutrient Management Laboratory
(Marshfield, Wisconsin), $3,690,000; and Upgrade Security at
ARS Laboratories (Various Locations), $10,530,000.
The conferees note that there is widespread interest in
additional construction and renovation of ARS facilities
throughout the country. This is not surprising when
considering the fact that many of the existing facilities are
decades old. However, the conferees are concerned that there
does not seem to be a master plan for addressing these needs.
Rather, construction projects in several parts of the country
have been described by various ARS officials as the agency's
top priority.
The conferees believe that there should be a logical
progression for determining what projects should be funded.
Therefore, beginning with the fiscal year 2005 appropriations
process, the Committees will not consider funding requests
for projects for which a prospectus has not been completed
and submitted to the Committees by March 1 of each year. Each
prospectus shall, at a minimum, include the following
information: the feasibility, requirements, and scope of the
proposed project; details on building size, cost, associated
facilities, scientific capacity, and other requirements; and
details on existing and planned program and resource
requirements. Further, the conferees are requesting the
assistance of ARS in determining the merits and priority for
these projects.
In order to begin this orderly review process, the
conferees direct ARS to provide a prospectus for each of the
following projects: Aberdeen/Billingsley Creek, Idaho; Animal
Waste Management Research in Bowling Green, Kentucky; Forage-
Animal Research Laboratory in Lexington, Kentucky; Laboratory
and Office Facilities in Starkville, Mississippi; Animal
Biosciences Facility at Montana State University; Red River
Valley Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota;
Laboratory, Greenhouse, and Office Space at the University of
Toledo; Dairy Forage Lab at Prairie du Sac and Madison,
Wisconsin.
The conference agreement provides sufficient funding to
complete all planning and design provided by the House and
Senate, and construction phases as described in the Senate
report.
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Research and Education Activities
The conference agreement provides $621,447,000 for research
and education activities instead of $597,372,000 as proposed
by the House and $617,575,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The following table reflects the conference agreement:
[[Page 31471]]
[[Page 31472]]
[[Page 31473]]
[[Page 31474]]
[[Page 31475]]
[[Page 31476]]
The conference agreement provides $380,000 for Seafood
Safety, of which fifty percent shall be provided through a
cooperative agreement with the Center for Marine
Phytoremediation Technologies at Northeastern University.
The conferees provide funding for alternative salmon
products, of which 25 percent shall be for a cooperative
agreement for salmon baby food development.
The conferees provide funding for the alliance for food
protection, of which 90 percent shall be for a cooperative
agreement with the University of Georgia for integrated fruit
and vegetable research.
Within the amount provided for Agricultural Diversity, the
conferees direct that $100,000 be used to fund activities of
the Red River Valley Research Corridor Office.
NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS ENDOWMENT FUND
The conference agreement provides $9,000,000 for the Native
American Institutions Endowment Fund as proposed by both the
House and Senate.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
The conference agreement provides $441,731,000 for
extension activities instead of $439,742,000 as proposed by
the House and $450,084,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The following table reflects the conference agreement:
[[Page 31477]]
[[Page 31478]]
[[Page 31479]]
Within funds provided for the farm safety program, the
conference agreement includes $4,140,000 for the AgrAbility
project.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES
The conference agreement provides $50,493,000 for
integrated activities instead of $62,942,000 as proposed by
the House and $46,711,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The following table reflects the conference agreement:
[[Page 31480]]
[[Page 31481]]
OUTREACH FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS
The conference agreement provides $5,970,000 for Outreach
for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, instead of $8,470,000 as
proposed by the House and $3,470,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
The conference agreement provides $725,000 for the Office
of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
as proposed by the House instead of $736,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $720,580,000 for the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) instead of
$725,502,000 as proposed by the House and $705,552,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The following table reflects the conference agreement:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[In Thousands of Dollars]
Pest and Disease Exclusion:
Agricultural quarantine ins$25,601
Cattle 6,534
Foreign animal disease8,737
Fruit fly exclusion and det57,059
Import-export insp11,140
Scr30,480
Trade issues resolution mana12,546
Tropical bont t423
________________
Total, Pest and Disease Exclusion...........................152,520
================
Plant and Animal Health Monitoring:
Animal health monitoring & survei95,913
Animal and plant health regulatory enforc9,211
Emergency management sy9,625
Pest det24,527
________________
Total, Plant & Animal Health Monitoring.....................139,276
================
Pest and Disease Management:
Aquacu1,250
Biological co9,270
Boll 51,000
Bruce10,303
Chronic wasting d18,632
Emerging plant93,650
Golden nemat792
Grasshopper and Mormon 5,491
Gypsy4,725
Imported fir2,429
Johne's d18,800
Low pathogen avian infl1,000
Noxious 1,999
Pink bol2,031
Plu3,471
Pseudor4,316
S15,700
Tuberc14,925
Wildlife services oper71,736
Witc1,526
________________
Total, Pest and Disease Management..........................333,046
================
Animal Care:
Animal w16,400
Horse protect490
________________
Total, Animal Care...........................................16,890
================
Scientific and Technical Services:
Biosec2,000
Information technology infrastru4,214
Biotechnology regulatory ser5,434
Environmental compl2,598
Plant methods development8,208
Veterinary bio15,235
Veterinary diagn19,947
Wildlife services methods devel17,100
________________
Total, Scientific and Technical Services.....................74,736
================
Contingency fund..................................................4,112
Total, Salaries and Expenses................................720,580
The conference agreement provides an increase of $800,000
for the Foreign Animal Diseases/FMD program of which $750,000
is for classical swine fever eradication efforts.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $1,795,000
for Import/Export activities of which $1,500,000 is for the
animal tracking system, and to identify the pathway of exotic
animal diseases.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $1,000,000
for crosscutting trade negotiations and biotechnology
resources in the Trade Issues Resolution Management program.
The conference agreement provides $1,000,000 to continue a
cooperative agreement with the Wisconsin Livestock
Identification Consortium.
The conference agreement provides $300,000 to assist in
creating a database of North Carolina's agricultural industry
to enable a rapid response to acts of terrorism.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $200,000
for the New Mexico Rapid Syndrome Validation Program.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $75,000 to
continue the cooperative agreement with Murray State
University.
The conference agreement provides $750,000 toward an
alkaline digester in the State of Kansas to destroy and
dispose of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy infection
and other diseases.
The conference agreement provides $200,000 to address bio-
safety issues relating to antibiotic resistant strains of
bacterial pathogens in the State of Vermont.
The conference agreement provides $200,000 for Iowa State
University devoted to risk assessment, mitigation, and
communication for genetically modified agricultural products.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $640,000
for the Emergency Management Systems program of which
$280,000 is to increase the number of doses in the North
American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, and $270,000 is
to increase cooperative agreements with states.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $2,266,000
for Pest Detection programs of which $200,000 is to evaluate
the utility of remote sensing (hyper spectral imaging and
Light Detection Ranging) for the identification of ash trees,
the early identification of emerald ash borer infestation,
and the tracking and mapping of the diseased trees; $750,000
is for a cooperative agreement with the California County
Pest Detection Augmentation Program; and $1,000,000 is to
increase the domestic infrastructure for enhanced detection.
The conference agreement provides $18,632,000 for chronic
wasting disease instead of $16,815,000 as proposed by the
House and $20,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conference agreement provides that $1,750,000 is for the
State of Wisconsin; $250,000 is for the State of Utah; and
$250,000 is for the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago.
The conferees expect the Secretary to continue to use the
authority provided in this Act to transfer funds for the
arrest and eradication of animal and plant pests and diseases
that threaten American agriculture. The conference agreement
adopts Senate bill language that prohibits funds from being
spent to issue a final rule in Docket No. 02-06201 ``Cost-
Sharing for Animal and Plant Health Emergency Programs,'' and
expects APHIS, in submitting apportionment requests for
emergencies that threaten American agriculture, to disregard
any arbitrarily imposed cost-share requirements for these
funds.
The conference agreement provides an increase of
$18,250,000 for Emerging Plant Pests of which $8,000,000 is
for citrus canker eradication and control; $4,000,000 is for
Asian long-horned beetle activities, of which $1,500,000 is
for activities in the Chicago, Illinois area; $4,750,000 is
for glassy-winged sharpshooter eradication and control; and
$1,500,000 is for the Emerald Ash Borer Task Force for the
removal of trees that have been affected by the emerald ash
borer, with a priority for the removal of trees on public
property or that threaten public safety.
The conferees are concerned that the continued presence of
the emerald ash borer threatens the ash tree population in
Michigan and other states, and direct the Secretary to
provide to the Committees on Appropriations by March 1, 2004,
a plan for addressing this problem.
The conferees are aware that the Asian long-horned beetle
is extremely destructive and may spread to states where they
do not yet exist. The conferees are also aware that this pest
was recently found in Ontario, Canada, and are concerned this
presents an additional threat to the introduction of the
Asian long-horned beetle into Michigan and other states by
way of commercial vehicles or other means. The conferees
direct APHIS to do a comprehensive review of their procedures
and regulations, and report to the Committees on
Appropriations by January 1,
[[Page 31482]]
2004, on whether they are adequate to prevent the
introduction of this or similar pests into the United States.
The conference agreement provides $5,491,000 for
grasshopper and Mormon cricket suppression, of which no less
than $1,000,000 shall be for suppression activities in Utah,
and $150,000 for suppression activities in Nevada.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $100,000
for the Nez-Perce Biocontrol Center.
The conferees do not concur with the President's request to
reduce funding in the wildlife services operations account to
allow cooperators to assume a larger share of the costs
associated with preventing wildlife damage, and protecting
human health and safety.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $1,100,000
for a cooperative oral rabies vaccination program, and
encourages the Secretary to use funds from the CCC, as
necessary, for additional control activities in fiscal year
2004.
The conference agreement provides increases of $400,000 for
hazing programs to manage the growth of cormorants in central
New York watersheds; $75,000 to assist with the Nevada
Division of Wildlife; $100,000 for beaver control in
Kentucky; $200,000 for non-lethal geese control in New York;
$175,000 for blackbird control in Kansas; and $125,000 for
cormorant control in Michigan.
The conferees are aware of the Monkeypox outbreak in
Wisconsin and other midwestern states. APHIS is working with
the Centers for Disease Control to develop a comprehensive
Federal response to the outbreak. The conferees urge APHIS to
take all necessary steps to deal with the problem and direct
it to provide the Committees with regular reports on the
status of the situation.
The conference agreement provides $2,000,000 for the
biosecurity program. The conferees have included language
under the Office of the Secretary to ensure that veterinary
diagnostic work at Plum Island, New York remains focused on
agriculture. The conferees note that should APHIS encounter a
shortfall in that veterinary diagnostic work, the funds in
this line item may be used for that work, subject to
reprogramming requirements in this Act.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $2,738,000
for Veterinary Diagnostics of which $1,000,000 is to enhance
the laboratory network; $500,000 is to conduct anthrax
diagnostics and related activities, and $750,000 is to update
equipment needed to test certain animal samples in Colorado.
The conference agreement provides an increase of $2,225,000
for Wildlife Services Methods Development of which $1,300,000
is for the Predator Research Station in Utah; $100,000 is to
enhance existing research efforts at the National Wildlife
Research Center field station in Starkville, Mississippi;
$200,000 is to expand the program at the Jack Berryman
Institute for addressing wildlife damage management issues,
and $400,000 is for the National Wildlife Research Station
located in Texas.
The conferees are aware of the presence of chronic wasting
disease in elk and deer in the state of New Mexico. The
conferees encourage the Secretary to review the current
situation and work with the state to establish, equip, and
operate a state-run laboratory to conduct a rapid screening
test for chronic wasting disease.
The conferees are aware of an outbreak of avian influenza
in the state of Rhode Island. The conferees urge the
Secretary to provide financial assistance to Rhode Island egg
producers who have depopulated their flocks, as a result of
this outbreak.
The conferees encourage the agency to support ongoing
activities with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
animal nuisance program.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
The conference agreement provides $4,996,000 for Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service Buildings and Facilities as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
Agricultural Marketing Service
MARKETING SERVICES
The conference agreement provides $75,430,000 for the
Agricultural Marketing Service instead of $75,953,000 as
proposed by the House and $75,263,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes language regarding plant
variety protection, as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees note that some of the additional funds may be
used to improve scientific technical support of the National
Organic Standards Board.
The conference agreement includes $14,700,000 for the
Pesticide Data Program and $6,209,000 for the Microbiological
Data Program.
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $62,577,000 for
Limitation on Administration Expenses as proposed by both the
House and Senate.
FUNDS FOR STRENGTHENING MARKETS, INCOME, AND SUPPLY (SECTION 32)
The conference agreement provides $15,392,000 for Funds for
Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply as proposed by both
the House and Senate.
PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS
The conference agreement appropriates $3,338,000 for
Payments to States and Possessions as proposed by the Senate
instead of $1,347,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees direct that $2,000,000 be provided to the
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer
Protection for the creation of specialty markets. The
conferees recognize the need to expand marketing
opportunities for value-added products, and expect a report
from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and
Consumer Protection, through the Agricultural Marketing
Service, regarding short and long-term objectives and plans
to meet this need by March 1, 2004.
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $35,890,000 for the Grain
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration instead of
$39,690,000 as proposed by the House and $35,638,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conferees understand that the Secretary has undertaken
a product verification protocols pilot, in conjunction with
the Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa corn growers associations,
to establish controls for regulated seed varieties and to
augment grain marketing. The conference report provides
$500,000 to continue this pilot program with the growers
associations for development of production protocols.
The conferees are concerned about the management of the
user fee program for grain export inspection and weighing
services. The fee structure should fully fund the expenses of
the program, as directed in the authorizing legislation. The
funds appropriated by Congress for GIPSA's Salaries and
Expenses account are meant to fund necessary personnel and
operating expenses, and should not be used to fund
deficiencies in the user fee account. In July 2003, the
Secretary transferred $2,000,000 from the Salaries and
Expenses account to the user fee account to avoid over-
obligation in the user fee account. The unsustainable nature
of the current fee structure is an ongoing problem. In a
fiscal year 1998 supplemental, the fee account received an
appropriation of $1,500,000 to avoid a violation of the Anti-
Deficiency Act. The conferees are strongly opposed to the
transfer of appropriated funds into user fee accounts,
particularly in cases such as this in which the user fee
funding shortfall is ongoing, predictable, and fixable. The
conferees direct the Administration to immediately take all
necessary steps to adopt and implement a fee structure that
fully funds the services provided.
LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $42,463,000 as proposed
by both the House and Senate.
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety
The conference agreement provides $599,000 for the Office
of the Under Secretary for Food Safety as proposed by the
House instead of $611,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
The conference agreement provides $784,511,000 for the Food
Safety and Inspection Service, instead of $785,261,000 as
proposed by the House and $783,761,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes bill language relating to
enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, as
proposed by the Senate.
The conferees provide increases of $4,250,000 for increased
inspection staffing to accommodate industry growth;
$5,650,000 to improve the scientific and surveillance skills
of the workforce; $1,650,000 to establish a continuous
baseline program for risk assessments and performance
measurement; $4,460,000 to increase sampling for pathogens
and to develop the laboratory capability to respond to
chemical terrorism; $1,777,000 to increase the number of
Equivalency Review trips and auditors to conduct the reviews;
and $750,000 to design a mass media campaign aimed at
improving the safe food handling habits of consumers at home.
The conference agreement provides the agency with
$1,650,000 solely to outsource microbiological testing, as
requested in the President's budget, with the goal of
establishing a continuous baseline program for risk
assessment and performance measurement. The conferees expect
the Department to outsource baseline testing to private
American Association for Laboratory Accreditation.
International Standards Organization approved laboratories.
The conferees direct the Department to report on the progress
of this initiative within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
The conferees are concerned about the safety of imported
meat. The amount of imported meat re-inspected by FSIS at our
borders has dropped sharply in 2003. The conferees are also
concerned that countries whose food safety systems have been
deemed ``equivalent'' to ours (and whose producers are
therefore allowed to export to the U.S.) may have serious
weaknesses in their domestic food safety systems, but not be
taken off the equivalency list.
[[Page 31483]]
The conferees request FSIS to report to the Committees by
March 1, 2004, on the equivalence and reinspection processes.
The report should address: how the agency determines that a
country's meat inspection system is equivalent; whether this
determination is subject to regular review and if so, how;
what process FSIS uses for determining that a country is no
longer equivalent; what public review of FSIS's equivalency
determinations exists; why the amount of meat reinspected at
the border has declined sharply; and how the agency's new
automated import information system has impacted inspection
operations at the border.
Food Safety and Inspection Service, funding by activity
[In thousands of dollars]
Conference Recommendation
Food safety inspection:
Federal......................................................$701,823
State..........................................................49,858
International..................................................18,398
Codex.............................................................2,637
Field Automation and Information Management......................11,795
________________
Total.......................................................784,511
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services
The conference agreement provides $635,000 for the Office
of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services as proposed by the Senate instead of $636,000 as
proposed by the House.
Farm Service Agency
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $988,768,000 for the Farm
Service Agency as proposed by the Senate instead of
$1,016,836,000 as proposed by the House.
STATE MEDIATION GRANTS
The conference agreement provides $3,974,000 for State
Mediation Grants, as proposed by both the House and Senate.
DAIRY INDEMNITY program
The conference agreement provides $100,000 for the Dairy
Indemnity Program, as proposed by both the House and Senate.
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The following table reflects the conference agreement:
Farm Ownership Loans:
Direct.................................................($129,158,000)
Subsidy....................................................28,518,000
Guaranteed..............................................(950,000,000)
Subsidy.....................................................5,130,000
Farm Operating Loans:
Direct..................................................(617,503,000)
Subsidy....................................................89,044,000
Unsubsidized Guaranteed...............................(1,200,000,000)
Subsidy....................................................39,960,000
Subsidized guaranteed...................................(266,249,000)
Subsidy....................................................34,000,000
Indian tribe land acquisition.............................(2,000,000)
Subsidy.............................................................0
Boll weevil eradication.................................(100,000,000)
Subsidy.............................................................0
ACIF expenses:
Salaries and expenses (transfer to FSA)...................283,020,000
Administrative expenses.....................................7,948,000
Risk Management Agency
The conference agreement provides $71,422,000 for the Risk
Management Agency as proposed by the Senate instead of
$71,509,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees are aware that certain additional states have
been approved for participation in the Livestock Risk
Protection Pilots for swine and other livestock categories,
but that this expansion was limited to ten states. The
conferees urge the Department to expand the program during
fiscal year 2004 to the maximum extent possible, including
the states of Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,
West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund
The conference agreement provides an appropriation of such
sums as may be necessary for the Federal Crop Insurance
Corporation Fund (estimated to be $3,368,000,000 in the
President's fiscal year 2004 Budget Request), as proposed by
both the House and Senate.
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES
The conference agreement provides an appropriation of such
sums as may be necessary for Reimbursement for Net Realized
Losses of the Commodity Credit Corporation (estimated to be
$17,275,000,000 in the President's fiscal year 2004 Budget
Request), as proposed by both the House and Senate.
Hazardous Waste Management
The conference agreement provides a limitation of
$5,000,000 for Hazardous Waste Management, as proposed by
both the House and Senate.
TITLE II--CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
The conference agreement provides $745,000 for the Office
of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
as proposed by the House instead of $761,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
CONSERVATION OPERATIONS
The conference agreement provides $853,004,000 for
Conservation Operations instead of $850,004,000 as proposed
by the House and $826,635,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes Senate bill language that
prohibits the discretionary funds in this account from being
used to provide technical assistance for mandatory farm bill
programs.
The conferees direct the Chief of the NRCS, in making the
fiscal year 2004 Conservation Operations funding allocations
to the states, to treat items under the heading `Conservation
Operations' in the Statement of Managers accompanying this
conference report, as increases to the states' funding
allocation. The conferees direct the NRCS to provide a report
to the Committees on Appropriations, not later than 45 days
after the enactment of this Act, that includes the following:
fiscal year 2003 Conservation Operations allocation by state;
fiscal year 2004 Conservation Operations allocation by state;
fiscal year 2004 Congressional earmarks by state; and the
total fiscal year 2004 Conservation Operations allocation by
state.
The conference agreement provides $23,500,000 for the
Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. The conferees also
provide an additional amount of $950,000 for Grazing Lands
Conservation Initiative activities in the State of Wisconsin.
The conferees urge NRCS to make EQIP funding available for
public land contracts to the maximum extent permitted under
the law. In particular, the conferees are concerned that EQIP
funding be made available for public land ranchers in states
such as AZ, NM, ID, UT, OR, CA, CO, and WY to help meet
regulatory demands and to relieve utilization pressure on
private lands in those states.
The statement of managers remains silent on provisions that
were in both the House directives as contained in H. Rept.
108-193, pp. 59-62 and the Senate directives as contained in
Senate Rept. 108-107, pp. 95-101, that remain unchanged by
this conference agreement, except as noted herein:
Environmental, educational, and demonstration of conservation
practices (AL)--$200,000; obtain and evaluate materials for
cold region seeds of plants in conjunction w/Alaska Division
of Agriculture--$315,000; Native Plant Materials (AK)
(evaluating and developing)--$315,000; two staff positions in
Palmer (AK)--$200,000; GIS-based mapping/hyperspectral
imaging of agricultural lands--$400,000; Natural resource
inventory development (AK)--$1,200,000; Cooperative agreement
with soil and water conservation district (AK)--$1,500,000;
planning and design of new storage facility at Plant
Materials Center (AK)--$300,000; Southwest Strategy (AZ/NM)--
$135,000; National Water Management Center (AR)--$2,475,000;
Little Red River Irrigation Project--$398,000; Walnut Bayou
(AR) Irrigation Project--$300,000; Study to determine
logistics of transportation/coordination of excess nutrients
(AR)--$200,000; Alameda County (CA) watershed surveys--
$125,000; East Valley Conservation District/Santa Ana
Watershed Authority (CA) Plant Removal--$1,000,000; Monterey
Bay (CA) Sanctuary--$600,000; Cooperative agreement with
Tufts University (CT) to improve conservation practices--
$480,000; Expand cooperative efforts w/ Delaware State for
plant materials--$290,000; Pilot projects for technology
systems resulting in nutrient reduction (FL)--$5,000,000;
Manatee (FL) Agriculture Reuse System--$2,000,000; Lake
Okeechobee (FL) Watershed project planning--$270,000;
Suwannee, Dixie, and Lafeyette Counties (FL) dairy and
poultry waste treatment--$280,000; Cooperative agreement with
Green Institute (FL)--$280,000; projects for nutrient
reducing waste treatment systems (FL)--$720,000; Georgia Soil
and Water Conservation Commission Cooperative Agreement--
$3,600,000; Community nutrient management facilities (GA)--
$350,000; PMC for Native Plants to clean up the Island of
Kahoolawe (HI)--$108,000; Molokai (HI) Agriculture Community
Committee--$250,000; Agricultural development/resource
conservation--Molokai (HI)--$630,000; Idaho One Plan--
$200,000; Conversion to sprinkler irrigation (ID)--$900,000;
Basalt and ground water protection project--$250,000;
Ecological site description project with Idaho Association of
Conservation Districts--$400,000; Lower Payette (ID) ditch
irrigation diversion project--$624,000; Trees Forever Program
(IL)--$100,000; Iroquois River (IL) watershed--$436,000;
Illinois River agricultural conservation project cooperative
agreement with Ducks Unlimited--$238,000; Wildlife habitat
education program cooperative agreement with National Wild
Turkey Federation--$238,000; Hungry Canyon/Loess Hills
Erosion Control/Western Iowa--$1,200,000; Trees Forever
Program (IA)--$100,000; CEMSA w/Iowa Soybean Association--
$363,000; Tipton Creek watershed (IA)--$120,000; Cooperative
agreement with Northern Iowa University--$400,000; Innovative
environmental technology program (IN)--$500,000; Soil erosion
control cost-share program/soil survey program (KY)--
$2,800,000; Cooperative agreement with Western Kentucky
University--$400,000; Technical assistance to provide grants
to Soil Conservation Districts (KY)--$880,000; Technical
[[Page 31484]]
assistance for water project in Hardin County (KY)--$200,000;
Dairy waste remediation-Lake Ponchartrain (LA) Basin--
$290,000; False River (LA) sedimentation project--$150,000;
Choupique Drainage canal improvements (LA)--$200,000; Porte
de Luce watershed (LA)--$820,000; Cooperative agreement with
Louisiana State University on effectiveness of agriculture
and forestry--$273,000; Chesapeake Bay activities--
$6,000,000; Conservation related to cranberry production (MA/
WI)--$570,000; Weed It Now-Taconic Mountains (MA/NY/CT)--
$200,000; Great Lakes pilot program for conservation--
$500,000; Franklin County (MS) Lake technical assistance--
$1,500,000; Mississippi Delta Water Resources Study--
$700,000; Delta Conservation Demonstration Center, Washington
County (MS)--$1,400,000; Soil erosion/Alcorn State (MS)--
$175,000; Cattle and nutrient management in stream crossings
(MS)--$900,000; Choctaw County (MS) feasibility study for
surface impoundment--$210,000; Wildlife Management Institute
(MS)--$5,813,000; Humphrey's County (MS) Hospital flood
protection--$360,000; Drainage improvements, Hinds County
(MS)--$250,000; Drainage improvements, Port Gibson (MS)--
$294,000; Rankin County (MS) Richland Creek watershed--
$294,000; Rankin County (MS) erosion control project--
$200,000; Establish Upper White River Water Quality Project
Office in southern Missouri--$380,000; Lake Tahoe Basin Soil
Conservation Project (NV/CA)--$500,000; Lake Tahoe Basin area
soil survey (NV/CA)--$180,000; Improved nutrient management/
protection of water resources (NV)--$540,000; establish plant
materials center in the vicinity of Fallon (NV)--$450,000;
State conservation cost share program (NJ)--$900,000; Ciudad
Soil and Water Conservation District (NM)--$50,000; Riparian
restoration activities along Rio Grande and Pecos River
(NM)--$480,000; Pastureland Management/Rotational Grazing
(NY)--$500,000; Best management practices/Skaneateles and
Owasco Watersheds (NY)--$250,000; Address non-point pollution
in Onondaga Lake Watershed (NY)--$250,000; Beaver Swamp Brook
project (NY) implementation/environmental restoration--
$300,000; Phase II/Watershed Agriculture Council in Walton
(NY)--$700,000; Pace University Land Use Law Center--
$200,000; Sodus Bay (NY) watershed/Wayne County technical
assistance--$250,000; New York State Agriculture and
Environment Program--$750,000; Long Island Sound watershed
initiative--$200,000; Erosion control/stabilization for
Hudson River (NY) shoreline--$250,000; evaluation of manure
management systems (NY)--$130,000; Technical assistance to
livestock/poultry industry (NC) $400,000; West Cary (NC)
Watershed and Farmland Protection Project--$300,000; Red
River Flood Prevention/Energy and Environmental Research
Center (ND)--$1,490,000; North Central Planning Council water
utilization/Devil's Lake--$559,000; Maumee Watershed
Hydrological Study and Flood Mitigation Plan (OH)--
$1,000,000; Oregon Garden, Silverton (OR)--$325,000; Native
grassland demo project in the vicinity of Tar Creek (OK)--
$2,200,000; Pawtucket watershed (RI)--$450,000; GIS-based
model to integrate commodity and conservation--$800,000;
Study to characterize land use change while preserving
natural resources in cooperation with Clemson University
(SC)--$900,000; Bexar, Medina, Uvalde Counties irrigation in
Edwards Aquifer (TX)--$500,000; Field office
telecommunications pilot program/advanced soil survey methods
(TX)--$2,110,000; Leon River restoration project (TX)--
$196,000; Range vegetation pilot project, Ft. Hood (TX)--
$500,000; Texas Water Resources Institute cooperative
agreement for Tarrant County (TX)--$500,000; AFO/CAFO Pilot
Project (UT)--$300,000; Dry Creek/Neff's Grove project (UT)--
$1,100,000; Study to examine effects of vegetative
manipulation on water yields with Utah State University--
$500,000; Washington Fields (UT)--$750,000; Wellsville (UT)
drainage improvement--$250,000; Reduce phosphorus loading
into Lake Champlain (VT)--$290,000; Pilot farm viability
program project (VT)--$167,000; Walla Walla (WA) watershed
alliance--$500,000; Comprehensive irrigation district
management plans cooperative agreement--$250,000; Design/
implement natural stream restoration initiatives (WV)--
$770,000; Soil survey geographic database in the Mid-Atlantic
Highlands (WV)--$180,000; Poultry Litter Composting (WV)--
$160,000; Potomac and Ohio River Basin Soil Nutrient Project
(WV)--$300,000; Appalachian Small Farmer Outreach Program
(WV)--$860,000; GIS Center of Excellence at West Virginia
University--$4,337,000; Grazing Lands Initiative/Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture--$950,000; Global Environment Mgmt.
Education Center at Stevens Point (WI)--$2,000,000; Examine
benefits of using vegetative buffers w/ Univ. of Wisconsin-
Madison--$600,000; Conservation land internship program
(WI)--$108,000; Soil survey mapping and digitization project
(WI)--$415,000; Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory
Committee cooperative agreement--$275,000; Cooperative
agreement with Sand County Foundation (WI)--$900,000;
Cooperative agreement with the University of Wisconsin for
the Conservation Technology Transfer Project--$300,000; Soil
survey mapping project (WY)--$300,000; Audubon at Home Pilot
Program--$500,000; Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative--
$23,500,000; Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil & Erosion
Sediment--$2,500,000; Watershed management demo program/
NPPC--$600,000; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Partnerships--$3,000,000; Source water protection project to
States that show the greatest need--$2,750,000; Operation Oak
to restore hardwoods in the south/cooperative agreement with
National Wild Turkey Federation--$300,000; SNOTEL--
$9,250,000; Plant Materials Centers--$11,500,000; On-Farm
Management Systems Evaluation Network--$200,000; and pay
cost--$15,678,000.
The conferees concur with the language and reporting
requirement contained in the Senate report regarding the
Natural Resource Inventory (NRI). The conferees expect the
pilot activity to provide resource data meaningful to Alaska
and integrated with or supplemental to the national NRI.
The conferees urge the Department to give consideration to
the use of WHIP funding for projects that will utilize the
benefits of Eelgrass habitats to marine ecosystems in places
such as Narragansett Bay in the State of Rhode Island, and
similar areas.
WATERSHED SURVEYS AND PLANNING
The conference agreement provides $10,562,000 for Watershed
Surveys and Planning instead of $11,124,000 as proposed by
the House and $10,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS
The conference agreement provides $87,000,000 for Watershed
and Flood Prevention Operations instead of $90,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $55,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees expect the Department to give consideration
for financial and technical assistance to the following:
Indian Creek watershed (PA); Town Creek (MS); Oaklimiter
Watershed (MS); Tanana River (AK); installation of land
treatment conservation measures, including plan supplements,
in the Brandywine Creek and the Red-White Clay Creek
Watersheds (PA); and McCarthy Creek Watershed (AK).
watershed rehabilitation program
The conference agreement provides $29,805,000 for the
Watershed Rehabilitation Program as proposed by the Senate
instead of $40,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees direct that funding be provided for
rehabilitation of structures determined to be of high
priority need in order to protect property and ensure public
safety.
resource conservation and development
The conference agreement provides $51,947,000 for Resource
Conservation and Development instead of $52,894,000 as
proposed by the House and $51,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
TITLE III--RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development
The conference agreement provides $636,000 for the Office
of the Under Secretary for Rural Development as proposed by
the House instead of $651,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees direct the Under Secretary to give
consideration to the following projects or organizations
requesting financial and/or technical assistance, and grants
and/or loans made available under the Rural Development
mission area: Community facility, Belmont County (OH);
expansion of wastewater treatment plant facilities, Village
of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs (NM); Jamerson rural (NV) small
business project; Forest Enterprises Technology Center (WI);
Menominee Mini-Mall Development project (WI); Mole Lake Water
and Sewer project (WI); Strawberry/Movie Ranch project (UT);
Meadow View Heights project (UT); Johnson Canyon (UT); Garden
State Ethanol (NJ); Energy Photovoltaics, Inc., (NJ);
Cleburne County (AR) community facility/water and waste
project; Menominee Tribal Enterprises (WI); Cold Canyon Park
(CA) forestry center; Wastewater pumping and treatment system
improvements in St. John (VI); Wastewater pumping and
treatment system improvements in St. Thomas (VI);
Rehabilitation of six major wastewater pump stations in St.
Thomas and St. Croix (VI); Rehabilitation and replacement of
sanitary sewer infrastructure components in St. Croix (VI);
technical assistance to the Government of the U.S. Virgin
Islands in formulating a prioritized wastewater system
maintenance-management system; Brunswick Community College
turf grass and horticulture technology program (NC); and,
sewer and water system improvements on the Red Cliff (WI)
reservation.
The conferees expect the Secretary to approve these
projects only when subject to established review procedures.
The conferees encourage the Department to continue support
for the National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP) and its
associated State Rural Development Councils (SRDCs).
Additionally, the Department is encouraged to intensify its
efforts to secure financial and other support for the NRDP
and SRDCs from other Federal agencies with rural
responsibilities.
rural community advancement program
The conference agreement provides $757,425,000 for the
Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) instead of
[[Page 31485]]
$701,006,000 as proposed by the House and $767,479,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides $75,919,000 for community
facilities; $605,006,000 for water and waste, of which
$1,000,000 is for grants to nonprofit organizations to
finance construction, refurbishing, and servicing of
individually-owned household water well systems in rural
areas, and of which $500,000 is for revolving funds for
financing water and wastewater projects; and $76,500,000 is
for rural business and cooperative development programs.
The conference agreement provides $24,000,000 for loans and
grants to benefit Federally Recognized Native American
Tribes.
The conference agreement provides $17,733,000 for technical
assistance grants for rural water and waste systems.
The conference agreement provides $1,750,000 for grants to
the Delta Regional Authority.
The conference agreement provides not less than $2,000,000
for grants to statewide private nonprofit public television
systems.
The conference agreement provides $28,000,000 for rural and
native villages in Alaska.
The conference agreement provides that of the funds for the
circuit rider program, two additional full circuit rider
contracts are for Alaska.
The conference agreement provides $22,000,000 for
facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and
severe economic depression.
The conference agreement provides $28,000,000 to be
transferred to the Rural Utilities Service, High Energy Cost
Grants Account.
The following table indicates the distribution of funding
for the RCAP:
Community Facilities........................................$75,919,000
Business-Cooperative Development.............................76,500,000
Water and Waste.............................................605,006,000
________________
Total...................................................757,425,000
Earmarks:
Federally Recognized Native American Tribes................24,000,000
Rural Community Development Initiative......................6,000,000
Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation.................250,000
Delta Regional Authority....................................1,750,000
Colonias...................................................25,000,000
Alaska Villages............................................28,000,000
Technical Assistance.......................................17,733,000
Circuit Rider..............................................13,000,000
EZ/EC and REAP.............................................22,132,000
Economic Impact Initiative Grants..........................22,000,000
High Energy Cost Grants....................................28,000,000
RCAP........................................................5,513,000
Nonprofit individually-owned water well grants..............1,000,000
Water and Wastewater Revolving Funds..........................500,000
Native American Circuit Rider.................................750,000
rural development salaries and expenses
The conference agreement provides $141,869,000 for Rural
Development Salaries and Expenses instead of $146,495,000 as
proposed by the House and $140,922,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees note that the funds provided in this Act may
be used to ensure the timely relocation of the employees of
the Rural Development and Farm Service Agency offices from
the Abrams Federal Building on Market Street, in St. Louis,
Missouri, to the new facility on Goodfellow Boulevard by
December 31, 2004.
Rural Housing Service
rural housing insurance fund program account
The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of
$232,347,000 for activities under the Rural Housing Insurance
Fund Program Account instead of $232,426,000 as proposed by
the House and $231,860,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides for an estimated loan
program level of $4,362,128,000 instead of $4,364,727,000 as
proposed by the House and $4,352,813,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement provides for a transfer of
$443,302,000 to salaries and expenses instead of $447,151,000
as proposed by the House and $439,453,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The Rural Housing Service is encouraged to work with South
County Housing Corporation in Monterey County, California, on
the Salinas Road Swing Housing Project.
The following table indicates loan and subsidy levels
provided in the conference agreement:
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account:
Loan authorizations:
Single family (sec. 502).............................($1,366,462,000)
Unsubsidized guaranteed.............................(2,725,172,000)
Housing repair (sec. 504)................................(35,004,000)
Rental housing (sec. 515).............................(116,545,000)
Site loans (sec. 524).....................................(5,045,000)
Multi-family housing guarantees.........................(100,000,000)
Multi-family housing credit sales.........................(1,500,000)
Single family housing credit sales.......................(10,000,000)
Self-help housing land development........................(2,400,000)
________________
Total, Loan authorizations........................(4,362,128,000)
================
Loan subsidies:
Single family (sec. 502)..................................126,018,000
Unsubsidized guaranteed..................................39,903,000
Housing repair (sec. 504)...................................9,612,000
Rental housing (sec. 515)................................50,126,000
Site loans (sec. 524)..............................................--
Multi-family housing guarantees.............................5,950,000
Multi-family housing credit sales.............................663,000
Single family housing credit sales.................................--
Self-help housing land development.............................75,000
________________
Total, Loan subsidies 232,347,000
================
RHIF administration expenses (transfer to RD)...............443,302,000
rental assistance program
The conference agreement provides $584,000,000 for the
Rental Assistance Program instead of $731,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $721,281,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees strongly support the Section 521 rental
assistance program which helps approximately 264,000 low and
very-low income rural households by providing a subsidy to
offset a portion of their rent. The conference agreement
provides sufficient funding to meet the needs associated with
program renewals and new construction in fiscal year 2004.
However, the conferees are concerned that the past budget
requests for the cost of rental assistance have been
overstated and have resulted in substantial unliquidated
balances. In recent years, appropriations provided for five-
year rental assistance contracts have been sufficient to
cover a period of, on average, six and one half years. The
conference agreement changes the contract term from five to
four years to better reflect the actual costs of existing
contracts. The conferees support the continuation of multi-
year contracts to provide stability to the multi-family
program. Further, the conference agreement provides the
Secretary with the authority to carry-over unexpended funds
at the completion of the four-year contract period to address
future program needs for certain purposes.
MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS
The conference agreement provides $34,000,000 for Mutual
and Self-Help Housing Grants as proposed by the Senate
instead of $34,772,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement does not adopt Senate bill
language regarding Demonstration Housing Grants.
rural housing assistance grants
The conference agreement provides $46,222,000 for Rural
Housing Assistance Grants as proposed by the Senate instead
of $42,222,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees provide $5,000,000 for a demonstration
housing program for processing workers in the states of
Alaska, Mississippi, Utah and Wisconsin. The conferees
encourage the Secretary to administer this program through
non-profits, governmental entities and community based
organizations, including cooperatives and to fund grants up
to 75 percent of the total development cost for each project
awarded.
The Department should consider on-site tenant services in
the selection criteria for projects awarded. The conferees
encourage the Department to issue a notice of availability of
funds within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
The conferees are concerned that only a few states
benefited from the Supervisory and Technical Assistance Grant
Program in the fiscal year 2003 allocation, and encourage the
Secretary to consider an allocation process that will not
discriminate against other states or regions of the nation.
The conferees encourage the Secretary to limit funding to any
state or territory to 10 percent of available funds, and to
give priority to entities that have experience in
homeownership education and/or reducing delinquencies and
foreclosures. The conferees expect the Secretary to provide
not less than $2,000,000 for the Supervisory and Technical
Assistance account.
farm labor program account
The conference agreement provides $36,307,000 for the Farm
Labor Program Account as proposed by the House instead of
$33,015,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides $18,300,000 for loan
subsidies, and $18,007,000 for grants.
historic barn preservation
The conference agreement does not include $2,000,000 for
the Historic Barn Preservation account as proposed by the
Senate.
[[Page 31486]]
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The conference agreement provides a loan level of
$40,000,000 with a subsidy of $17,308,000, the same as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
The conference agreement provides for a transfer of
$4,272,000 to the Rural Development salaries and expense
account instead of $4,283,000 as proposed by the House and
the Senate.
RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The conference agreement provides a loan level of
$15,002,000 for the Rural Economic Development Loans Program
Account with a subsidy of $2,792,000 as proposed by the
Senate instead of a $16,120,000 loan level with a subsidy of
$3,000,000 as proposed by the House.
RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
The conference agreement provides $24,000,000 for Rural
Cooperative Development Grants instead of $13,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $8,967,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement does not include bill language
that sets aside $500,000 for cooperative research agreements.
The conference agreement provides $15,000,000 for value-
added agricultural product market development grants.
The conference agreement adopts language for cooperatives
or associations of cooperatives, whose primary focus is to
provide assistance to small, minority producers and whose
governing board and/or membership is comprised of at least 75
percent minority.
RURAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES AND ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES GRANTS
The conference agreement provides $12,667,000 for Rural
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Grants instead
of $10,967,000 as proposed by the House and $14,370,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes bill language providing
that $1,000,000 shall be for third round empowerment zones.
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM
The conference agreement provides $23,000,000 for the
Renewable Energy Program as proposed by the House and the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes bill language that
provides for guaranteed loans for this account.
Rural Utilities Service
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of
$185,000 for activities under the Rural Electrification and
Telecommunications Loans Program Account. The conference
agreement provides for an estimated loan program level of
$5,605,000,000 as proposed by the Senate instead of
$4,655,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement adopts bill language that provides
guaranteed underwriting loans.
The conference agreement adopts House language providing
for a transfer of $37,853,000 to salaries and expenses
instead of $38,166,000 as proposed by the House and
$37,920,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The following table indicates loan and subsidy levels
provided in the conference agreement:
Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program
Account:
Loan authorizations:
Electric:
Direct, 5 percent....................................($240,000,000)
Direct, Muni........................................(1,000,000,000)
Direct, FFB.........................................(2,000,000,000)
Direct, Treasury rate.................................(750,000,000)
Guaranteed............................................(100,000,000)
Guaranteed underwriting.............................(1,000,000,000)
________________
Subtotal..........................................(5,090,000,000)
================
Telecommunications:
Direct, 5 percent.....................................(145,000,000)
Direct, Treasury rate.................................(250,000,000)
Direct, FFB...........................................(120,000,000)
________________
Subtotal............................................(515,000,000)
================
Total, loan authorizations........................(5,605,000,000)
================
Loan subsidies:
Electric: Guaranteed.........................................60,000
Telecommunications:
Direct, Treasury rate.......................................125,000
________________
Total, loan subsidies.....................................185,000
================
RETLP administrative expenses (transfer to RD)...............37,853,000
RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The conference agreement provides $173,503,000 for the
Rural Telephone Bank Program Account as proposed by the
Senate. The House did not provide funding for this account.
The conference agreement provides for a transfer of
$3,171,000 to salaries and expenses instead of $3,182,000 as
proposed by the House and the Senate.
DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE AND BROADBAND PROGRAM
The conference agreement provides $61,116,000 for the
Distance Learning, Telemedicine and Broadband Program instead
of $42,116,000 as proposed by the House and $65,116,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides for an estimated loan
program level of $300,000,000 for distance learning and
telemedicine and $602,000,000 for broadband
telecommunications.
The conference agreement includes $39,000,000 for Distance
Learning and Telemedicine grants.
The conference agreement includes $13,116,000 for Broadband
loan subsidies, and $9,000,000 for grants.
The conference agreement includes bill language that the
Broadband Loan program shall be for direct, Treasury rate
loans.
The conference agreement adopts language defining rural
areas as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees are aware of and encourage the Secretary to
support the utilization of remote telemedicine services
capable of transmitting medical information in both real-time
and stored scenarios for diagnosis, medical monitoring, and
emergency purposes. Furthermore, the conferees recognize the
need for integration and interoperability of real-time remote
mobile medical technology with other devices, systems, and
services which together offer increased capabilities,
functionality, and levels of care.
TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
The conference agreement provides $599,000 for the Office
of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer
Services, as proposed by the House, instead of $611,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Food and Nutrition Service
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
The conference agreement provides $11,417,441,000 for Child
Nutrition Programs, instead of $11,418,441,000, as proposed
by both the House and Senate. The conference amount includes
full funding of the request for program expenses, and
$5,000,000 for a certification study, instead of $6,000,000
as requested.
Included in the total is an appropriated amount of
$6,717,780,000 and a transfer from section 32 of
$4,699,661,000.
The conference agreement includes a provision prohibiting
use of funds for studies and evaluations, except as
specifically provided.
The conferees provide $5,000,000 in one-time funding for a
study of over and under certification errors and the effect
those errors have on expenditures in the National School
Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and an assessment of the
feasibility of using income data matching in those programs.
The conferees are aware that this study will provide
information necessary to make informed policy decisions
regarding these programs, but direct the Department to work
to ensure that neither the design nor implementation of the
study will discourage participation in these programs by
eligible children.
The conferees provide $10,025,000, the same level as fiscal
year 2003 and the budget request, for the School Meals
Initiative/Team Nutrition. The conferees believe it is
important to support physical activity and healthy eating
habits in children and strongly support the nutrition
education activities carried out with these funds. The
conferees encourage the Department to provide additional
funding to support these efforts as appropriate to combat
increased obesity and other health problems in children.
The conference agreement provides the following for Child
Nutrition programs:
Total Obligational Authority
Child Nutrition Programs:
School lunch program...................................$6,683,704,000
School breakfast program................................1,797,923,000
Child and adult care food program.......................2,019,045,000
Summer food service program...............................308,653,000
Special milk program.......................................15,270,000
State administrative expenses.............................140,240,000
Commodity procurement and computer support................431,309,000
School meals initiative/Team nutrition.....................10,025,000
Food safety education.......................................1,000,000
Coordinated review effort...................................5,235,000
Program Pay Cost...............................................37,000
Certification and data match study..........................5,000,000
________________
Total................................................11,417,441,000
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN
(WIC)
The conference agreement provides $4,639,232,000 for the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,
and Children (WIC), as proposed by the Senate, instead of
$4,588,310,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement includes no less than $15,000,000
for a breastfeeding support initiative. In addition, the
conference agreement provides up to $25,000,000 for
investments in management information systems,
[[Page 31487]]
and up to $4,000,000 for pilot projects to combat obesity in
children, if the Secretary determines that those funds are
not needed to maintain caseload. The conferees provide
$23,000,000 for the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program,
instead of $25,000,000 as proposed by the Senate, and no
funding as proposed by the House. The House had funded this
program at $20,000,000 under the Commodity Assistance Program
account.
The conference agreement does not provide funds to increase
the WIC contingency fund. The conferees note that
$125,000,000 was provided for the WIC contingency fund in
fiscal year 2003, and the entire amount remains available to
the Secretary to fund program costs if necessary.
The conferees urge the Secretary to allow state and local
WIC agencies the flexibility to use breastfeeding promotion
and support methods and efforts that have yielded positive
results, in the expenditure of funds provided for under
Section 17 for the breastfeeding support initiative.
The conference agreement includes a provision prohibiting
use of funds for studies and evaluations.
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
The conference agreement provides $30,945,981,000 for the
Food Stamp Program, instead of $27,745,981,000, as proposed
by the House and $29,945,981,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Included in this amount is a reserve of $3,000,000,000,
instead of $2,000,000,000, as proposed in the budget request.
In addition to the $3,000,000,000 for the reserve, the
conference agreement includes $26,403,176,000 for program
expenses, $1,402,805,000 for grants to Puerto Rico and Samoa,
and $140,000,000 for commodity purchase for The Emergency
Food Assistance Program.
The conference agreement includes a provision allowing for
purchase of bison meat, in an amount not to exceed
$4,000,000, for the Food Distribution Program on Indian
Reservations (FDPIR).
The conference agreement includes a provision prohibiting
use of funds for studies and evaluations.
COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The conference agreement provides $150,000,000 for the
Commodity Assistance Program, instead of $166,072,000, as
proposed by the House and $145,740,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Within that amount, the conference agreement provides
$98,919,000 for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, an
increase of $3,928,000 over the request and the House and
Senate levels.
The conferees have provided this increase to address the
growing caseload in this program. USDA has indicated that, at
the request level of $94,991,000, the total budgetary
resources available for fiscal year 2004 for the program--
including beginning inventory--would be sufficient to support
participation of 520,642, and caseload of 536,744. The
conferees expect the Department to make the full amount of
those budgetary resources available to support participation
and caseload. The intention of the conferees is to ensure at
a minimum that the final caseload in September, 2003, can be
maintained in 2004, while meeting the requirement to protect
the caseload of states that joined the program in 2003.
The conferees provide $50,000,000 for administration--
processing, storage, transport, and distribution--of The
Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The conference
agreement includes a general provision that provides the
Secretary with authority to transfer up to $10,000,000 from
TEFAP commodity purchases to administration.
Within this account, the conferees provide $1,081,000 to
the Food Donations Program for Pacific Island Assistance.
The conference agreement does not include funding for the
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program in this account, as
proposed by the House. Rather, $23,000,000 in funding for
that program is provided in the account for The Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC).
The conference agreement includes language regarding new
authorization for assistance to nuclear affected islands.
NUTRITION PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION
The conference agreement provides $138,304,000 for
Nutrition Programs Administration, as proposed by the Senate,
instead of $140,512,000 as proposed by the House. Included in
this amount is not less than $4,000,000 to improve integrity
in the Food Stamp Program and Child Nutrition Program.
The conferees provide the same funding level as fiscal year
2003 for studies and evaluations in the Nutrition Programs
Administration account.
The conference agreement does not include funding for the
requested initiatives, as proposed by the House.
TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Foreign Agricultural Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $132,148,000 for the
Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries and Expenses instead
of $133,924,000 as proposed by the House and $131,648,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conferees direct the Secretary to distinguish between
white (food grade) sorghum and yellow (feed grade) sorghum in
food aid programs.
PUBLIC LAW 480 TITLE I AND TITLE II PROGRAM AND GRANT ACCOUNTS
The conference agreement provides $103,887,000 for Title I
loan subsidies for a loan level of $132,000,000 as proposed
by the House instead of $131,670,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement provides $28,000,000 for Ocean
Freight Differential as proposed by the House and the Senate.
The conference agreement provides $1,192,000,000 for Public
Law 480 Title II as proposed by the House and the Senate.
The following table reflects the conference agreement for
Public Law 480 program accounts:
Public Law 480
Title 1--Program account:
Loan authorization, direct.............................($132,000,000)
Loan subsidies............................................103,887,000
Ocean freight di28,000,000
Title II--Commodities for disposition abroad:
Program level.........................................(1,192,000,000)
Appropriation...........................................1,192,000,000
Salaries and expenses:
Foreign Agricultural Service (transfer to FAS)..............1,059,000
Farm Service Agency (transfer to FSA).......................1,075,000
The conferees direct the administration not to place
arbitrary limits on monetization under the Public Law 480,
Title II, program. In food-deficit, import-reliant countries,
monetization stimulates the economy and allows needed
commodities to be provided in the marketplace. Food aid
proposals should be approved based on the merits of the
program plan to promote food security and improve people's
lives, not on the level of monetization.
MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION
PROGRAM GRANTS
The conference agreement provides $50,000,000 for the
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child
Nutrition Program instead of $56,874,000 as proposed by the
House and $25,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Although Food for Progress funds may not be used for the
McGovern-Dole program, the conferees support the goals of
that program and encourage the Secretary to investigate use
of other resources, such as 416(b), to carry out activities
consistent with the goals of the McGovern-Dole program.
Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program Account
The conference agreement provides $4,152,000 for the
Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program Account as
proposed by the Senate instead of $4,312,000 as proposed by
the House.
TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides total appropriations,
including Prescription Drug User Fee Act, Medical Device User
Fee Act, and Animal Drug User Fee Act collections, of
$1,673,441,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Food and
Drug Administration, instead of $1,668,249,000, as proposed
by the House and $1,663,228,000, as proposed by the Senate,
and provides specific amounts by FDA activity as reflected in
the following table.
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prescription Medical device Animal drug user
Program Budget authority drug user fees user fees fees Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foods......................................................... 413,112 ................ ................ ................ 413,112
Human Drugs................................................... 295,906 182,060 ................ ................ 477,966
Biologics..................................................... 123,539 38,271 7,619 ................ 169,429
Animal Drugs and Feeds........................................ 84,646 ................ ................ 4,750 89,396
Medical Devices............................................... 192,278 ................ 17,142 ................ 209,420
Nat'l Center for Toxicological Research....................... 39,887 ................ ................ ................ 39,887
[[Page 31488]]
Other Activities.............................................. 90,725 20,848 3,788 ................ 115,361
Rent and Rent-related Activities.............................. 38,636 ................ 640 ................ 39,276
Rental Payments to GSA........................................ 108,233 8,646 2,465 250 119,594
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Recommendation.................................... 1,386,962 249,825 31,654 5,000 1,673,441
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The conference agreement also makes mammography user fees
and export certification user fees available to the agency.
Within the total funding for the Food and Drug
Administration, the following increases above the fiscal year
2003 level are provided: $20,500,000 for counterterrorism and
food safety activities; $8,000,000 to reduce review times and
increase the number of generic drugs on the market;
$4,000,000 for activities to support the Best Pharmaceuticals
for Children Act; $3,000,000 for activities related to
patient safety; $650,000 to improve FDA's over the counter
drug program; and $1,145,000 to continue implementation of
the Unified Financial Management System. Amounts provided
above the budget request include: $9,000,000 for increased
medical device review; $600,000 for the Office of Women's
Health; $692,000 for the CFSAN Adverse Events Reporting
System; $150,000 for the Agricultural Products Food Safety
Laboratory; and $500,000 for dietary supplements.
The conference agreement includes language allowing for the
collection and use of authorized user fees, and does not
allow user fees collected in excess of the limitation to be
credited to the various accounts and to remain available
until expended. The conference agreement also allows for fees
assessed prior to fiscal year 2004 but credited during fiscal
year 2004 to be added to the account. Language is included to
release the requirement of Section 521 of P.L. 107-188.
The conference agreement includes $2,375,000 for relocation
expenses related to the move of the Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research offices to the consolidated White Oak
campus. Carryover funds available in the Prescription Drug
User Fee Account should fund the remaining amount needed for
the relocation.
The conferees are aware that language to authorize the
Animal Drug User Fee Act has been passed by the House and
Senate, but has not yet been signed into law. Therefore, the
conferees have included language in the bill required for FDA
to collect these fees, but prohibit FDA to begin collection
until the authorization has been signed into law.
The conference report provides funding of $21,607,000 for
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) prevention activities.
The conference agreement recommendation includes a total of
$9,445,000 for the Unified Financial Management System
(UFMS), an increase of $1,145,000. The conferees direct that,
from this total amount, no less than $4,503,000 is to be
invested in improvements to FDA's legacy systems and is not
to be used for UFMS contracts or global UFMS costs.
The conferees provide $1,900,000 for the Agricultural
Products Food Safety Laboratory, an increase of $150,000 over
the fiscal year 2003 level, for FDA to continue its contract
with New Mexico State University's Physical Sciences
Laboratory to operate the Food Technology Evaluation
Laboratory, which conducts evaluation and development of
rapid screening methodologies, technologies, and
instrumentation; and to provide technology deployment
modeling and data analysis for food safety and product safety
in order to facilitate FDA's regulations and responsibilities
in food safety, product safety, homeland security,
bioterrorism, and other initiatives.
The conferees direct that no less than $13,270,000 be
available for grants and contracts awarded under section 5 of
the Orphan Drug Act.
The conferees request that FDA report to the Committees on
its oversight plan regarding the adequacy of current systems
for the tracking of blood-derived products and patient
notification of adverse events.
The conferees are pleased that the FDA has published a rule
articulating a transition strategy for removing
chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propelled medicines from the U.S.
market. The conferees are aware that several patient and
physician organizations which represent those who suffer from
asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease submitted a
Citizen Petition to the FDA requesting that it take measures
to remove albuterol from the list of essential uses for CFCs.
The conferees encourage the FDA to respond to the petition
request in a timely manner and, if appropriate, expeditiously
implement a transition strategy as alternative non-CFC
products enter the U.S. market. The conferees request a
report from the agency on its course of action regarding this
issue, including plans to assure adequate access to necessary
medications, within 90 days of enactment.
The conferees direct that no less than $53,750,000 of total
funding appropriated for FDA be provided for the generic
drugs program.
The conferees direct that none of the funds made available
to the Food and Drug Administration in this Act be used for
any assessments or charges by the Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS) unless identified in the FDA budget
justification and provided in this Act, or approved by the
Committees through the reprogramming process.
The conference agreement does not include language relating
to human resources consolidation, as proposed by the House.
The directive in the preceding paragraph includes that
function, as well as all others subject to charges and
assessments by DHHS.
The conference agreement includes no less than $250,000 for
research and education activities with the Interstate
Shellfish Sanitation Commission (ISSC) to focus on efforts
relating to Vibrio vulnificus.
The conferees are concerned that FDA registration
requirements for the licensed beverage industry under the
Interim Final Rule published October 10, 2003, duplicate the
requirements of registration at the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax
and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the U.S. Department of the
Treasury. The conferees direct FDA to report to the
Committees within 60 days of enactment on the scope of
duplication, a description of data required by FDA but not by
TTB, the estimated cost of transferring TTB registration data
into the FDA system, and the timeframe in which the transfer
could be accomplished, to avoid duplication and unnecessary
costs to the industry.
The conferees are concerned that different Federal agencies
have published information on the level of methyl mercury
exposure that is considered safe for humans, which may be
confusing to consumers. The conferees understand that in the
last nine months, FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency
have been working together to develop a single joint advisory
that will contain advice about all types of fish (commercial
and locally caught). The conferees expect FDA to provide a
copy of the resulting draft joint advisory to the Committees
by January 2, 2004.
The conferees direct that no less than $250,000 be provided
to process comments submitted in response to Docket No. 95N-
0304 published in the Federal Register on March 5, 2003 (68
FR 10417) and related activities.
The conferees are aware that the Food and Drug
Administration has issued a final rule regarding the labeling
of dietary supplements containing ginseng (68 Fed. Reg. 167,
August 28, 2003) and has indicated that the industry must be
in compliance with this labeling rule. The conferees
encourage FDA to ensure that this final rule is being fully
enforced.
The conferees are aware that on May 6, 2003, the FDA issued
a draft guidance document on current good manufacturing
practices for the medical gas industry, and that numerous
comments were received on this draft prior to the deadline
for public comments. The conferees expect the Agency to give
consideration to each of these comments, and to respond to
each comment accordingly. The conferees also encourage the
FDA to undertake a risk-based and cost-benefit analysis
before finalizing this document.
The conferees direct that of the funding provided, no less
than $10,900,000, an increase of $500,000 be made available
for the regulation of dietary supplements.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
The conference agreement includes $7,000,000 for the repair
and improvement of existing buildings and facilities, instead
of $6,000,000 as proposed by the House and $7,948,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
The conference agreement provides $90,435,000 for the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, instead of $88,435,000
as proposed by both the House and Senate.
Farm Credit Administration
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes a limitation of
$40,900,000 on administrative expenses of the Farm Credit
Administration (FCA), as proposed by both the House and
Senate.
TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 710.--The conference agreement limits indirect
costs for competitive grants awarded by the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service to 20 percent.
[[Page 31489]]
Section 722.--The conference agreement directs that no
funding may be used to close or relocate a state RD office
unless or until cost effectiveness and enhancement of program
delivery have been determined.
Section 723.--The conference agreement provides $3,000,000
for Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships.
Section 724.--The conference agreement allows balances,
recoveries, and reimbursements that are available to carry
out title III of P.L. 480 to be made available to carry out
title II.
Section 725.--The conference agreement directs the
Secretary to make commodity tonnage available, to the extent
practicable, to assist foreign countries to mitigate the
effects of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Section 726.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center
revolving fund.
Section 727.--The conference agreement directs the Natural
Resources Conservation Service to provide financial and
technical assistance for certain projects in Arkansas,
Alaska, Illinois, Utah, and Kansas.
Section 728.--The conference agreement names certain
locations that shall be considered to meet eligibility
requirements for programs within the Rural Development
mission area.
Section 729.--The conference agreement directs the Natural
Resources Conservation Service to provide financial and
technical assistance for certain projects in Illinois and
Kentucky and sets limits for that funding.
Section 730.--The conference agreement includes language
limiting transfers unless specifically provided for in an
appropriation Act.
Section 731.--The conference agreement includes a
limitation regarding Food and Drug Administration offices in
St. Louis, Missouri.
Section 732.--The conference agreement allows unobligated
balances within the Department of Agriculture to be used to
reimburse the Office of the General Counsel for certain
services provided.
Section 733.--The conference agreement allows 20 percent of
funds for competitive research grants to be used to carry out
a competitive grants program under certain terms and
conditions.
Section 734.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding dam rehabilitation.
Section 735.--The conference agreement directs the Natural
Resources Conservation Service to provide financial and
technical assistance for the Upper Tygart Valley Watershed
Project, and authorizes the Service to provide 100 percent of
engineering assistance and 75 percent of the installation
costs.
Section 736.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding the Rural Strategic Investment Program.
Section 737.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding rural firefighters and emergency personnel grants.
Section 738.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding studies done by the Agricultural Research Service.
Section 739.--The conference agreement allows the
Agricultural Marketing Service and the Grain Inspection,
Packers and Stockyards Administration to purchase interest-
bearing investments without posting them as obligations if
they are insured or collateralized.
Section 740.--The conference agreement provides up to
$10,000,000 for costs associated with the distribution of
commodities under the Food Stamp Act of 1977.
Section 741.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding the Wetlands Reserve Program.
Section 742.--The conference agreement prohibits funds in
excess of $20,000,000 that have been appropriated in fiscal
year 2004 or prior years, as authorized under the
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, to
be used to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for the
release of eligible commodities under the Bill Emerson
Humanitarian Trust Act.
Section 743.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Section 744.--The conference agreement directs the Natural
Resources Conservation Service to provide financial and
technical assistance to the Dry Creek project, Utah.
Section 745.--The conference agreement provides the
Secretary of Agriculture with authority to authorize
employees of the Department to carry and use firearms for
personal protection while conducting field work in remote
locations.
Section 746.--The conference report includes language
regarding the renewable energy program.
Section 747.--The conference report includes language
regarding the broadband telecommunications program.
Section 748.--The conference report includes language
regarding value-added market development grants.
Section 749.--The conference report includes language
regarding country-of-origin labeling.
Section 750.--The conference report includes a provision
regarding rural electric subsidy costs.
Section 751.--The conference report includes a rescission
of unobligated balances in the Alternative Agricultural
Research and Commercialization Revolving Fund.
Section 752.--The conference report includes language
regarding the Conservation Security Program.
Section 753.--The conference report includes language
regarding the ground and surface water conservation program.
Section 754.--The conference report includes language
regarding the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program.
Section 755.--The conference report includes language
regarding the Farmland Protection Program.
Section 756.--The conference report includes $15,000,000 in
assistance for certain tree losses.
Section 757.--The conference report includes $1,500,000 for
the Northern Great Plains Regional Authority and stipulates
that the Federal cost share is 100 percent.
Section 758.--The conference report includes a directive on
a reporting requirement related to trade development and
assistance.
Section 759.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding rural business investment subsidies.
Section 760.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding travel card use.
The conferees are aware of the audit conducted by the USDA
Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the departmental
travel card program, which uncovered problems such as fraud,
abusive ATM usage, ``bounced'' check payments, and lack of
specific travel card policies and penalties. USDA recently
made efforts to limit abusive practices by attempting to
reduce the number of credit card holders, issuing revised
departmental regulations, and instituting a new system of
alerts to catch abusive transactions.
The conferees commend the Secretary for moving forward to
begin to address the problems with official credit and travel
cards, and urge the Secretary to continue work on this
problem. The conferees have retained the House-passed
language as a reminder to the Department and will continue to
monitor the Department's remedial activities. If it is
necessary, the conferees will consider a statutory remedy
during the fiscal year 2005 process.
Section 761.--The conference agreement includes a provision
regarding cost-sharing requirements for animal and plant
health emergency programs of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
Section 762.--The conference agreement authorizes use of
USDA available discretionary funds for activities relating to
discrimination complaints.
Section 763.--The conference agreement includes a provision
regarding eligibility for housing assistance in Alaska.
Section 764.--The conference agreement provides $1,000,000
to the Denali Commission to address deficiencies in solid
waste disposal sites.
Section 765.--The conference agreement directs that the
cities of Vicksburg and Starkville, Mississippi, and
Aberdeen, South Dakota, meet the requirements of a rural area
as set in section 520 of the Housing Act until receipt of the
decennial Census for 2010.
Section 766.--The conference agreement makes the cities of
Berlin, New Hampshire, and Guymon, Shawnee, and Altus,
Oklahoma, eligible for loans and grants provided through the
Rural Community Advancement Program until receipt of the
decennial Census for 2010.
Section 767.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding competitive outsourcing.
Section 768.--The conference agreement amends the Housing
Act of 1949 relating to adjusted income.
Section 769.--The conference agreement includes language
relating to Agricultural Management Assistance. The conferees
direct the Secretary to use not less than $3,000,000 of the
funding available under this Section to the Risk Management
Agency to fund additional crop insurance cost share
assistance programs in states which have operated a state-
funded crop insurance premium assistance program for crop
years 2001, 2002.
Section 770.--The conference agreement includes a permanent
limitation regarding sale or export of tobacco or tobacco
products through the Foreign Agricultural Service.
Section 771.--The conference agreement includes a provision
to maintain the benefit level for Food Stamp recipients in
Alaska and Hawaii at the fiscal year 2003 level.
Section 772.--The conference agreement includes a provision
defining ``rural eligible community'' in the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936.
Section 773.--The conference agreement includes a provision
relating to eligibility of rural areas in Hawaii for programs
in the Rural Development Mission Area.
Section 774.--The conference agreement includes a provision
relating to mortgage-backed securities.
Section 775.--The conference agreement includes a provision
giving the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to allow
Community Facility Program borrowers to enter into contracts
with third parties for necessary services.
[[Page 31490]]
Section 776.--The conference agreement gives the Secretary
of Agriculture the authority to enter into cooperative
agreements to lease aircraft.
Section 777.--The conference agreement amends language in
the Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 regarding citrus
canker assistance.
Section 778.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding a Sun Grant Research Initiative.
Section 779.--The conference agreement includes language
allowing use of unobligated balances in certain accounts
within the Rural Utilities Service for the purposes of
section 315 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
Section 780.--The conference agreement includes language
regarding price supports for nonfat dry milk and butter.
Section 781.--The conference agreement authorizes the
Secretary to make funding and other assistance available
through the emergency watershed protection program for damage
to non-Federal lands due to fires initiated by the Federal
Government, and waives cost sharing requirements.
Section 782.--The conference agreement authorizes the
Secretary to waive requirements regarding small and emerging
rural business under the Rural Business Enterprise Grant
program for the Oakridge Oregon Industrial Park.
Section 783.--The conference agreement makes the Alaska
Department of Community and Economic Development eligible for
a water and waste disposal grant that funds not more than 75
percent of the cost of the project, and permits the grant to
pass through to the local government.
Section 784.--Language is included regarding eligibility
for the Conservation Reserve Program for land planted in
hardwood trees, and previously enrolled in the program, to
remain enrolled.
Section 785.--The conference agreement makes the city of
Postville, Iowa, eligible for a water and waste disposal
grant that funds not more than 75 percent of the cost of the
project.
Section 786.--The conferees include a limitation on funding
for the Natural Resources Conservation Service related to a
reorganization of regional conservationists and/or regional
offices.
Section 787.--The conference agreement includes a
rescission from the unobligated balance of the field
automation and information management project for the Food
Safety and Inspection Service.
Section 788.--The conference agreement includes a citation
change to make funds available for international science and
education grants.
Section 789.--The conference report includes language
regarding the authority of Great Falls, Montana, for certain
loans.
Conference Total--With Comparisons
The total new budget (obligational) authority for the
fiscal year 2004 recommended by the Committee of Conference,
with comparisons to the fiscal year 2003 amount, the 2004
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 2004
follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003.......$74,752,926
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority fiscal year 77,561,060
House bill, fiscal year 2004.................................77,386,274
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004................................79,602,414
Conference agreement, fiscal year 2004.......................80,632,273
Conference agreement compared with:
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal+5,879,347
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year+3,071,213
House bill, fiscal year 2004.................................+3,245,999
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004................................+1,029,859
DIVISION B--COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED
AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 2004
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
General Administration
Salaries and Expenses
The conferees recommend a total of $106,687,000 for General
Administration, Salaries and Expenses, instead of
$106,664,000 as proposed by the House and $116,171,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conferees note that during fiscal year 2003, the
Justice Department announced a number of new initiatives
without consulting Congress, including creation of the
Terrorist Threat Integration Center, the Terrorist Screening
Center, and the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Councils. These
follow the proliferation of task forces, a massive and
evolving reorganization of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and various database initiatives in the
previous fiscal year. No legislative proposals have been
submitted to establish any of these entities; it is unclear
what the long term funding needs associated with each of
these will be; and most importantly, it is unclear what the
overarching strategy is to reconcile each of these entities
within the current structure of the Justice Department and
blend them with other Federal law enforcement entities
outside the Justice Department to ensure that law enforcement
at all levels has the tools to effectively combat terrorism
and protect citizens from traditional crimes. The conferees
remain supportive of the Justice Department, and toward that
end direct the Justice Department to submit with the fiscal
year 2005 budget a rationalization of these various efforts
with the goal of consolidating efforts to ensure that Federal
law enforcement enhances its ability to prevent terrorist
attacks and fight traditional crime.
The conference agreement adopts by reference House and
Senate language providing an increase of $7,000,000 for the
highest priority activities of the Chief Information Officer
(CIO), as well as House language regarding a report on all
existing and planned information technology sharing projects,
and review and coordination of Justice Department information
technology initiatives. The conferees will consider a
reprogramming for information technology projects should
additional funds be necessary. The conferees remain concerned
with the proliferation of database initiatives and direct the
Justice CIO to provide quarterly briefings. The conferees
request the Justice CIO to submit a prioritized list of
information technology projects to the Committees on
Appropriations with the FY 2005 budget submission.
The conference agreement adopts by reference Senate
language regarding funding for RFK building security needs.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
corporate fraud and Native American gambling.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
the creation of a position to oversee Department of Justice
activities with regard to civil rights. The conferees expect
this position to be filled by a senior career official with
specific knowledge and experience in civil rights. The
conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
posthumous award of Public Safety Officers Medal of Valor to
the 414 public safety officers who perished on September 11,
2001. The conferees adopt by reference House language
regarding a comprehensive review of all training programs for
State and local law enforcement.
The conferees adopt by reference House and Senate language
regarding the Justice Department's core financial management
system and direct the Department to consider a cross-
servicing arrangement with another Federal agency to provide
these services rather than building a system of its own. A
study of such a cross-servicing option and other options
shall be submitted by March 1, 2004. The conferees will
consider a reprogramming for these activities as necessary.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
locks.
The conference agreement adopts by reference Senate
language regarding quarterly briefings from the Office of
Intelligence Policy and Review. The conferees do not adopt
Senate report language regarding a study to consolidate
Justice Department facilities out of the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area, but direct the Justice Department to
submit a long-term plan for its facilities no later than June
15, 2004. The conferees do not include Senate language
regarding transfer of the U.S. Marshals seized assets
management program to General Administration.
The conferees direct the Justice Department to develop
Memoranda of Understanding with the Department of Homeland
Security and other appropriate Federal agencies regarding
continued integration of fingerprint systems, automated
booking capabilities, detention bed space needs, and
transportation of prisoners.
The conference agreement modifies bill language proposed by
both the House and the Senate regarding legislative affairs
positions and workyears and associated funding levels.
Joint Automated Booking System
The conference agreement includes $19,176,000 for the
continued operation of the Joint Automated Booking System
(JABS), instead of $15,577,000 as proposed by the House and
$23,176,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement adopts by reference Senate language regarding an
increase of $3,200,000 for the deployment of JABS to the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The
conferees direct the Justice Department to submit a proposal
with the fiscal year 2005 budget to fund JABS out of the
Assets Forfeiture Fund, if appropriate. The conferees adopt
by reference House language regarding collaboration with
other Federal law enforcement entities outside the Justice
Department, and Senate language regarding a cost sharing fee
proposal.
Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System
The conference agreement includes $5,100,000 for the
planning, development, and deployment of an integrated
fingerprint identification system. The House provided funding
for these activities under the Identification Systems
Integration account; the Senate did not fund this activity.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
continued collaboration on integrating fingerprint systems.
The Department is directed to consult with the Committees
[[Page 31491]]
on Appropriations regarding the status of this program.
Legal Activities Office Automation
The conferees recommend $27,034,000 for Legal Activities
Office Automation instead of $30,136,000 as proposed by the
House and $66,240,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conference agreement adopts by reference House language
regarding the Bureau of Prisons and the Office of Justice
Programs, and Senate language regarding the U.S. Parole
Commission. The conferees are willing to entertain a
reprogramming from available balances should additional funds
be necessary for continued deployment of this system. The
conference agreement adopts by reference House language
regarding costs and implementation milestones to complete
convergence of these additional components onto the LAOA
system. This report should include an expected final
implementation date, and estimates for ongoing operations and
maintenance costs for all components of the system.
Narrowband Communications
The conference agreement includes $103,171,000 for
Narrowband Communications as proposed by the House and the
Senate. The conferees recognize that the Justice Wireless
Management Office (WMO) has developed a plan to deploy
interoperable radios to high priority locations as part of
its overall plan to upgrade Federal law enforcement radio
communications for the nation. The WMO may use available
funding to augment state and local law enforcement
interoperable radio communication systems as long as that
equipment is necessary for the achievement of the overall WMO
Federal radio interoperability plan. The conferees direct the
WMO to consult with the Committees on Appropriations
regarding this effort prior to obligating any funds. The
conferees adopt by reference House language regarding funding
that will be available to the Justice Department and
direction to revise program requirements. The conferees also
adopt by reference House language regarding submission of
status reports as directed in Public Law 106-553, to include
an operational plan for expenditure of funds. The conferees
also direct the WMO to submit reports to the Committees on
Appropriations regarding the ongoing pilots, deployment to
high priority locations, and collaboration with other non-
Justice Federal law enforcement agencies.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
emphasis on interoperable radios, and Project Safecom. The
conferees do not include Senate language regarding a spending
plan.
The conferees include House bill language regarding
transfer of radio funds from Justice law enforcement accounts
to this account.
Counterterrorism Fund
The conference agreement includes $1,000,000 for the
Counterterrorism Fund as proposed by the House. The Senate
did not fund this program. When combined with $20,000,000 in
unobligated balances available in this account, a total of
$21,000,000 will be available for obligation for fiscal year
2004 to cover unanticipated, extraordinary expenses as a
result of a terrorist threat or incident.
Administrative Review and Appeals
The conference agreement includes $193,530,000 for
Administrative Review and Appeals as proposed by the House
instead of $194,111,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees adopt by reference Senate report language regarding
submission of a report on the impacts of the Bureau of
Immigration Appeals streamlining initiative on the Civil
Division.
Detention Trustee
The conference agreement includes $814,097,000 for the
Detention Trustee instead of $810,125,000 as proposed by the
House and instead of $849,876,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
creation of a task force to better forecast detention needs;
development of a Memorandum of Understanding with the
Department of Homeland Security for their detention needs;
and Senate language prioritizing extraditions. The conference
agreement does not include Senate language regarding transfer
of U.S. Marshals Service or Bureau of Prisons staff, or the
Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System to the
Detention Trustee. The conference agreement adopts by
reference House and Senate language admonishing the Detention
Trustee for attempting to address detention needs by
contracting to construct a facility. The conferees underscore
that any constructing, planning, supporting or contracting of
new detention facilities is not an allowable use of funds
provided under this account and directs the Detention Trustee
to withdraw any solicitations for such activities.
Office of Inspector General
The conference agreement includes $60,840,000 for the
Office of Inspector General as proposed by the Senate instead
of $56,245,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees adopt
by reference House language regarding Department of Justice
efforts to implement recommendations from the report on
September 11th detainees.
United States Parole Commission
salaries and expenses
The conference agreement includes $10,609,000 for the
United States Parole Commission as proposed by the House
instead of $10,718,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees adopt by reference House language regarding a study
required under Public Law 107-273. The conferees adopt by
reference Senate language regarding a report on the number of
personnel detailed from the Department of Justice to the
Commission.
Legal Activities
salaries and expenses, general legal activities
The conference agreement includes $620,533,000 for General
Legal Activities as proposed by the House instead of
$632,637,000 as proposed by the Senate. The distribution of
funding provided is as follows:
General legal activities
[In thousands of dollars]
2004 appropriation
Office of the Solicitor General..................................$7,973
Tax Division.....................................................77,141
Criminal Division...............................................133,636
Civil Division..................................................199,665
Environment and Natural Resources Division.......................76,556
Office of Legal Counsel...........................................5,679
Civil Rights Division...........................................110,000
Interpol USNCB....................................................9,524
Office of Dispute Resolution........................................359
________________
Total......................................................$620,533
The conferees remind the legal divisions that changes to
these funding levels are subject to section 605 requirements
in this Act.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
submission of a report to the Committees on Appropriations
regarding efforts of the Criminal Division to prosecute
corporate corruption. The conferees note that the Congress
provided the U.S. Attorneys with an increase of $13,000,000
in the fiscal year 2003 appropriations act to aggressively
prosecute corporate corruption. If additional funding is
needed for these activities, the Committees on Appropriations
will consider a reprogramming.
The conferees adopt by reference House funding levels for
the Civil Division, including an increase of $2,671,000 for
needs associated with immigration-related litigation. The
conferees adopt by reference Senate language regarding
cooperation between the Bureau of Immigration Appeals (BIA)
and the Civil Division.
The conferees note that the Congress provided the Civil
Division with $15,000,000 in Public Law 108-106 for needs
associated with processing claims filed with the Special
Master. The conferees adopt by reference House language
regarding the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund. The
conferees adopt by reference the $1,000,000 increase proposed
by the House and the Senate and House language regarding
absorption of additional requirements for processing RECA
claims. The conference agreement adopts by reference House
language regarding the provision of additional resources to
the Civil Division, if emergent circumstances warrant,
through transfers of funds from other Department of Justice
sources, subject to the requirements of section 605 of this
Act. The conferees expect the Justice Department to submit a
reprogramming for costs associated with continuing tobacco
and other litigation activities, should funding be warranted.
The conference agreement also includes a transfer of
$3,060,000 from the Working Capital Fund to the Environment
and Natural Resources Division for Tribal Trust Fund
litigation.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
efforts to combat trafficking in persons and enhanced
coordination with State and local law enforcement. The
conference agreement adopts by reference House funding levels
for Interpol and House language regarding submission of a
report on Interpol accomplishments and coordination with
State, local, and Federal law enforcement.
the national childhood vaccine injury act
The conference agreement includes a reimbursement of
$4,028,000 for fiscal year 2004 from the Vaccine Injury
Compensation Trust Fund to the Department of Justice, as
proposed by the House and the Senate.
Salaries And Expenses, Antitrust Division
The conference agreement includes $133,133,000 for the
Antitrust Division, instead of $128,133,000 as provided by
the House and $141,898,000 as provided by the Senate.
Salaries and Expenses, United States Attorneys
The conference agreement includes $1,526,253,000 for the
U.S. Attorneys as proposed by the House instead of
$1,507,879,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees adopt
by reference House language regarding cybercrime and
intellectual property enforcement, and submission of a report
regarding the number, type, and location of copyright
prosecutions undertaken in the preceding year. The conferees
adopt by reference House language regarding consolidation of
the U.S. Attorneys Task Forces with the Joint Terrorism Task
Forces.
Of the amounts made available to the U.S. Attorneys,
$6,898,000 shall be available for
[[Page 31492]]
Project Seahawk instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate to address criminal activity that may compromise or
impede the movement of intermodal traffic within the U.S.
Project Seahawk shall continue to be coordinated under the
U.S. Attorneys and include Federal, State, and local law
enforcement. The House did not fund this activity. In
addition to the amounts available in this account, an
additional $15,000,000 is provided elsewhere in this title.
The conferees do not adopt Senate language regarding
expansion of this initiative.
The conferees adopt by reference Senate language including
$1,500,000 for Operation Streetsweeper and $19,023,000 for
legal education and distance learning at the National
Advocacy Center. The conferees do not adopt Senate language
regarding submission of a report on rates of prosecution, but
instead direct the Justice Department to brief the Committees
on Appropriations on this issue.
The conferees adopt by reference House and Senate language
regarding cybercrime and intellectual property enforcement.
United States Trustee System Fund
The conference agreement includes $166,157,000 as provided
by the House instead of $170,168,000 as provided by the
Senate. In addition, the Trustees may use unobligated
balances from prior year appropriations to fund additional
base and information technology costs, if necessary. The
conferees support the requested information technology
enhancement and expect the Trustees to fund the request to
the maximum extent feasible. The conference agreement
includes $1,000,000 for the Bankruptcy Training Center at the
National Advocacy Center in support of the Trustees'
continuing education program.
Salaries and expenses, foreign claims settlement commission
The conference agreement includes $1,206,000 for the
Foreign Claims Settlement Commission instead of $1,205,000 as
proposed by the House and $1,207,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conferees adopt by reference House language
regarding a report on the number of claims adjudicated on
behalf of U.S. nationals against foreign governments.
Salaries And Expenses, United States Marshals Service
The conference agreement includes $719,777,000 for the U.S.
Marshals Service (USMS), instead of $678,672,000 as provided
by the House and $602,274,000 as provided by the Senate. The
conference agreement includes funding for the Witness
Security program as provided by the House. The conference
agreement provides funding for the D.C. Superior Court and
fugitive apprehension task forces under this heading as
proposed by the Senate instead of under the Office of Justice
Programs as proposed by the House. The conference agreement
does not transfer funding for the Justice Prisoner and Alien
Transportation System to the Office of Detention Trustee or
transfer the seized assets management responsibilities to the
Justice Management Division as proposed by the Senate but
directs the Department of Justice to submit a report on the
potential impact of such transfers to the Committees on
Appropriations not later than March 15, 2004. The conference
agreement provides funding for USMS construction under a
separate heading, as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement includes the base reductions and crosscutting
efficiencies included in the budget request and the House
report and the funding level provided in the House report for
hand/leg cuffs and vehicles.
Courthouse Security Equipment.--The conference agreement
includes $13,394,000 for courthouse security equipment to be
allocated to the USMS's highest priority needs. The USMS is
directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations within
30 days of enactment of this Act on the allocation of this
funding. The conferees expect future budget requests to
provide an appropriate level of funding to address the
courthouse security equipment needs of the USMS.
Fugitive Apprehensions.--The conference agreement includes
$11,476,000 for all costs related to the regional task forces
located in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta.
Of that amount, $2,000,000 shall be for a new regional task
force in the District of Columbia metropolitan area and
$300,000 shall be for a task force in Billings, Montana.
These regional fugitive task forces [RFTFs] are full time
initiatives, not ad hoc activities and shall answer only to
headquarters, not the districts, as is already the case with
the New York City and Los Angeles task forces. The USMS is
directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations not
later than April 30, 2004, on the accomplishments recorded by
the RFTFs and to make recommendations based on workload
projections on whether and where additional RFTFs should be
created.
The conferees are concerned with the apparent duplication
of fugitive apprehension capabilities among Federal law
enforcement agencies. The conferees direct that the
Department of Justice submit a comprehensive report to the
Committees on Appropriations within 45 days of enactment of
this Act describing all Department of Justice fugitive
apprehension activities and identifying opportunities to
consolidate these activities under the one agency that is
best trained and equipped for fugitive apprehension. The
conferees hope to improve the Department's fugitive
apprehension capabilities and more efficiently utilize
Federal law enforcement resources.
In addition, the conference agreement includes $8,451,000
for all costs related to the electronic surveillance unit.
International fugitives.--The conference agreement includes
$3,016,000 for all costs related to the USMS international
offices in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico.
Special Operations Group.--The conference agreement
includes $1,473,000 for training and equipment for the
Special Operations Group. The USMS shall submit a spending
plan for such funds to the Committees on Appropriations not
later than January 15, 2004.
Protection of the Judicial Process.--The conference
agreement includes $10,738,000 for 100 new positions to
address shortfalls in the protection of the judicial process.
These positions are to be allocated to those districts with
the highest priority needs.
Construction
The conference agreement includes $14,066,000 for this
account instead of no funding as proposed by the House and
$25,964,000 as proposed by the Senate. These funds shall be
allocated to the USMS's highest priority construction needs.
The USMS is directed to report to the Committees on
Appropriations within 30 days of enactment of this Act on the
allocation of funding for this program. The conferees expect
future budget requests to provide an appropriate level of
funding to address the construction needs of the USMS.
fees and expenses of witnesses
The conference agreement includes $156,145,000 for Fees and
Expenses of Witnesses as proposed by the House and the
Senate. The conference agreement includes new bill language
regarding additional funding for protected witness safesites.
Salaries and expenses, Community Relations Service
The conference agreement includes $9,526,000 for the
Community Relations Service as proposed by both the House and
the Senate. The conference agreement adopts by reference
House and Senate language providing that the Attorney General
may transfer, subject to section 605 reprogramming
requirements, up to $1,000,000 to this program from balances
available to the Department of Justice upon a determination
that emergent circumstances warrant additional funding.
Assets Forfeiture Fund
The conference agreement includes $21,759,000 for the
Assets Forfeiture Fund as proposed by the House instead of
$22,949,000 proposed by the Senate.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The conference agreement includes a total of $4,639,569,000
for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as proposed by
the House instead of $3,930,780,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Of this amount, not less than $490,104,000 as
proposed by both the House and the Senate shall be used for
counterterrorism investigations, foreign counterintelligence,
and other activities related to national security.
Strategic Growth.--Since the terrorist attacks on September
11th, 2001, the FBI has shifted its main focus from
investigating crimes to preventing acts of terrorism.
Inherent in this transformation is a greater emphasis on
collection, management, and analysis of data and
intelligence, and greater collaboration across all levels of
law enforcement. The urgency to prevent acts of terrorism has
required the infusion of substantial resources, with the FBI
growing by over 50 percent in just three years. The conferees
believe the FBI should thoughtfully absorb this massive
infusion of personnel and capital through strategic long-term
decisions, and therefore direct the FBI to submit a five year
plan to the Committees on Appropriations not later than March
15, 2004, detailing the FBI's plan to succeed at its
terrorism prevention and law enforcement responsibilities,
including proposed agent and support personnel levels for
each division. This review should also include long term
capital improvement and infrastructure plans, training needs,
and a review of current and future information technology
programs to ensure that the FBI can better leverage
technology.
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $4,566,798,000 for the
Federal Bureau of Investigation salaries and expenses account
instead of $4,576,730,000 as proposed by the House and
$3,885,989,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees adopt
by reference House language on resource allocations within
the FBI and bi-annual submission of the Time Utilization and
Record Keeping report. The conferees adopt by reference House
language regarding reprogramming requirements in section 605
of this Act.
[[Page 31493]]
FBI SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity POS FTE Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Criminal, Security and Other Investigations:
Organized Crime Enterprises............................... 3,145 2,995 $440,750
White Collar Crime.................................... 4,204 4,066 545,495
Other Field Programs.................................. 13,451 12,462 1,916,533
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Criminal, Security and Other 20,800 19,523 2,902,778
Investigations.....................................
=====================================================
Law Enforcement Support:
Training and Recruitment.............................. 942 917 153,724
Forensic Services..................................... 749 725 179,623
Information Technology................................ 396 383 252,578
Technical Field Support and Services.................. 772 727 483,074
Criminal Justice Services............................. 1,871 1,882 209,924
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Law Enforcement Support................... 4,730 4,634 1,278,923
=====================================================
Program Direction and Administration...................... 2,700 2,604 385,097
=====================================================
Total, Direct Appropriations........................ 28,230 26,761 4,566,798
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The conferees remind the FBI that any changes to this
distribution are subject to the reprogramming requirements in
section 605 of this Act.
Counterterrorism and Counterintelligence.--The conference
agreement includes increases of $212,269,000, 1,665 positions
and 831 workyears to enhance ongoing counterterrorism and
counterintelligence activities. Of this amount, the conferees
adopt by reference House and Senate increases of $6,548,000
for joint terrorism task forces; $14,603,000, 214 positions
and 107 workyears for counterterrorism analytical support,
and $28,046,000, 248 positions and 124 workyears for
counterterrorism field investigations; and $29,985,000, 47
positions and 24 workyears for STAU operations. In addition,
the conferees adopt by reference House funding increases of
$31,391,000 for counterterrorism program management;
$4,600,000 for communications applications; $33,087,000 for
expansions in the Legal Attache program; and House increases
for counterintelligence and computer intrusion programs. The
Committees on Appropriations are concerned that additional
resources and staff provided for the Legal Attache program
are not being implemented as expeditiously as possible, and
direct the FBI to consult with the Committees on
Appropriations regarding this program. The conferees adopt by
reference House and Senate language regarding a right-sizing
review of the Legats. The conferees also provide language
regarding increases in representational allowances.
Cyber Capabilities.--The conferees adopt by reference House
language regarding a review by the Executive Assistant
Director for Administration of information technology
products and activities of the cyber division.
Hazardous Devices School.--The conferees are aware of the
concerns of the FBI regarding the transfer of the Hazardous
Devices School to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (ATF). The conferees point out that the vast
majority of explosions (more than 95 percent) occurring in
the United States are not related to terrorism and are
usually investigated and prosecuted at the State and local
level. However, the conferees are willing to accept a
proposal from the Department of Justice to merge and
rationalize overlap for explosives training between the ATF,
the FBI, and other law enforcement entities in the Justice
Department. Toward that end, the conferees direct the Justice
Department to submit, as part of its fiscal year 2005 budget
submission, a proposal to better blend and eliminate
duplication of explosives training and other law enforcement
programs at the Department of Justice.
Organized Crime Enterprises.--The conference agreement
includes increases of $33,943,000 for criminal investigations
and white collar crime investigations. Of this, the conferees
adopt by reference House and Senate increases of $14,603,000,
214 positions and 107 workyears for criminal investigative
analytical support, and increases of $10,000,000 for
corporate fraud investigations and $10,000,000 for other
priority criminal investigations as recommended by the House.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
investigations that cross jurisdictions and House language
regarding submission of a report on corporate corruption.
Training.--The conferees adopt by reference House and
Senate increases of $14,027,000 for counterterrorism
training, and the House increase of $5,000,000 for
intelligence analysis training. The conferees adopt by
reference House language regarding the College of Analytical
Studies at Quantico, as well as the continuing education
program for senior FBI agents and support staff and
consultation with the Navy, as appropriate, regarding their
advanced training programs. The conferees adopt by reference
House language regarding concern about the language program.
The FBI shall provide quarterly briefings to the Committees
on Appropriations regarding the language program beginning
March 2004. The conference agreement also includes an
increase of $2,692,000 included by the House for nuclear DNA
services, and increases of $1,000,000 for protocol training
and $591,000 for the foreign convicted offender program as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees adopt by reference
House language regarding lapses in the FBI Laboratory DNA
Analysis program, and direct the FBI to ensure that
additional training and safeguards are implemented to ensure
that analysis performed at the new lab is unquestionable.
Field Support for Information Management and Lead
Management.--The conferees adopt by reference House increases
of $4,977,000, 100 positions and 50 workyears for field
clerical support, to be distributed to the highest priority
locations.
FBI Reorganization.--The conference agreement adopts by
reference House language regarding the FBI reorganization.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
standardization and rationalization of FBI training programs.
The conferees also adopt by reference House and Senate
language regarding a review of response capabilities.
Aviation assets.--The conferees are aware that the FBI
aviation program has sought additional air assets. The
conferees remind the FBI that it has previously been directed
to provide a comprehensive needs assessment of the aviation
program. The Committees on Appropriations will entertain
funding increases for these programs in the context of a
regular budget submission and priorities established by the
Director, and pending an analysis of the existing aviation
program.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
submission of an assessment of mobile command centers and the
VITAL program.
Information Technology.--The Congress has provided the FBI
with nearly $595,000,000 for Trilogy, some $216,000,000 more
than the original cost estimate, to both speed implementation
and enhance the overall capabilities of the program. The
Committees on Appropriations are concerned that the basic
software needed to operate the Virtual Case File is not ready
to be deployed, causing another slip in schedule. The
conferees stress the importance of deploying this program as
expeditiously as possible, and direct the Trilogy Program
Manager and Department of Justice CIO to continue to provide
regular briefings on Trilogy in addition to providing the
quarterly written reports. The conference agreement adopts by
reference House and Senate funding increases of $92,736,000
for refreshment needs, operations and maintenance. The
conferees also adopt by reference House language regarding
submission of a review of the FBI's databases, with the goal
of removing applications that have outlived their usefulness.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
submission of a comprehensive information technology report,
to include a complete list of all information technology
projects; the stage of each project's development and
deployment; base funding for each project, to include all
sources of funding; and the outyear cost projections for each
project, including recurring requirements for operations and
maintenance. The conferees also adopt by reference House
language regarding submission of a report on Operation
Gateway.
Technical Field Support.--The conference agreement adopts
by reference House and Senate funding increases of $9,542,000
for physical surveillance programs; $18,040,000 for computer
assisted teams and the regional computer forensic labs;
$14,984,000 for the crisis response unit; and $2,000,000 for
the defensive programs unit. In addition, the conference
agreement includes the following increases to properly recur
funding for critical programs as proposed by the Senate:
$2,680,000 for computer intrusion activities; $6,266,000 for
aviation support; $10,000,000 for training; and $2,500,000
for mitochrondrial DNA programs.
[[Page 31494]]
Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS).--The conference
agreement includes $357,000,000, including fee collections,
for CJIS, and adopts Senate language prohibiting the
diversion of the CJIS user fee for any purpose other than
CJIS, its refreshment plan, or a subsequent modernization
plan for the current facility.
Security Programs.--The conferees adopt by reference House
and Senate funding levels of $5,050,000 for background
investigations; $1,405,000 for the National Security Law
Unit; and $6,419,000 to expand polygraph tests; and House
funding levels of $6,888,000 for technical and physical
security and $15,821,000 for police force and guard services.
The conferees also include $10,000,000 for records management
activities.
Trafficking.--The conferees adopt by reference House
language regarding efforts to combat human trafficking.
FBI Tour.--The conferees adopt by reference House language
regarding the FBI tour.
In addition to the amounts provided in this act, the
conference agreement also approves of the following increases
from funding provided to the FBI in Public Law 108-11:
FY 2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, P.L. 108-11
Activity Conf
Terrorist Screening Center........................................5,000
Rapid Deployment....................................................850
HRT/SWAT/WMD response capabilities................................6,127
Response Capabilities............................................32,717
CT Program Mgmt..................................................14,192
CT Field Investigations..........................................56,505
NSLU..............................................................5,035
Operational Field Expenses.......................................18,999
Language Translation.............................................40,000
Surveillance Support.............................................13,774
IT/Sharing/LEO/TSSCI LAN.........................................45,000
Communications Analysis/Doc Ex...................................20,293
Lab wiring........................................................7,700
Tactical Operations and Collections...............................5,000
Terrorist financing...............................................5,000
Cybercrime........................................................5,000
________________
Subtotal....................................................281,192
TTIC.............................................................86,000
________________
Total.......................................................367,192
Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force/Terrorist Threat Integration
Center
The conferees adopt House language providing $61,597,000
for the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force (FTTTF). The
conferees adopt by reference House language regarding the
need to better coordinate information technology activities
of the FTTTF with similar activities elsewhere in Justice,
and House language regarding FTTTF technology initiatives and
other activities. The conferees do not include Senate
language shifting this activity outside of the Justice
Department.
Terrorist Threat Integration Center.--The conference
agreement includes new bill language formalizing the
coordination between the FBI and the Terrorist Threat
Integration Center (TTIC). The conferees adopt by reference
House language regarding efforts to integrate intelligence
analysis capabilities at the TTIC and the specifics of the
relocation of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division to the
joint facility.
construction
The conference agreement includes $11,174,000 for FBI
construction, instead of $1,242,000 as proposed by the House
and $44,791,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of this amount,
the conferees adopt by reference Senate funding levels for
the Engineering Research Facility. This activity was not
addressed by the House.
Drug Enforcement Administration
The conference agreement includes a total of $2,157,792,000
for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as proposed by
the House instead of $1,512,281,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conferees adopt by reference the transfer of the
Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement program as proposed by
the House.
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $1,601,327,000 for the
DEA salaries and expenses account as proposed by the House
instead of $1,512,281,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees adopt by reference House language regarding prior
year recoveries, and direct the DEA to submit a reprogramming
request within 45 days of enactment of this act to
accommodate lab enhancements, information technology
investments, and other one-time funding needs.
DEA SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity POS FTE Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enforcement:
Domestic Enforcement........................................ 2,728 2,561 $546,165
Foreign Cooperative Investigations.......................... 653 621 208,199
Drug and Chemical Conversions............................... 190 177 23,507
State and Local Task Forces................................. 1,619 1,527 240,808
-----------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Enforcement..................................... 5,190 4,886 1,018,679
===============================================
Investigative Support:
Intelligence................................................ 976 983 129,294
Laboratory Services......................................... 466 456 72,856
Training.................................................... 99 98 24,903
Research, Engineering, and Technical Operations............. 596 591 122,266
Information Technology...................................... 126 122 138,976
-----------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Investigative Support........................... 2,263 2,250 488,295
===============================================
Management and Administration............................... 905 882 94,353
===============================================
Total, Direct Appropriations.............................. 8,358 8,018 1,601,327
Division Control Fee Account.................................... 793 789 118,561
-----------------------------------------------
Total, Budget Authority................................... 9,151 8,807 1,719,888
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The DEA is reminded that any changes to this distribution
are subject to the reprogramming requirements in section 605
of this Act.
Additional Drug Enforcement Agents.--The conference
agreement adopts by reference House funding levels of
$46,274,000 above the request to support additional agents
and support staff. The conference agreement adopts by
reference House funding levels for the Mobile Enforcement
Teams, Senate funding levels for the Regional Enforcement
Teams and the Demand Reduction Program, and directs the DEA
to consolidate Demand Reduction activities and the IDEA
program into one coordinated demand reduction program. The
conferees adopt by reference House language on cooperative
agreements with State and local law enforcement. The
conference agreement adopts by reference Senate language
regarding a report on Mexican training programs and Senate
language regarding funding for international training. The
conferees direct the DEA to submit a report to the Committees
on Appropriations regarding international training programs
and interdiction efforts. This report should be developed in
consultation with the Department of Defense, the State
Department and other Federal agencies.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
submission of a report on source and transit countries.
OxyContin.--The conferees adopt by reference House language
regarding legal drugs that are diverted for illegal use,
particularly the prescription drug OxyContin. The conferees
adopt by reference House language regarding development of a
prescription drug monitoring program, and continued
coordination with the Office of Justice Programs.
Methamphetamines.--The conferees adopt by reference House
language regarding methamphetamines, and continued support of
State, local, and Federal law enforcement programs.
Ecstasy.--The conferees adopt by reference House language
regarding the illegal importation of ecstasy and other ``club
drugs.''
DEA Training.--The conferees direct the DEA and the FBI to
explore continued integration of analytical training programs
given the nexus between drugs and terrorism.
Operation Containment.--The conferees amend House language
regarding regular briefings for Operation Containment, and
direct the DEA to provide quarterly updates to the Committees
on Appropriations, with written reports to be submitted
yearly with the first such report to be submitted May 1,
2004.
Drug Diversion Control Fee Account.--The conference
agreement includes $118,561,000 for the DEA's Drug Diversion
Control Program as proposed by the House instead of
$91,499,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees adopt by
reference House language regarding an increase of $6,882,000
to enhance the Internet Online Investigations Project, and
development and deployment of a system to enable on-line
transfers of prescriptions from doctors to pharmacies.
Additional Drug Investigative Positions.--The conferees
adopt by reference House language regarding use of expected
fee increases to support additional staff to address the
diversion of controlled substances, particularly OxyContin.
The conferees adopt by reference House language regarding
deployment of additional positions to the highest priority
locations.
The conference agreement includes Senate bill language
regarding demand reduction activities.
Interagency Drug Enforcement
The conference agreement adopts by reference House language
consolidating under the DEA drug enforcement activities
previously included under the Interagency Crime and Drug
Enforcement account. The conferees include funding as
proposed by the House for the continued participation of the
Departments of Homeland Security and Treasury. The Senate did
not propose funding for these non-Justice agencies. The
conferees support law enforcement efforts to fight illegal
drug activity, and therefore have provided funding for each
agency involved in these task forces. However, the conferees
do not expect to provide funding for non-Justice agencies in
subsequent years.
[[Page 31495]]
The conference agreement includes $556,465,000 for the
Interagency Drug Enforcement account as proposed by the House
instead of $415,010,000 as proposed by the Senate.
REIMBURSEMENT BY AGENCY
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POS FTE Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Law Enforcement:
DEA......................................................... 1,304 1,228 $168,539
FBI......................................................... 806 780 114,700
INS......................................................... 117 117 16,674
USMS........................................................ 13 13 2,148
ATFE........................................................ 54 54 11,483
IRS......................................................... 494 476 73,301
Customs..................................................... 270 270 31,154
Coast Guard................................................. .............. .............. 625
Drug Intelligence:
DEA......................................................... 50 38 6,392
FBI......................................................... 184 159 21,521
Prosecution:
U.S. Attorneys.............................................. 965 886 100,699
Criminal Division........................................... 18 18 2,717
Tax Division................................................ 10 8 995
Administrative Office....................................... 14 14 5,517
-----------------------------------------------
Total..................................................... 4,299 4,061 556,465
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drug Intelligence Fusion Center.--The conferees direct the
DEA to transfer to this account existing balances previously
provided to the DEA to develop the Drug Intelligence Fusion
Center. The conferees expect that this multi-agency drug
intelligence capability will be developed and managed within
this account. The conference agreement adopts by reference
House language regarding participating agencies, protocols
for sharing information, and expected ongoing operations and
maintenance funding costs. This report should include a
justification of all information technology programs taking
place at the Special Operations Division as well as
recommendations for utilizing information platforms, such as
the FBI's Operation Gateway. The conferees also adopt by
reference House language regarding rationalization of drug
intelligence collection and analysis entities. The conferees
adopt by reference House language directing that the
Department of Justice and FBI Chief Information Officers
review this program to ensure maximum collaboration and
exploitation of information.
Targeting Command and Control.--The conferees adopt by
reference House language regarding efforts to refocus this
program on the highest level national and international drug
trafficking organizations. The recommendation includes an
increase of $23,127,000, 151 positions and 76 FTE to expand
investigations of these major command and control targets. In
addition, $3,461,000 is provided to the U.S. Attorneys to
ensure successful prosecution of targets.
The conference agreement adopts by reference House language
regarding continued FBI involvement in drug investigations,
and includes an increase of $8,000,000, 53 positions and 27
workyears above the request to maintain the FBI's
participation. The conferees expect that these additional
resources will enable the Federal government to aggressively
pursue links between terrorists and drug organizations.
Financial Investigations.--The conferees adopt by reference
House increases of $5,631,000, 37 positions and 19 FTE for
money laundering activities, particularly offshore accounts
that can be difficult to track, and House funding increases
of $2,805,000 for U.S. Attorneys' participation.
Drug Intelligence.--The conferees adopt by reference House
language regarding additional analytical support needed to
ensure that information collected as part of multi-agency
drug investigations is thoroughly referenced against other
criminal databases and other ongoing investigations,
particularly with regard to terrorist organizations, and
adopts by reference House funding increases of $3,764,000 for
the DEA and $7,528,000 for the FBI to increase analytical
capacity. The conferees direct the DEA to consult with the
Committees on Appropriations prior to distributing these
resources, and expects that these resources will support
efforts of the Special Operations Division and the Drug
Intelligence Fusion Center.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $836,087,000 for the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF),
instead of $831,199,000 as proposed by the House, and
$829,593,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, the House
language regarding the mission of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Gang Resistance
Education and Training program under this heading, the Safe
Explosives Act, and the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction
Initiative.
The conference agreement includes $10,000,000 to implement
the Safe Explosives Act and $4,000,000 to upgrade databases
and systems, space alterations, and other costs related to
creating the National Explosives Licensing Center [NELC] at
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
National Tracing Center.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate regarding the Safe Explosives Act, the
National Explosives Licensing Center, and Overseas Offices.
Federal Prison System
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $4,461,257,000 for the
salaries and expenses of the Federal Prison System as
proposed by the House, instead of $3,872,791,000 as proposed
by the Senate. The conferees understand that this level of
funding will be adequate to open the following prisons on
time and continue operations at existing prisons, but direct
the Justice Department to submit a reprogramming should
additional resources be necessary. The conferees also note
that base funding of $41,000,000 shall be provided for FCI
Beckley, West Virginia and $41,600,000 shall be provided for
FCI Glenville, West Virginia. The conferees include
activation funding as follows:
Activations
Victorville, CA USP.........................................$35,562,000
Hazelton, WV USP.............................................40,587,000
Forrest City, AR facility....................................33,807,000
Herlong/Sierra, CA medium camp...............................36,092,000
Williamsburg, SC FCI.........................................33,123,000
Canaan, PA USP...............................................35,552,000
Terre Haute, IN USP...........................................8,439,000
Bennettsville, SC FCI........................................10,532,000
Yazoo, MS FCI................................................23,331,000
________________
$257,025,000
Contract Confinement.--The conferees adopt by reference
House language regarding an increase of $12,900,000 for
contracts to accommodate the increasing prison population.
The conferees adopt by reference House and Senate language
regarding use of excess State and private prison capacity to
meet bedspace needs, if these facilities meet Bureau of
Prison (BOP) standards. The conferees adopt by reference the
House increase of $3,000,000 to support BOP's transitional
drug treatment program and submission of a report about BOP
drug treatment programs, and House language regarding use of
visible eye-safe lasers for marksmanship training.
With funds provided in earlier appropriations acts, the
National Institute of Corrections has provided training and
technical support to correctional systems throughout the
country to eliminate staff sexual misconduct with inmates, in
providing training in investigating cases, and in training
``trainers'' in order that employees at every level will be
better able to handle these cases. The conferees direct BOP
to report to the Committees on Appropriations by March 31,
2004 on progress made in this area.
The conferees understand the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention has recently recommended testing all prisoners
with a history of injection drug use or other risk factors
for the Hepatitis B and C viruses and that those showing
signs of liver disease be assessed by hepatitis specialist to
determine treatment. These recommendations reflect a concern
that high rates of infection in the prison population lead to
public health impacts as these prisoners are released back
into the general population. The conferees request that the
BPP report to the Committees on Appropriations within six
months regarding progress in implementing its planned
screening program, including the number of inmates screened
and the treatment adopted.
The conference agreement does not include bill language
proposed by the Senate designating specific amounts for
decision units.
Buildings and Facilities
The conference agreement includes funding of $397,700,000
for construction, modernization, maintenance and repair of
prison and detention facilities housing Federal prisoners
instead of $202,840,000 as proposed by the House and
$345,805,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees
continue to expect that all current construction projects
will proceed as planned.
New construction, modernization and repair
Berlin, New Hampshire, FCI medium..........................$154,500,000
Mid Atlantic, West Virginia..................................40,300,000
Modernization and repair....................................202,900,000
________________
$397,700,000
Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated
Limitation on Administrative Expenses, Federal Prison Industries
Incorporated
The conference agreement adopts House and Senate language
regarding a limit on administrative expenses of $3,429,000
for Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated. The conferees
adopt by reference House language regarding the Federal
Prison Industries, Inc., program.
Office of Justice Programs
The conference agreement provides $3,095,017,000 for State
and local law enforcement grants instead of $3,491,261,000 as
proposed by the House and $2,630,637,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The amount provided is $763,785,000 above the
Administration's request.
The conferees adopt by reference the House report language
concerning the coordination of programs with other Federal
agencies and requiring the Department to submit a report to
the Committees on Appropriations by June 1, 2004, describing
its efforts to coordinate programs. The conference agreement
[[Page 31496]]
adopts by reference the House report language regarding
training for local law enforcement officials on the penalties
prescribed in the Federal law for trafficking in persons and
requiring the Department to submit a spending plan for
expanding this training.
Justice Assistance
The conference agreement includes $190,125,000 for Justice
Assistance. The conferees do not adopt the Administration's
proposal to consolidate all Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
activities under this heading. The table below displays the
conference agreement compared to the request for programs
funded under this heading and compared to the amounts
provided in the House and Senate bills.
[$ in 000's]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Enacted Request House Senate Conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Institute of Justice.................. 59,490 73,301 59,000 50,000 48,000
Bureau of Justice Statistics................... 32,125 35,085 33,731 25,000 32,125
Nat. White Collar Crime........................ 9,170 ........... 4,500 ........... 9,000
Regional Inf. Sharing Sys...................... 28,812 36,448 35,000 29,000 30,000
Management and Admin.*......................... 37,753 119,638 40,000 ........... 35,000
Missing Children Program....................... 32,633 30,669 36,900 32,500 36,000
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................... 199,983 ........... 209,131 136,500 190,125
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Senate bill included M&A under a separate heading.
National Institute of Justice (NIJ).--The conference
agreement provides $48,000,000 for the National Institute of
Justice. The conference agreement provides $21,000,000 for
the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology
Centers and incorporates by reference the Senate language
concerning the distribution of funding. The agreement also
includes $17,000,000 for other Office of Science and
Technology (OS&T) activities. Within this amount, NIJ shall
continue to fund the Office of Law Enforcement Technology
Commercialization, Inc., and the Center for Rural Law
Enforcement Technology and Training at the fiscal year 2003
level. The conferees support NIJ's efforts to develop
through-wall motion mapping.
The conference agreement includes $10,000,000 for
discretionary activities of which not less than $6,000,000
shall be for social science research and evaluation.
Missing Children.--The conference agreement includes
$36,000,000 for the Missing Children Program for the
following purposes:
MISSING CHILDREN PROGRAM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 03 FY 04 FY 04 FY 04 FY 04
Program ($000) enacted request House Senate conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Center for Missing and Exploited 12,419 12,419 14,000 17,000 15,000
Children......................................
Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center..... 2,980 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000
Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.... 12,419 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500
MEC Office..................................... 2,331 2,269 2,400 ........... 1,500
AMBER Alert Grants............................. 2,484 2,500 5,000 ........... 4,000
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................... 32,633 32,688 36,900 32,500 36,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OJP shall utilize the AMBER program funds in accordance
with the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the
Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003. Within the
funding provided, the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children shall continue the successful CyberTipline
program, continue the Police Technology Project (LOCATER),
and expand the NetSmartz Workshop as described in the Senate
report.
Regional Information Sharing System.--The conference
agreement provides $30,000,000 for the Regional Information
Sharing System (RISS). The conferees direct the Department to
ensure that inter-state information sharing systems funded by
OJP and COPS utilize the existing communications
infrastructure and are compatible with RISS and LEO.
Management and Administration.--The conference agreement
provides $35,000,000 for the management and administration of
the OJP. The Conferees are disappointed that several reports
requested in the fiscal year 2003 conference report have not
been submitted. The Conferees expect better communications to
be provided not only to Congress but to their grantees and
subgrantees. The Conferees believe that improved
communication is extremely important in improving service to
State and local law enforcement agencies.
State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance
The conference agreement provides a total appropriation of
$1,297,684,000. The table below displays the funding provided
in the conference agreement compared to the level of funds
requested under the Justice Assistance heading for similar
activities and compared to the levels provided in the House
and Senate bills.
($'s in 000's)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 03 FY 04 FY 04
enacted request FY 04 House Senate FY 04 conf.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Law Enforcement Block Grant......... $397,400 ............ $400,000 $150,000 $225,000
(Boys and Girls Club)................. (79,480) ............ (80,000) (80,000) (80,000)
(USA Freedom Corps)................... (2,981) ............ (5,000) ............ (2,981)
(National Institute of Justice)....... (19,870) ............ (20,000) ............ (10,000)
State Criminal Alien Assistance........... 248,375 ............ 400,000 250,000 300,000
Cooperative Agreement Program............. 4,968 ............ 2,500 ............ 2,000
Indian Assistance......................... 17,883 4,436 13,000 18,000 15,000
(Tribal Prison Construction).......... (4,968) ............ ............ ............ (2,000)
(Indian Tribal Courts Program)........ (7,948) ............ (8,000) ............ (8,000)
(Alcohol and Substance Abuse)......... (4,967) (4,436) (5,000) ............ (5,000)
Edward Byrne Law Enf. Assistance.......... 646,683 615,000 588,575 659,117
(Formula Grants)...................... (496,750) ............ (500,000) (500,000) (500,000)
(Discretionary Grants)................ (149,933) ............ (115,000) (88,575) (159,117)
USA Freedom Corps......................... ............ 14,669 ............ ............ ............
Justice Assistance Grants................. ............ 585,990 ............ ............ ............
(Boys and Girls Club)................. ............ (60,000) ............ ............ ............
(Indian Tribal Courts Program)........ ............ (5,921) ............ ............ ............
(National Institute of Justice)....... ............ (19,956) ............ ............ ............
Violence Against Women Grants............. 387,629 373,487 ............ 406,000 ............
Victims of Trafficking Grants............. 9,935 ............ 10,000 ............ 10,000
State Prison Drug Treatment............... 64,577 74,233 70,000 ............ ............
Drug Courts............................... 44,708 64,360 55,000 43,500 38,500
Juvenile Crime Block Grant................ 188,765 ............ ............ ............ ............
(Project ChildSafe)................... (24,838) ............ ............ ............ ............
Prescription Drug Monitoring.............. 7,451 ............ 10,000 ............ 7,000
Prison Rape Prevention.................... 12,915 ............ 60,000 ............ 37,175
Terrorism Prevention Training............. 14,902 ............ ............ ............ ............
Other Crime Control Programs:
State and Local Training.............. ............ 3,907 1,000 ............ 1,000
Missing Alzheimer's Patients.......... 892 ............ 892 500 892
Law Enforcement Family Support........ 1,487 ............ 1,487 1,000 ............
Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention........ 1,292 ............ ............ 1,500 ............
Seniors Vs. Marketing Scams........... 1,982 ............ 1,982 2,000 2,000
[[Page 31497]]
Prior Year Balances....................... (20,854) (11,622) ............ ............ ............
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, State and Local Assistance... 2,030,990 ............ 1,640,861 1,461,075 1,297,684
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.--The conference
agreement provides $300,000,000 for the State Criminal Alien
Assistance Program instead of $400,000,000 as provided by the
House and $250,000,000 as provided by the Senate. The
Administration proposed eliminating this program. The
conference agreement includes bill language directing funds
to be disbursed only as a direct reimbursement for each
States' documented costs for incarcerating undocumented
criminal aliens.
Indian Country Grants.--The recommendation provides
$15,000,000 for Indian Country grants. The conferees
understand that the Comprehensive Indian Resources for
Community Law Enforcement (CIRCLE) initiative is working
well. The conferees urge the Department to consider ways to
expand the CIRCLE project into other communities.
Edward Byrne Grants to States.--The conference agreement
includes $659,117,000 for the Edward Byrne Memorial State and
Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program, of which
$159,117,000 is for discretionary grants and $500,000,000 is
for formula grants.
Within the amount provided for Byrne formula grants, the
conferees ask Governors and relevant State and local
officials to review the following proposals and provide a
grant if warranted: Arkansas Methamphetamine Lab Project,
Criminal Justice Institute; Barron-Rusk County, Wisconsin
Drug Task Force; Caddo Parish, Louisiana Methamphetamine
Enforcement; COPS Methamphetamine Drug Hot Spots Program,
Arkansas State Police; Drug Endangered Children rapid
response team in Iowa; Arizona methamphetamine program; Law
Enforcement Innovation Center at Knoxville, Tennessee; Drug
Interdiction Team to seize illegal drugs transported into
Iowa; Enhancing illegal drug trafficking investigations by
State and local authorities in Iowa; Arizona violent crime
scene response; Greenbook Project, Maryland; Iowa Drug-Free
Workplace Education Project; Meth Safe housing pilot project,
Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy; Methamphetamine
enforcement efforts in Nevada; Methamphetamine Enforcement,
State of Indiana; Methamphetamine Interdiction Program in
Northwest Louisiana; Methamphetamine Montana Initiative;
Methamphetamine Program for Washington State; Multnomah
County, Oregon Children's Receiving Center; Nebraska
Methamphetamine Drug Hot Spots Program; Idaho methamphetamine
initiative; New York City Specially-Targeted Offenders
Program; Oglala, South Dakota Youth Court/Court Systems;
Oregon Meth Lab Surveillance and Seizure Program; Savannah,
Georgia Impact Program; ShareHouse Methamphetamine Treatment
Project in North Dakota; South Central and East Central Iowa
Meth Lab Task Forces; Texas State University Advanced Law
Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center; Chicago Project
for Violence Prevention; Elderly Fraud Prevention Initiative
in Iowa; Arkansas State Police's Methamphetamine Drug Hot
Spots Program; and Methamphetamine Drug Program for
Washington State.
Within the amounts provided for discretionary grants, OJP
is expected to review the following proposals, provide grants
if warranted, and report to the Committees on Appropriations
regarding its intentions.
$5,000,000 for the National Crime Prevention Council;
$444,000 to the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force to deter
the use, distribution, and manufacture of dangerous drugs;
$1,800,000 for a case management system for the Delaware
State courts;
$500,000 to the Bernalillo County, NM, Metro Court Domestic
Violence Pilot Project;
$2,000,000 for the Tools for Tolerance program in
California;
$2,000,000 for continued support for the expansion of
SEARCH Group, Inc. and the National Technical Assistance and
Training Program to assist States, such as West Virginia and
Alabama, to accelerate the automation of fingerprint
identification process;
$150,000 for the University of North Dakota's Native
Americans Into Law program to recruit and retain American
Indian law students;
$550,000 for Turtle Mountain Community College for Project
Peacemaker;
$1,146,000 for Child-Safe Personalized Weapons-Smart Gun,
NJ;
$100,000 to the City of Custer, SD, for law enforcement
equipment;
$100,000 to the South Dakota Association of County
Commissioners for law enforcement communications equipment;
$1,000,000 for behavioral health research at the University
of Connecticut for at-risk youth;
$650,000 for the National Center for Victims of Crime and
INFOLINK;
$300,000 for Mujeres Latinas En Accion, IL, to expand its
community-based program for domestic abuse and sexual assault
victims;
$3,000,000 for a law enforcement information sharing
program in CA;
$900,000 for the Iowa Jail Drug Treatment Pilot Project;
$500,000 to the University of South Carolina for the
National Center for Prosecutorial Ethics;
$250,000 for the Children's Medical Assessment Center in
South Carolina to extend forensic healthcare services to
outlying rural areas, and to extend the tracking and medical
case management programs to all law enforcement jurisdictions
in the local Tri-County area;
$695,000 for the South Carolina Domestic Violence Reduction
Initiative, of which: $150,000 is for Safe Passage which
assists victims in Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties;
$150,000 for Safer Harbor which assists victims in Greenville
and Anderson Counties; $175,000 for Safe Homes which assists
victims in Spartanburg; and $220,000 for the Cumbee Center to
Assist Abused Persons, which assists victims in Aiken,
Barnwell, Allendale, Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda
Counties;
$4,750,000 for the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys to
support the National District Attorneys Association's
participation in legal education training at the National
Advocacy Center;
$100,000 to the Medical University of South Carolina for an
innovative and effective program which helps single head-of-
household women with children reject a life of crime and
drugs and build a self supporting lifestyle;
$150,000 for the City of La Crosse Community Policing Plan;
$300,000 for the Barron Rusk County, WI, Drug Task Force;
$1,100,000 for the Vermont Drug Task Force;
$250,000 for the University of Arkansas' program to reduce
Family Violence through Workplace Interventions;
$2,200,000 for the Baltimore City, MD, Drug Enforcement and
Eradication Program;
$300,000 to the Prince George's County, MD, Neighborhood
Watch Program;
$250,000 to the Washington Public Building Mapping System;
$400,000 to Milton R. Abrahams Legal Clinic at Creighton
University, NE;
$250,000 for the North Kingstown, RI, Police Department for
equipment and related expenses;
$300,000 to the John Hope Settlement House in Providence,
RI, for a family support center;
$200,000 for the Las Vegas, NV, Metropolitan Police Forces'
Special Weapons and Tactics [SWAT] Team;
$200,000 for the UNLV Boyd School of Law;
$400,000 for Las Vegas, NV, for communications equipment;
$500,000 for the Community Action Neighborhood Empowerment
Program in Erie County, NY;
$7,500,000 for the Southeast National Law Enforcement and
Corrections Technology Center for the implementation of
Project SEAHAWK. Funding is provided for the acquisition of
communications equipment, computer software and hardware
technology, and research and development needed to execute
the project;
$850,000 for Nebraska Statewide Drug Enforcement and Lab
equipment;
$1,100,000 for an alcohol interdiction program designed to
investigate and prosecute bootlegging crimes as part of a
statewide effort to reduce fetal alcohol syndrome in Alaska;
$250,000 for the Catholic Charities of Maine, Rapid
Response Program;
$800,000 for the Haymarket Center's Rehabilitative
Confinement Program;
$150,000 for the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center;
$1,250,000 for Abilene, TX, for law enforcement
technologies;
$400,000 to the Montana Food Bank Network/Montana
Correctional Enterprises for cannery operations;
$100,000 for the Morgan County, KY, Sheriff's Department;
$2,000,000 to the Municipality of Anchorage, AK, for
response to illegal drug and alcohol use for homeless
veterans;
$500,000 for the Pittsburgh, PA, Police Bureau's Virtual
Perimeter Video Surveillance system, which allows live
monitoring of multiple locations by robotic cameras;
$100,000 to the Alabama Sentencing Commission for a
simulation model of the Alabama sentenced offender
population;
$210,000 for the Alaska DARE Coordinator;
$500,000 to establish the Belknap, NH, Regional Special
Operations program;
[[Page 31498]]
$150,000 for the Nebraska Statewide Drug Treatment and
Prevention program;
$1,000,000 for the New Mexico Administrative Office of the
Courts to support Dependency Drug Courts in three judicial
districts;
$750,000 for the Center on Domestic Violence at the
University of Colorado in Denver;
$2,000,000 for Anchorage Sexual Response Assault Team to
investigate and prosecute rapes;
$1,000,000 for the Davidson County, TN, Drug Court Program;
$400,000 for the Philadelphia, PA, Safe Streets Initiative;
$2,500,000 for the Missouri MOSMART Program;
$500,000 for the New Hampshire Phoenix House information
technology upgrade project;
$1,500,000 for continuation of Operation Streetsweeper;
$250,000 for Partners for Downtown Progress in Alaska;
$1,000,000 for the Montana Public Safety Services Office
for law enforcement equipment;
$122,000 for the Powder Springs Police Force in Cobb
County, GA for new equipment;
$1,000,000 for the Alaska Native Justice center to develop
recommendations in consultation with AFN. RuralCap, and AITC
on rural justice and law enforcement;
$500,000 for technology upgrades for the New Hampshire
Department of Motor Vehicles substation;
$300,000 for the Protection of Senior Citizens,
Indianapolis, IN, Housing Authority;
$1,000,000 for the inclusion of the New Hampshire
Department of Motor Vehicles in the public safety
communications network;
$3,000,000 for the Innovative Partnerships for High Risk
Youth demonstration project run by Public/Private Ventures;
$3,000,000 for the National Fatherhood Initiative;
$1,000,000 for the Strategic Medical Intelligence
Initiative Partnership at the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center;
$750,000 for law enforcement equipment upgrades in Midwest
City, OK;
$650,000 for the Alaska Public Safety Academy;
$750,000 for Fisk University's Security Enhancement
Initiative, Nashville, TN;
$1,500,000 for the National Judicial College;
$1,100,000 for Security Enhancement Programs for the South
Carolina Palmetto Expo Center;
$500,000 for equipment and supplies for the Ocean Springs,
Mississippi Police Department;
$1,000,000 for the Western Forensic Science & Law
Enforcement Training Center;
$750,000 for the Alaska Youth Community Policing
Initiative;
$1,500,000 to An Achievable Dream in Virginia;
$500,000 for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency for integrated justice data hubs;
$1,000,000 for the Cook County Cold Case Homicide Unit;
$1,200,000 for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
program;
$20,000 for the City of Massillon, OH, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies and to combat gang and drug-
related activities;
$8,000,000 for Operation UNITE for a drug enforcement,
treatment and education program;
$1,250,000 for the Rural Law Enforcement Technology and
Training Center;
$500,000 for the Phoenix House Upstate New York Drug
Treatment Alternative for offenders;
$750,000 for Excelsior College for law enforcement training
programs;
$25,000 for Transylvania County, NC, Sheriff's Citizens
Observer Patrol and Education Team;
$700,000 for the New Orleans, LA, Police Department for
crime fighting initiatives;
$200,000 for the Orleans Parish, LA, District Attorney's
Office for crime fighting initiatives;
$200,000 for the Louisiana State Police for equipment to
assist in investigating crimes;
$200,000 for the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department for
equipment to assist in investigating crimes;
$200,000 for the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Department for
equipment to assist in investigating crimes;
$200,000 for the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office
for equipment to assist in investigating crimes;
$200,000 for the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's
Office for equipment to assist in investigating crimes;
$1,500,000 for the Washington Metropolitan Area Drug
Enforcement Task Force (MATF);
$1,000,000 for the Northern Virginia multi-jurisdictional
anti-gang task force;
$732,000 for the Virginia Attorney General's Office for a
Computer Crime Unit ($115,000), a gang task force ($500,000),
and the Triad program ($117,000);
$2,500,000 for Mothers Against Drunk Driving for education
and victims assistance programs;
$500,000 for the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice
Academy;
$250,000 for Gospel Rescue Ministries;
$1,000,000 for the Fuller Theological Seminary for a
conflict resolution program;
$50,000 for the Virginia Commonwealth Attorneys Service
Council for the TOP GUN program to partner law enforcement
and prosecutors to combat violent crime throughout Virginia;
$1,540,000 for pre-release and post incarceration services
programs for the Commonwealth of Virginia;
$750,000 for The Doe Fund's Ready, Willing & Able program;
$1,230,000 for court programs in the Commonwealth of
Virginia to combat drug use and drug related crimes;
$660,000 for the Virginia Community Policing Institute;
$350,000 for the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug Task
Force;
$500,000 for the Courtroom 21 program at William and Mary
College;
$600,000 for the Protecting Children Against Sex Offenders
in Fairfax County, VA;
$100,000 for the Virginia State Police to deal with gang
violence in the City of Richmond;
$750,000 for a child abuse prevention program in Norfolk,
VA;
$500,000 for the National Motor Vehicle Title Information
System to reduce vehicle theft and fraud;
$500,000 for the Tarrent County, TX, District Attorney's
Office for an Automated Fingerprint Identification System;
$2,000,000 for the Center for Court Innovation;
$110,000 for the Virtual Simulation Project for Clark State
Community College's Police Academy in Springfield, OH;
$500,000 for a crime fighting initiative with the
University of Central Oklahoma, the City of Edmond, OK and
the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation;
$1,000,000 for the Oakland County, MI, Sheriff's Department
for an Identification Based Information System (IBIS)
including portable hand-held digital fingerprint and photo
devices for patrol cars;
$350,000 for Iowa State University for specialized criminal
justice research;
$350,000 for a Regional Law Enforcement Training Program at
Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA;
$500,000 for the Redlands, CA, Police Department for a
crime mapping project;
$1,000,000 for the National Training and Information Center
(NTIC);
$1,000,000 for the National Center for Justice and the Rule
of Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law to
sponsor research and produce educational seminars and
training programs for judges, court personnel, prosecutors,
police agents, and attorneys;
$3,000,000 for the National Clearinghouse for Science,
Technology, and the Law at Stetson University College of Law;
$200,000 for the Pinellas County, FL, Sexual Predator Unit;
$2,000,000 for the National Forensics Science Technology
Center;
$250,000 for a law enforcement initiative in Tampa Bay, FL:
$500,000 for the Florida Gulf Coast University for
equipment and training for law enforcement efforts;
$500,000 for Kristen's Act;
$1,000,000 for the University of Houston to study in-car
law enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office
for the Child Victim Witness Project for criminal
investigators;
$500,000 for Kane County, IL, for a drug rehabilitation
court;
$750,000 for the Columbus, OH, Police Department for an
automated fingerprint identification system;
$300,000 for the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office for a
regional training center for cybercrime monitoring and
enforcement activities and for law enforcement administration
training;
$2,500,000 for National Institute of Justice's Cyber
Science Laboratory in Rome, NY;
$100,000 for the Cathedral City, CA Police Department for
an After-School Program;
$300,000 for the National Association of Town Watch's
National Night Out crime prevention program;
$300,000 for the Savannah Impact Program for an offender
re-entry program;
$250,000 for Orange County, CA, for a mobile regional gang
enforcement team;
$300,000 for Orange County, CA, for an integrated law and
justice program;
$300,000 for The Women's Center in Vienna, VA;
$200,000 for the City of Fairfax, VA, for law enforcement
equipment;
$300,000 for Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA, for law
enforcement training;
$200,000 for the City of Chesapeake, VA, Police Department
for law enforcement expenses;
$300,000 for Gun Crimes Reduction Task Force in Ventura
County, CA;
$300,000 for the Buchanan County, MO, Drug Strike Task
Force;
$300,000 for the Rural Justice Institute at Alfred
University;
$300,000 for the University of Notre Dame in collaboration
with State University of New York (SUNY) Stony Brook for law
enforcement technologies research;
$100,000 for the College of the Cannons in Santa Clarita
Valley, CA for law enforcement training;
[[Page 31499]]
$200,000 for the Belmont Harrison Juvenile District for
female inmate programs;
$750,000 for the San Joaquin Valley Rural Crime Prevention
Program;
$300,000 for the Eddy County, NM, Detention Center for
inmate programs to reduce recidivism;
$300,000 for the Regional Counter Drug Training Academy for
law enforcement training;
$150,000 for York County, PA, for a court records
improvement program;
$250,000 for the Stanislaus County, CA, Meth Gang
Enforcement Project;
$200,000 for the City of Virginia Beach, VA, Sheriff's
Department for law enforcement expenses;
$6,000,000 for the Police Athletic League;
$100,000 for the Men Ending Domestic Violence program in
Swansea, IL;
$300,000 for Altoona, PA, for an offender re-integration
program;
$300,000 for the Norwich, CT, Police Department for a
program to investigate sexual predators on the Internet;
$100,000 for the Polaris Project;
$180,000 for the Check'em Out program in Hamilton Township,
NJ;
$300,000 for the Houma, LA, Police Department for law
enforcement expenses;
$150,000 for the Kern County, CA, District Attorney for
equipment to assist in criminal gang investigations;
$250,000 for the Second Judicial District of New Mexico for
a gun violence reduction program;
$250,000 for Greenbook;
$250,000 for the National Center for Rural Law
Enforcement's Internet Project:
$250,000 for the Law Enforcement Memorial Act;
$250,000 for John Jay Criminal College and Lehman College
of the City University of New York for law enforcement
research;
$150,000 for the Midtown Community Justice Center in
Milwaukee, WI, for restorative justice programs;
$1,500,000 for the City of Alexandria and the County of
Arlington, VA to enhance law enforcement activities;
$250,000 for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation;
$600,000 for St. Louis County, MO, to enhance local law
enforcement efforts;
$750,000 for the California Department of Justice for the
San Francisco Bay area sexual assault screening program;
$1,500,000 for New York University for law enforcement
research;
$50,000 for Sistas and Brothas United;
$400,000 for the Latino Pastoral Action Center;
$100,000 for ``Servicing our Youth'';
$100,000 for the Restorative Justice and Good Citizenship
Initiative in Chicago, IL;
$100,000 for Solano County, CA, for enhanced law
enforcement activities;
$250,000 for the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy;
$300,000 for the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education
Fund to conduct a study of the participation of Latinos in
the federal criminal justice system;
$400,000 for ``Sanctuary for Families'' for programs in
support of at-risk women and children;
$600,000 for the Urban Justice Center;
$1,000,000 for the National Corrections and Law Enforcement
Training and Technology Center in Moundsville, WV;
$200,000 for the American Cities Foundation for a drug and
alcohol demand reduction program;
$460,000 for the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office
for criminal justice enhancements;
$250,000 for the New York Prosecutors Training Institute
for enhancement of the Spectrum Justice and Prosecutors Case
Management software systems;
$500,000 for ``Urban Dreams'' in Des Moines, IA, for
programs in support of at-risk youths;
$400,000 for the Maine Rural Substance Abuse Partnership;
$500,000 for Midamerica Nazarene University's (MNU)
Criminal Justice Program;
$500,000 for the National Children's Alliance Child Abuse
Case Tracking, Reporting and Management System;
$200,000 for the College of Mount Saint Vincent for
criminal justice research and development;
$250,000 for Phoenix House to enhance drug treatment
options in New York City, NY;
$100,000 for the Municipality of Barceloneta, PR, to expand
law enforcement efforts;
$500,000 for Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
for criminal justice research;
$200,000 for the Milwaukee County, WI, Community Justice
Day Reporting Center to expand program activities;
$500,000 for YouthServe, a project of the ``Builder for the
Family and Youth,'' to develop programs in support of at-risk
youths;
$150,000 for the Substance Abuse Referral and Prevention,
Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Online
Demonstration Project in New York, NY;
$900,000 for ``The Fortune Society'' for the Community Re-
entry program;
$250,000 for Bexar County, TX, for the Jail Diversion
Program Model;
$50,000 for the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation
to address quality of life crimes;
$500,000 for the North Las Vegas and Las Vegas, NV, Police
Departments to enhance law enforcement efforts;
$150,000 for the ``Home Again'' Offender Re-Entry Project
in Indianapolis, IN;
$100,000 for Provident Counseling's Domestic Violence
Prevention Program;
$100,000 for the City of North Miami Beach, FL, for a law
enforcement initiative;
$50,000 for the African Community Resource Center for
professional counseling for victims of domestic violence;
$100,000 for the County of Santa Clara, CA, for the
Financial Abuse Specialist Team;
$100,000 for PAX New York for the SPEAK UP Hotline;
$100,000 for the City of Pittsburgh, PA, Police Bureau to
enhance the Witness Protection Program;
$100,000 for the San Jose, CA, Police Department for law
enforcement enhancements;
$500,000 for the National Institute on State Policy on
Trafficking of Women and Girls at the Center for Women Policy
Studies;
$100,000 for the City of Seattle, WA, Precinct Liaison
Program;
$100,000 for the White Earth Nation in White Earth, MN, for
criminal justice enhancements;
$50,000 for the Southeast Law Enforcement Center;
$100,000 for the Warren Urban Minority Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Outreach Program in Trumbull County, OH;
$100,000 for the Village of Leetonia, OH, for a school
resource officer program;
$100,000 for NOVA Southeastern University's Community
Resources, Partnerships & Solutions project;
$50,000 to Taylor County, WI, for the Restorative Justice
Program;
$100,000 to the Bayfield, WI, Police Department for
enhanced law enforcement activities;
$200,000 to the Marathon County, WI, Sheriff's Department
for a methamphetamine response team;
$600,000 for the Alliance for Children and Families in
Milwaukee, WI, for the Legal Intervention for Employment
Expansion project.
Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.--The
conference agreement includes $7,000,000 to assist States in
building or enhancing prescription drug monitoring systems,
facilitating the exchange of information between States, and
providing technical assistance and training on establishing
and operating effective prescription drug monitoring
programs.
Prison Rape Prevention and Prosecution.--The conference
agreement provides $37,175,000 for implementation of the
Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-79). The
conference agreement provides up to $10,000,000 for the
collection of statistics, data and research as authorized by
section 4 of the Act; $5,000,000 is provided for the National
Institute of Corrections for a national clearinghouse,
training and education as authorized by section 5 of the Act;
$20,000,000 is provided for grants to States to protect
inmates and safeguard communities as authorized by section 6
of the Act. If the entire $10,000,000 provided for
statistics, data and research is not utilized, the conferees
expect these funds to be used to make additional grants to
States. An additional $2,175,000 shall be transferred to the
National Prison Rape Reduction Commission.
Victims of Trafficking.--The conference agreement includes
$10,000,000 for victim services programs to assist victims of
trafficking as authorized by the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Protection Act of 2000. The conferees expect the
Office of Victims of Crime to work with the Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on child
exploitation issues.
Drug Courts.--The conference agreement provides $38,500,000
for the Drug Courts program. The conferees note that funding
for drug courts is an eligible expense under the Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant program, the Byrne program, and
Juvenile Justice Programs.
Law Enforcement Family Support and Motor Vehicle Theft
Prevention.--The conferees understand that sufficient funding
is available in prior year unobligated balances to continue
to fund these programs during fiscal year 2004.
Weed and Seed Program Fund
The conference agreement includes $58,542,000 for the Weed
and Seed program as provided by the Senate. The conference
agreement adopts by reference the House report language
requiring OJP to submit a report to the Committees on
Appropriations on the coordination of the Weed and Seed
program with Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive's Youth Crime Gun
Interdiction Initiative and other Department of Justice and
Federal programs.
Community Oriented Policing Services
The conference agreement includes $756,283,000 for
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs instead
of $682,933,000 as proposed by the House and $656,636,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement provides
significant
[[Page 31500]]
resources above the request to enhance the ability of the
COPS office to accomplish their mission of advancing
community policing practices. While the conferees appreciate
the Administration's need to address its Federal
counterterrorism responsibility, this need should not
preclude the Administration from executing other law
enforcement responsibilities such as local law enforcement
programs aimed at ensuring community safety.
The table below displays the funding provided in the
conference agreement compared to the level of funds requested
under the COPS and Justice Assistance headings for similar
activities and compared to the levels provided in the House
and Senate bills.
[$ in 000's]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Enacted Request House Senate Conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hiring......................................... 198,700 ........... ........... 200,000 120,000
Training and Technical Assistance.............. 20,528 20,662 20,662 (10,000) (5,000)
Tribal Law Enforcement......................... 34,773 30,000 30,000 20,000 25,000
Meth Hot Spots................................. 56,761 20,000 60,000 ........... 54,050
COPS Technologies.............................. 188,719 50,000 100,000 83,960 158,407
Interoperable Communications................... 74,620 ........... ........... 140,000 85,000
Safe Schools Program........................... 15,111 ........... ........... 17,000 4,600
Police Integrity Grants........................ 16,853 16,963 17,000 5,000 10,000
Management and Administration.................. 32,782 26,130 26,130 35,000 30,000
Prior Year Balances (Rescission)............... ........... (6,378) ........... ........... ...........
Bullet-Proof Vests............................. 25,279 24,143 25,000 25,000 25,000
Police Corps................................... 14,903 28,315 28,315 15,000 15,000
Criminal Records Upgrade....................... 39,740 56,924 56,924 ........... 30,000
DNA/Crime Lab Initiative....................... 81,009 174,353 174,353 19,050 100,000
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science................ [4,968] ........... 5,000 15,000 10,000
DC Court and Fugitive Task Forces.............. ........... ........... 41,105 ........... ...........
Crime Identification Technology Act............ 68,626 ........... ........... 36,626 24,226
Safe Schools Technologies...................... [16,890] ........... ........... [10,000] [5,000]
SW Border Prosecutor Program................... 39,740 48,063 40,000 15,000 30,000
Gun Violence Reduction Assistance.............. 44,708 47,683 45,000 15,000 30,000
Offender Re-Entry.............................. 14,837 13,504 13,504 5,000 5,000
Project Sentry................................. 9,935 ........... ........... 10,000 ...........
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................... 977,624 682,993 656,636 756,283
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COPS Hiring Program.--The conference agreement includes
$120,000,000 for the hiring of law enforcement officers, of
which $60,000,000 shall be for school resource officers. From
within available amounts, $5,000,000 is for training and
technical assistance. The conference agreement adopts by
reference the House report language concerning events of
national or regional importance and directing COPS to submit
a report to the Committees on Appropriations on ``best
practices'' within 180 days of enactment of this Act.
Bulletproof Vests.--The conference agreement includes
$25,000,000 for the Bulletproof Vests program. The conferees
request that the Department of Justice conduct a study and
submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations on the
National Institute of Justice's (NIJ) voluntary testing
protocols and minimum standards for body armor to determine
the extent to which the efficiency of those voluntary testing
protocols and minimum standards for body armor correlates
with successful and improved law enforcement officer and
public safety, and include any recommendations for improving
the efficiency and safety of these voluntary testing
protocols and minimum standards for body armor. The report
must address, but is not limited to, the criteria used by the
NIJ to establish voluntary standards of testing and
evaluation to identify minimum performance standards for body
armor critical to protecting officers from ballistic threats;
when the NIJ last updated the minimum performance standards
for body armor; the qualifications and factors used by the
NIJ to determine the need to update minimum performance
standards for body armor; why the NIJ testing protocols only
rate body armor in the newest possible condition; and why the
NIJ does not test the deterioration of body armor actually
worn by officers in the field to determine if such materials
and body armor constitutes to comply with the NIJ minimum
performance standards during the warranty period of the body
armor.
Police Corps.--The conference agreement includes
$15,000,000 for the Police Corps program. The conferees are
disappointed that the Police Corps program did not submit a
fiscal year 2003 financial plan as requested in the fiscal
year 2003 conference report. The conferees believe it is
important for this program to standardize the funding
provided for recruit training and require State matching
funds for training costs. The conferees are also disappointed
that the Police Corps program has not submitted the requested
report describing OJP's efforts to incorporate terrorism
prevention and response training into the Police Corps
program and discussing the feasibility of establishing
regional Police Corps training centers. The conferees expect
this report to be submitted as soon as possible and the
conference agreement again directs OJP to submit a Police
Corps financial plan no later than 180 days after enactment
of this Act.
Methamphetamine Enforcement and Clean-Up.--The conference
agreement includes $54,050,000 for State and local law
enforcement programs to combat methamphetamine production and
distribution, to target drug ``hot spots,'' and to remove and
dispose of hazardous materials at clandestine methamphetamine
labs.
Within the amount provided, the conference agreement
includes $20,000,000 to reimburse the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) for assistance to State and local law
enforcement for proper removal and disposal of hazardous
materials at clandestine methamphetamine labs. The conference
agreement provides $5,000,000 for training, technical
assistance and grants to localities with highest priority
needs. The conference agreement adopts by reference the House
report language concerning coordination with other Federal
agencies.
In addition, within the amount provided, the conferees
expect the COPS Program Office, in consultation with DEA, to
examine each of the following proposals, to provide grants if
warranted, and to submit a report to the Committees on
Appropriations on its intentions for each proposal:
$1,500,000 for the Arizona methamphetamine program;
$1,100,000 for the Five County Southeastern Utah
Methamphetamine Project;
$700,000 for Methamphetamine Enforcement for the State of
Indiana;
$1,050,000 for the Louisiana Methamphetamine Task Force;
$750,000 to Prairie View Prevention Services in Sioux
Falls, SD, to continue methamphetamine use prevention
programs in South Dakota, and to facilitate integration of
prevention and treatment services for at-risk youth;
$1,500,000 to fund meth lab task forces in Iowa's south
central and east central counties;
$300,000 for the Iowa Tank Lock Methamphetamine Initiative;
$4,500,000 for Hawaii County Comprehensive Methamphetamine
Response;
$1,000,000 to continue the efforts of the Wisconsin
Methamphetamine Initiative;
$50,000 for the St. Croix, WI, District Attorney's Office
Initiative to Combat Methamphetamine;
$600,000 for Marion County, OR, Methamphetamine Lab
Surveillance and Seizure Program;
$500,000 for the Virginia State Police to assist their
efforts in combating methamphetamine;
$300,000 for DeKalb, Cherokee, and Marion Counties, AL, for
initiatives to combat methamphetamine;
$3,000,000 for the California Department of Justice, Bureau
of Narcotic Enforcement, for the California Methamphetamine
Strategy (CALMS);
$2,000,000 for the Washington State law enforcement
methamphetamine initiative;
$240,000 for the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force;
$2,200,000 for the Regional Methamphetamine Training Center
in Sioux City, IA;
$750,000 for methamphetamine enforcement and clean-up
initiatives in Kansas for the Cowley County, Montgomery
County, and Butler County Sheriffs' Departments;
$1,000,000 for the Methamphetamine Task Force in East
Tennessee, to fight the spread of meth labs in this region,
including $50,000 for a video conferencing program at the
Hamilton County District Attorney's Office;
$200,000 for the Chilton County, AL, Sheriff's Department
to combat production and distribution of methamphetamine;
$300,000 for the Henderson County, TN, Sheriff's Department
to combat production and distribution of methamphetamine;
$500,000 for the Arkansas Methamphetamine Law Enforcement
Initiative;
[[Page 31501]]
$300,000 for the Riverside County, CA, Sheriff's Department
to combat production and distribution of methamphetamine;
$300,000 for the Franklin County, MO, Sheriff's Department
for Operation CHEM;
$100,000 for the Daviess County, KY, Sheriff's Department
to combat production and distribution of methamphetamine;
$400,000 for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous
Drug Control Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Program;
$550,000 for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to combat
the production and distribution of methamphetamine;
$300,000 for the Nebraska State Patrol to combat the
production and distribution of methamphetamine;
$300,000 for the Henderson, NV, Police Department for
equipment and technologies to combat the production and
distribution of methamphetamine;
$700,000 for the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force in KY;
$70,000 for the Lawrence County, AL, Sheriff's Office to
assist their efforts against methamphetamine and narcotics
production and distribution;
$200,000 for Phoenix House for methamphetamine treatment
programs in Los Angeles, CA;
$250,000 for the Lincoln County, OR, methamphetamine
project;
$100,000 for the City of Columbia, SC, methamphetamine
initiative;
$100,000 for the Buffalo Trace/Gateway Narcotics Task Force
to support a multi-jurisdictional task force methamphetamine
training program;
$750,000 for the Minot State University Rural
Methamphetamine Education Demonstration Project;
$100,000 for the Choctaw Nation methamphetamine initiative;
$100,000 for the State of Hawaii, including Oahu, Maui
County, and Kaua'i County, for methamphetamine initiatives.
COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Program.--The
conferees recommend $85,000,000 for the COPS Interoperable
Communications Technology Program, in consultation with the
Office of Science and Technology (OS&T) within the NIJ, as
well as the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). This program
shall utilize the expertise of all three organizations to
create a grant program that is highly responsive to the
immediate needs of the State and local law enforcement
community and that takes full advantage of the expertise and
lessons learned from OS&T's and BJA's research and
development in the field of interoperable law enforcement
communications, particularly project AGILE.
This program should address the critical need of law
enforcement to improve cross-jurisdictional communication,
intelligence and information sharing. Grants shall be
exclusively available to law enforcement agencies. Consistent
with the existing COPS grant programs, the COPS Interoperable
Communications Technology Program should include a 25 percent
local match requirement and be available to both rural and
urban communities.
Grants shall be available for both voice and data
communications systems. Grants for voice communications
systems shall be available for system upgrades and
technologies to make existing communication systems
compatible. Grants shall also be available for data
communications systems to enhance law enforcement's abilities
to share intelligence and to integrate existing local law
enforcement legacy databases.
The COPS Office shall ensure that all grant awards comply
with existing standards adopted by the OS&T, BJA and OLES.
Within the funding provided, $1,000,000 shall be transferred
to OLES to continue the development of a comprehensive suite
of minimum standards for law enforcement communications.
The conferees expect the COPS Office to work with State,
local, and Federal agencies through the Global Justice
Information Sharing Initiative to address the communications
and intelligence needs of law enforcement.
The conferees direct the COPS office to develop and submit
to the Committees on Appropriations, no later than 45 days
after the enactment of this Act, proposed guidelines for the
program.
Law Enforcement Technology Program.--The conference
agreement includes $158,407,000 for the COPS Law Enforcement
Technology Program. The conference agreement adopts by
reference the House report language concerning standards.
Within the amounts provided under this account, grants
should be provided for the following:
$2,000,000 for the Ohio Palmprint AFIS Program;
$500,000 for forensics, crime scene collection, and drug
detection abilities upgrades at the Sandy City, UT, Crime
Lab;
$500,000 for the Regional Crime Lab at Missouri Southern
State College;
$1,000,000 for Sam Houston State University to develop the
Texas Center for Forensic Sciences, with a primary focus in
the area of digital forensic science;
$250,000 for Washoe County, NV, Sheriff's Department of
Forensics and DNA Analysis;
$500,000 to establish a police science laboratory at
Holyoke Community College, MA;
$1,000,000 for Texas Tech University's Institute for
Forensic Sciences;
$3,000,000 to the Louisville, KY, Regional Computer
Forensic Laboratory;
$1,000,000 to Allegheny County, PA, to improve its forensic
laboratories;
$1,000,000 to the University of Alabama at Birmingham's
Forensic Science Institute;
$800,000 for the Ohio Attorney General's Office Crime
Laboratory System Improvement Project;
$500,000 for medical examiner upgrades for the Jefferson
County, AL, Medical Examiner's Office;
$450,000 to Brown University in Providence, RI, for a
nanotechnology study of DNA sequencing methods;
$3,300,000 for Marshall University's Forensic Science
Program;
$1,500,000 to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
for continued funding to support the growing State and local
law enforcement needs in the only full service forensic
laboratory in South Carolina;
$1,000,000 for the Honolulu, HI, Police Department's Crime
Lab Improvements;
$500,000 for planning, design, and equipment for the State
of Vermont Forensic Laboratory;
$400,000 for the Stamford, CT, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$600,000 for Spokane, WA, Intelligence/Information Sharing
Computer Systems;
$2,000,000 for the UNH/Keene State College Public Safety
Management System;
$1,000,000 for the computer-aided dispatch system for
Sedgwick County, KS;
$400,000 for law enforcement communications equipment in
Osceola, FL;
$400,000 for a Technical Interoperability Project, NY;
$175,000 to the Billings, MT, Police Department to enhance
the mobile data technology to provide constant locations of
all cars;
$700,000 for equipment upgrades, City of Gary, IN;
$500,000 for the City of Fairfield, CA, Police CAD/RMS
Dispatch and Records Project;
$2,277,000 to the Southeastern Law Enforcement Technology
Center to partner with SPAWAR System Center Charleston to
advance research and development into software radio
technology;
$475,000 for Salem County, NJ, for law enforcement
communications equipment;
$250,000 to Brown County, SD, to integrate communications
systems with law enforcement;
$250,000 to the South Dakota Police Chiefs' Association and
South Dakota Sheriffs' Association for technology and
equipment;
$250,000 for the Adams County, IL, Sheriff's Department to
upgrade law enforcement and communication technologies and to
modernize equipment;
$1,050,000 for police technology grants to be equally
divided between the cities of Barre, St. Albans, and
Springfield, VT;
$850,000 to the City of Greenville, SC, Police Department
for communication system upgrades;
$900,000 to the Southeastern Law Enforcement Technology
Center for the deployment of shot spotter technology;
$2,000,000 to the State of Alaska for training Village
Public Safety Officers and small village police offices and
acquisition of emergency response and search and rescue
equipment for rural communities;
$350,000 to the Newberry County, SC, Sheriff's Department
for the purchase of mobile data computers;
$350,000 to Abbeville, SC, Sheriff's Department for mobile
data computers and in-car cameras;
$1,000,000 for a grant to the Southeastern Law Enforcement
Technology Center's Coastal Plain Police Communications
initiative for regional law enforcement communications
equipment;
$300,000 for Spartanburg County, SC, for an advanced
emergency communications system;
$300,000 to the Union County, SC, Sheriff's Department for
mobile data computers and communications upgrades;
$300,000 to the Greenwood County, SC, Sheriff's Department
for the purchase of mobile data computers and communications
upgrades;
$1,000,000 to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
to continue funding for equipment to support a Federal and
State collaboration of investigators and forensics experts to
solve high technology crimes through one center;
$350,000 to the Hampton County, SC, Sheriff's Department
for the purchase of computers and surveillance equipment
necessary to patrol high crime areas of the county;
$300,000 for the Jasper County, SC, Sheriff's Department
for the purchase of mobile data computers and in-car cameras;
$2,500,000 to Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties,
SC, for a shared information system for local law
enforcement;
$20,000 to the Yemassee, SC, Police Department for the
purchase of radios and in-car cameras;
$1,000,000 to the State of Wisconsin's Office of Justice
Assistance to create an integrated data-sharing system
linking the criminal justice system throughout the State;
$1,000,000 for Wayne County, MI, for communications
equipment and to complete its Global Positioning System
project;
[[Page 31502]]
$635,000 for the Arkansas Justice Xchange Project;
$900,000 for the Internet Project at the Criminal Justice
Institute;
$2,100,000 for the Wireless Network and Mobile Data
Terminal Program in the City of Jackson, TN;
$400,000 for the Colorado Sex Offender Registry;
$500,000 to procure and evaluate Voice Monitoring and
Logging equipment with embedded TACSCAN capability at
designated locations;
$50,000 for investigative capability of the Kansas Bureau
of Investigation's Computer Crime Section;
$1,000,000 for the Enforcement Technology Program in the
City of Macon, GA;
$350,000 for VeriTracks in Georgia;
$2,500,000 for the Harrison County, MS, Public Safety
Automated Systems;
$2,500,000 for the Land Mobile Radio project in Alaska;
$750,000 for the Criminal Justice Information Integration
Project, City of Minneapolis, MN;
$1,500,000 for Harris County, TX, to purchase and install
new interoperable radio hardware and software to provide and
further enhance interoperable radio communications for public
safety and first responders in the region;
$1,000,000 for law enforcement training equipment, City of
Council Bluffs, IA;
$500,000 for Fairbanks, AK, Criminal Justice Data Sharing;
$3,000,000 for the Consolidated Advanced Technologies for
Law Enforcement (CAT lab) program at the University of New
Hampshire;
$1,000,000 to the City of Allentown, PA, to develop
computer mapping and weekly accountability sessions;
$125,000 for the Plymouth State College, NH, police
department for technology upgrades;
$1,250,000 for the Records Interoperability Initiative
through the Consolidated Advanced Technologies for Law
Enforcement;
$3,000,000 for the J-ONE information system in New
Hampshire;
$2,500,000 to the Kenai Peninsula, AK, Borough Emergency
Operations Center;
$1,000,000 to the University of Kentucky's Law School
Electronic Access Project;
$3,000,000 for technology and equipment for the New
Hampshire Department of Safety Statewide Interagency
Emergency Operations and Communications System Center;
$2,000,000 to provide digital radio equipment and
technology to the New Hampshire Department of Safety;
$500,000 for the Matanuska Susitna, AK, Borough Emergency
Response Radio Network;
$2,000,000 for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety for
law enforcement equipment;
$250,000 to the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training
for technology and upgrades;
$1,000,000 for a replacement communications system for
Buchanan County, Missouri, the City of St. Joseph, and
Heartland Health Law Enforcement Communications System;
$2,000,000 for law enforcement technologies to be split
evenly between the City of Tuscon, AZ, Police Department and
the Cochise County, AZ, Police Department;
$3,000,000 for the Stark County, OH, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$2,000,000 for a Regional Law Enforcement Technologies
Program in Kentucky;
$3,000,000 for the Simulated Prison Environment Crisis
Aversion Tools for programs in Alabama, North Carolina and
Pennsylvania;
$100,000 for the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission;
$150,000 for the Rapides Parish, LA, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the Loudoun County, VA, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$62,000 for the Town of Herndon, VA, Police Department for
information technology requirements;
$500,000 for the Key West, FL, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$50,000 for the Fauquier, VA, Sheriff's Department for a
mobile data system;
$400,000 for the Fairfax County, VA, Police Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$2,000,000 for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice
Services, for the Integrated Criminal Justice Information
System;
$80,000 for Hanceville, Douglas, Arab, and Blount County,
AL, Police Departments for law enforcement technologies;
$2,000,000 for technology enhancements for law enforcement
agencies in Middle Rio Grande Border Region of Texas;
$2,000,000 for the Criminal Information Sharing Alliance
Network;
$500,000 for the Florida Department of Corrections for a
system to electronically monitor criminal probationers and
link their location to crime events;
$1,000,000 for Carlsbad, CA, for the Automated Regional
Justice Information System;
$2,000,000 for I-SAFE America;
$1,500,000 for the Morris County, NJ, Police Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$290,000 for Southside Virginia law enforcement agencies
for law enforcement technologies;
$750,000 for the Placer County, CA, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$500,000 for the Plumas County, CA, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the Pickaway County, OH, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$500,000 for the Great Cities University Coalition to
improve criminal justice data systems;
$250,000 for the City of Moultrie, GA, Police Department
for law enforcement equipment;
$500,000 for the Scott County, IL, Sheriff's Department and
the City of Winchester, IL, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$750,000 for the East Valley Community Justice Center in
CA;
$250,000 for the San Bernardino, CA, Police Department for
mobile data terminals;
$17,000 for the Anchorage, KY, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the Audubon Park, KY, Police Department for
mobile data terminals and in-car video cameras;
$25,000 for the Jeffersontown, KY, Police Department for
in-car video cameras;
$750,000 for the Louisville, KY, Metro Police Department
for mobile data terminals, in-car video cameras and other law
enforcement equipment;
$500,000 for the Idaho State Police for mobile data
computers;
$500,000 for the Onondaga County, NY, Sheriff's Office for
crime fighting technologies including cameras and video
equipment, and mobile data terminals;
$125,000 for the City of Syracuse, NY, Police Department
for mobile data terminals;
$700,000 for the City of Clearwater, FL, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$700,000 for the Pinellas County, FL, Sheriff's Department
for information technology equipment;
$700,000 for the City of Largo, FL, Police Department for
laptop computers for patrol cars;
$1,000,000 for the Los Angeles County, CA, Sheriff's
Department for law enforcement technologies;
$50,000 for the Wyoming and Livingston Counties, NY,
Sheriffs' Departments for law enforcement technologies;
$590,000 for Greene County, MO, for law enforcement
technologies including an integrated justice system, video
equipment for courtrooms, and information technologies for
law enforcement;
$350,000 for Carl Junction, MO, for law enforcement
technologies;
$1,000,000 for Greater Harris County, TX, for in-car police
technologies;
$523,000 for St. Charles, IL, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$150,000 for the Hernando County, FL, Sheriff's Office for
law enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the Hanover County, VA, Sheriff's Office for
law enforcement technologies;
$125,000 for the Town of Culpeper, VA, Police Department
and the Culpeper County VA, Sheriff's Office for law
enforcement technologies;
$75,000 for the Louisa County, VA, Sheriff's Office for law
enforcement technologies;
$50,000 for the Page County, VA, Sheriff's Office for law
enforcement technologies;
$300,000 for the Lake County, IL, Integrated Criminal
Justice Information System;
$250,000 for the York County, VA, Sheriff's Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the Stafford County, VA, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the Chesterfield County, VA, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$200,000 for the City of Suffolk, VA, Police Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$200,000 for the City of Chesapeake, VA, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$40,000 for the Northampton County, VA, Sheriff's Office
for in-car video cameras;
$50,000 for the Accomack County, VA, Sheriff's Office for
in-car video cameras;
$410,000 for the Virginia Beach Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the St. Clair County, AL, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the Jefferson County, AL, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$3,000,000 for Law Enforcement On-Line;
$300,000 for the Frederick County, MD, Sheriff's Office for
law enforcement technologies;
$3,000,000 for the Center for Criminal Justice Technology;
$250,000 for Prince William County, VA, for a regional
booking system;
$100,000 for the Lincoln County, NC, Sheriff's Office for
mobile data terminals;
$100,000 for the Rutherford County, NC, Sheriff's Office
for laptop computers;
$100,000 for the Cleveland County, NC, to establish video
arraignment capabilities;
[[Page 31503]]
$200,000 for the City of Murrieta, CA, Police Department
for mobile data terminals;
$300,000 for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Force;
$80,000 for the City of Charles Town, WV, for an electronic
booking, fingerprint, and live scan systems and mobile data
terminals;
$500,000 for the Cincinnati, OH, Police Department for a
records management system;
$200,000 for the Loudon County, TN, Police Department for
mobile data terminals;
$180,000 for the City of Oviedo, FL, Police Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$50,000 for the Hillsborough, NJ, Police Department for
mobile data terminals;
$160,000 for the Clark County, KY, Sheriff's Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$500,000 for the Cobb County, GA, Sheriff's Department for
a multi-level law enforcement technology system;
$500,000 for a consolidated law enforcement network for
Rockingham County, VA, and the City of Harrisonburg, VA;
$250,000 for Lumber River, NC, for law enforcement
technologies;
$250,000 for the Cabarrus County, NC, Sheriff's Department
for a records management system;
$250,000 for Cape Fear, NC, for mobile data terminals for
law enforcement;
$200,000 for the Maitland, FL, Police Department for mobile
data terminals;
$750,000 for the St. Clair, MI, Sheriff's Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$200,000 for the City of Greenville, NC, Police Department
for mobile data terminals;
$20,000 for the Madison Township, OH, Police Department for
mobile data terminals;
$300,000 for the Sacramento County, CA, Sheriff's
Department for IT infrastructure upgrades including the
Sheriff's Information Management System;
$300,000 for the City of Lancaster, PA, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the County of Contra Costa, CA, for an
integrated justice information system;
$235,000 for the Navajo Nation in Arizona for law
enforcement technologies;
$235,000 for the San Carlos Tribe in Arizona for law
enforcement technologies;
$40,000 for Yavapai County, AZ, for law enforcement
technologies;
$300,000 for the City of West Palm Beach, FL, Police
Department for law enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the City of Gainesville, FL, Police Department
and the Alachua County Sheriff's Office for a crime data and
mapping system;
$250,000 for the Cities of Bayamon and Guaynabo, PR, for
enhanced law enforcement and crime prevention capabilities;
$300,000 for the Manchester Township, NJ, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$137,000 for the Hamilton Township, NJ, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$300,000 for Kalamazoo County, MI, for an integrated
justice management system;
$300,000 for Kankakee County, IL, for an integrated
criminal justice system;
$500,000 for the Sandy City, UT, Police Department and
Justice Court for law enforcement technology improvements;
$500,000 for the Calvert County, MD, Sheriff's Department
for squad car mobile data terminals;
$1,000,000 for the Maryland State Police Department for a
police vehicle technology system;
$750,000 for the City of San Francisco, CA, to implement
the Justice Information Tracking System;
$1,000,000 for San Francisco, CA, Bay Area law enforcement
technology systems;
$1,000,000 for the City of Bastrop, LA, for law enforcement
technology enhancements;
$255,000 for the Suffolk County, NY, Police Department for
law enforcement technology;
$500,000 for the City of Des Moines, IA, for law
enforcement technology;
$40,000 for the Whitpain Township, PA, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the Philadelphia, PA, Police Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$500,000 for Clackamas County, OR, for law enforcement
technologies;
$250,000 for Luzerne County, PA, for law enforcement
technologies;
$300,000 for the Cities of Sumas, Lynden, and Blaine, WA,
for law enforcement technologies;
$750,000 for the Snohomish County, WA, Sheriff's Department
for palm-imaging technology;
$500,000 for the City of Macon, GA, Police Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$50,000 for the Town of Lexington, AL, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$600,000 for the Cumberland, RI, Police Department for
technology upgrades;
$250,000 for the North Providence, RI, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$2,000,000 for the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County,
MN, for law enforcement technologies;
$500,000 for AMBERVIEW;
$500,000 for the Steganography Analysis and Research
Center;
$750,000 for the Kitsap County, WA, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$300,000 for the Erie County, OH, Sheriff's Department for
technology improvements;
$150,000 for the Lucas County, OH, Sheriff's Department for
technology improvements;
$100,000 for the Town of Greenburgh, NY, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$125,000 for the Town of Haverstraw, NY, for a targeting
technology project;
$30,000 for the Village of Rye Brook, NY, for law
enforcement technology equipment;
$38,000 for the Village of Tuckahoe, NY, Police Department
for law enforcement technology;
$280,000 for Westchester County, NY, for law enforcement
equipment;
$420,000 for the Counties of Westchester and Rockland, NY,
for law enforcement technologies;
$210,000 for California University of Pennsylvania for
support of the Crime Mapping Center;
$500,000 for Somerset, Fayette, Greene and Washington
Counties, PA, for law enforcement technologies;
$125,000 for the West Springfield, MA, Police Department
for technology upgrades;
$350,000 for the Worcester County, MA, Sheriff's Office for
technology upgrades;
$100,000 for the Pittsfield, MA, Police Department for
technology upgrades;
$300,000 for the Lake County, IN, Sheriff's Deptment for
law enforcement technologies;
$300,000 for the Porter County, IN, Sheriff's Office for
law enforcement technologies;
$500,000 for the Arkansas State Police for law enforcement
technologies;
$100,000 for Georgia State University to implement an
Improved Crime Data system;
$500,000 for the Marion County, SC, Sheriff's Department to
implement a records management system;
$500,000 for the Shelton, CT, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the Woodbridge, CT, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the City of Dallas, TX, for law enforcement
technologies;
$500,000 for the University of Texas at Arlington to
conduct law enforcement research;
$500,000 for Tompkins County, NY, for law enforcement
technologies;
$150,000 for the Worcester Polytechnic Institute for the
development of law enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the Phoenix, AZ, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$250,000 for the Chapel Hill and Cary, NC, Police
Departments to provide in-car video cameras and other law
enforcement technologies;
$150,000 for Bergen County, NJ, for law enforcement
technologies;
$250,000 for the City of Madison, WI, for law enforcement
technology upgrades;
$200,000 for the City of Sun Prairie, WI, for law
enforcement technologies;
$200,000 for Westchester County, NY, for a Criminal Justice
Data Warehouse;
$100,000 for the Milwaukee County, WI, Sheriff's Department
for upgrading their mobile data computer system;
$500,000 for Hudson County, NJ, for law enforcement
technologies;
$150,000 for the City of Pomona, CA, for law enforcement
technologies;
$300,000 for the El Paso, TX, Sheriff's Department for law
enforcement technology upgrades;
$200,000 for the City of Lakewood, CA, Sheriff Station for
technology improvements;
$50,000 for the City of Fullerton, CA, for law enforcement
technologies;
$200,000 for the West Covina, CA, Police Department for law
enforcement technology improvements;
$100,000 for the Henderson, NC, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$200,000 for the California Highway Patrol for law
enforcement technology upgrades;
$100,000 for the City of Portland, OR, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$150,000 for the San Luis Obispo, CA, County Sheriff's
Department for law enforcement equipment;
$100,000 for the Government of the Virgin Islands for law
enforcement technologies;
$300,000 for the City of Detroit, MI, for law enforcement
technologies;
$100,000 for the City of San Diego, CA, for law enforcement
technologies;
$100,000 for the City and County of Denver, CO, for law
enforcement technologies;
$150,000 for the City of Austin, TX, Police Department for
technology improvements;
$100,000 for the Borough of Spotswood, NJ, for law
enforcement technologies;
$45,000 for West Windsor Township, NJ, for law enforcement
technologies;
$30,000 for the Grand Coteau, LA, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$50,000 for the Lafayette, LA, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$20,000 for the Sunset, LA, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for Jefferson County, TX, for law enforcement
technology upgrades;
[[Page 31504]]
$300,000 for Sacramento County, CA, for law enforcement
technologies;
$100,000 for the Jackson County, MO, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the City of St. Paul, MN, Police Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the City of Baltimore, MD, Police Department
to install in-vehicle video cameras;
$200,000 for the Missouri Police Chiefs Association for law
enforcement technology upgrades;
$50,000 for Nevada County, AR, for law enforcement
technologies;
$100,000 for the Little Rock, AR, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for Tega Cay, SC, for law enforcement
technologies;
$250,000 for Charlevoix-Cheboygan-Emmett, MI, for law
enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the Jackson County, MS, Sheriff's Department
for law enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the City of Jackson, MS, for law enforcement
technologies;
$100,000 for the Essex County, MA, Sheriff's Department for
law enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for ``A Child Is Missing'' for telephony research
to locate missing persons;
$100,000 for the City of Rockville, MD, for law enforcement
technologies;
$100,000 for the University of Southern California Advanced
Simulation Training for law enforcement research;
$100,000 for the Haverhill, MA, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies for the Crime Analysis Unit;
$100,000 for the Minnesota Association of County Probation
Officers for law enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the City of Evanston, IL, for law enforcement
technologies;
$100,000 for Sumner, Macon, Bedford, Robertson, Wilson, and
Putnam (TN) Counties for law enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the Long Beach, CA, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the City of Inglewood, CA, for law enforcement
technologies;
$100,000 for the City of Santa Rosa, CA, for law
enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the State of North Carolina for law
enforcement technologies;
$100,000 for the Milburn, NJ, Police Department for law
enforcement technologies.
Crime Identification Technology Act.--The conference
agreement includes $24,226,000 for the Crime Identification
Technology Act program, of which $5,000,000 shall be
available for the Safe Schools Technology program.
The Committee has provided $2,500,000 for the Alaska
Criminal Justice Information System to integrate Federal,
State and local criminal records along with social service
and other records. It expects the system design to include
the capability to provide background checks on potential
child care workers for child care providers and families with
the permission of the job applicant. The State should consult
with the National Instant Check System for technical
expertise. Within the overall amounts recommended, the
conferees expect OJP to examine each of the following
proposals, to provide grants if warranted, and to submit a
report to the Committees on Appropriations on its intentions
for each proposal:
$4,000,000 for West Virginia University's Forensic
Identification Program;
$1,500,000 for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
[SLED] to continue funding for necessary equipment for SLED's
criminal justice information system; to convert existing
databases and integrate systems for accurate and rapid
processing of information to support identifications for
criminal and civilian purposes;
$9,400,000 for the South Carolina Judicial Department to
continue purchasing equipment for the integration of the case
docket system into a state-of-the-art comprehensive database
to be shared between the court system and law enforcement;
$500,000 for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's
CriMNet system;
$1,000,000 for the establishment of a forensic DNA analysis
lab at North Dakota State University;
$170,000 for the Case Management/Central Docketing System
in Kansas;
$600,000 for the Orem City, UT, Consolidated Records
Management System; and $56,000 for the Kansas Telephone-Toll
Analysis System.
DNA Initiative.--The conference agreement includes
$100,000,000 for a DNA initiative of which $55,000,000 shall
be for eliminating the casework backlog; $5,000,000 shall be
for eliminating the offender backlog; $30,000,000 shall be
for strengthening crime lab capacity; $5,000,000 shall be for
training the criminal justice community; and $5,000,000 shall
be for using DNA to identify missing persons.
Improving Forensic Capabilities.--In addition to funding
provided for the DNA initiative, the conference agreement
provides $10,000,000 for Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences
Improvement grants.
The National Institute of Justice [NIJ], in conjunction
with its own Office of Science & Technology, the American
Society of Crime Lab Directors, the American Academy of
Forensic Sciences, the International Association for
Identification, and the National Association of Medical
Examiners, is directed to develop a plan which will address
the needs of the crime lab and medical examiner community
beyond the ``DNA Initiative'' and report back to the
Committees on Appropriations no later than 180 days from the
date of enactment of this Act. The report should address the
following: (1) manpower and equipment needs; (2) continuing
education policies; (3) professionalism and accreditation
standards; and (4) the level of collaboration needed between
Federal forensic science labs and State/local forensic
science labs for the administration of justice.
Southwest Border Prosecutors.--The conference agreement
includes $30,000,000 for the Southwest Border Prosecutors
initiative. The conference agreement adopts by reference the
House report language directing the Department to study
whether a similar number of cases are being referred to local
prosecutors from Federal arrests along the Northern border.
The Department shall report its findings to the Committees on
Appropriations within 90 days of enactment of this Act.
Safe Schools Initiative.--The conference agreement includes
$4,600,000 for programs aimed at preventing violence in
public schools, and to support the assignment of officers to
work in collaboration with schools and community-based
organizations to address the threat of terrorism, crime,
disorder, gangs, and drug activities.
Within the amount provided, the COPS office should examine
each of the following proposals, provide grants if warranted,
and submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations on
its intentions for each proposal:
$750,000 for Alaska's Community in Schools Mentoring
Program;
$1,000,000 for the University of Montana to facilitate a
statewide community-based curriculum development initiative
that promotes responsible behavior and reduces youth violence
in schools and communities;
$250,000 to the Sioux Falls School District, in Sioux
Falls, SD, for the Department of Corrections to School
Transition Project;
$250,000 for the Rock Island County, IL, Regional Office of
Education to implement the Step Ahead Program;
$500,000 for the New England Amer-I-Can Program;
$150,000 for the Uhlich Children's Home, IL, to support its
school-based violence prevention, mentoring, leadership, and
training programs;
$1,500,000 to provide community-based, cost effective
alternative programs for juveniles who are, have been or may
be subject to compulsory care, supervision or incarceration
in public or private institutions in several States including
South Carolina;
$200,000 for the Merit School of Music's afterschool
program.
Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs
The conference agreement includes $387,629,000 for violence
against women prevention and prosecution programs as proposed
by the House. The Senate bill provided funding for these
programs under the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance
account. The following table outlines the funding provided in
the conference agreement:
[In thousands of dollars]
Program Conference
STOP Grants....................................................$168,334
(National Institute of Justice--R&D)..........................(5,200)
(Safe Start Program).........................................(10,000)
(Bureau of Justice Statistics).....................................--
CASA (Special Advocates).........................................11,897
Training for Judicial Personnel...................................2,281
Grants for Televised Testimony......................................994
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies..............................64,503
Rural Domestic Violence Assistance Grants........................39,685
Training Programs.................................................4,957
Stalking Database.................................................2,981
Violence on College Campuses......................................9,935
Civil Legal Assistance...........................................39,740
Elder Abuse Grant Program.........................................4,968
Safe Haven Project...............................................14,903
Transitional Housing.............................................15,000
Educ. & Training for Disable Female Victims.......................7,451
________________
Total.......................................................387,629
juvenile justice programs
The conference agreement includes $352,700,000 for Juvenile
Justice programs, instead of $462,282,000 as proposed by the
House and $232,330,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conference agreement provides for the following programs:
Juvenile Justice Programs
[In thousands of dollars]
Amount
Management/Administration........................................$3,600
Part B--Formula Grants...........................................84,000
Part D--Research, Eval., Tech. Assist. & Training.................2,500
Part E--Developing New Initiatives...............................79,600
[[Page 31505]]
Title V--Incentive Grants........................................80,000
(Tribal Youth)...............................................(10,000)
(Gang Prevention)............................................(20,000)
(Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws)...........................(25,000)
(Big Brothers and Big Sisters)................................(6,000)
Project Sentry...................................................15,000
Secure Our Schools Act...........................................10,000
Victims of Child Abuse Act Programs..............................13,000
Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program......................60,000
Project ChildSafe.................................................5,000
________________
Total.......................................................352,700
State Formula Grants.--The conference agreement includes
$84,000,000 for the Part B--State Formula grants. The
conferees ask Governors and relevant State and local
officials to review the following proposals and provide
grants if warranted: A Child Is Missing Program in Rhode
Island; After School Program, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis;
Alabama Community Intensive Treatment Program; Azalea Road
Park Program in North Carolina; Beating the Odds Program of
Pennsylvania; Boys and Girls Home of Nebraska Juvenile
Justice Programs; Words Can Heal Program of Colorado; New
York City High Risk Neighborhood Delinquency Reduction
Program; Disproportionate Minority Youth Confinement Pilot of
Michigan; California Law Enforcement Internet Safety for
Children; Champ Chicota Youth Mentoring Program in Louisiana;
Children Who Witness Violence Program, Cleveland, Ohio;
Children's Law Center of Maine; Community Empowerment
Association's `Friend-2-Friend' Mentoring Program of
Pennsylvania; Community Juvenile Justice Center of Montana;
Community Outreach to Low-Income Families, Main Street
Counseling of Orange, New Jersey; Comprehensive Child Abuse
Center of Virginia; Family First Foundation of Pennsylvania;
Iowa YMCA Rural Youth Mentoring Initiative; Juvenile Justice
Center at Suffolk University; Leadership Academy, Abbeville,
Alabama; Life Directions Peer Mentoring Partnership of
Oregon; Louisiana Youth Seminar; Marion County, Oregon
Juvenile Co-Occurring Disorders Pilot Project; Maine
KidsPeace Therapeutic Foster Care Offices; Milwaukee Summer
Stars; Kansas Temporary Lodging for Children Program;
Milwaukee Youth Empowerment Sites; North Carolina KidsPeace
Therapeutic Foster Care; Nevada Gang Database; New Mexico
Cooperative Extension After-School Program; Omaha Council
Bluffs Metropolitan YMCA; Our Club Program, Pulaski County,
Arkansas Council for Children and Youth Services; Program for
At Risk Youth, Greater Miami Tennis Foundation; Project Youth
Anti-Violence Education in Kansas; Relief Nursery Services to
Children of Incarcerated Parents in Oregon; River Rangers
After-School Program of Rhode Island; Safer Learning Center
of Illinois; SPEAK UP Hotline in New York; STOP the
Violence--Students Taking On Prevention of California; Teen
Angels program in New Jersey; The Restitution Earned,
Accountability Learned Program in Nevada; New York City
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Program;
Tuscaloosa YMCA At-Risk Youth Program; University of
Delaware's Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies; Urban League
of Eastern Massachusetts After-School Program; Youth Shelter
Project in Clatsop County, Oregon; and Youth, Prepared for
Success, New Jersey Council of Urban Leagues.
Discretionary Grants.--The conference agreement includes
$79,600,000 for part E programs. Within the amounts provided,
OJP is expected to review the following proposals, provide
grants if warranted, and report to the Committees on
Appropriations on its intentions.
$423,000 for improvements to the Juvenile Justice
Information System in the State of Hawaii;
$2,000,000 for the First Tee program;
$310,000 for the Tuscaloosa YMCA At-Risk Youth Program;
$2,000,000 for the Alaska Child Abuse Investigation
Program;
$4,000,000 for the Eisenhower Foundation for the Youth Safe
Haven program;
$1,000,000 for Missouri Juvenile Justice Information
System;
$25,000 for the Capitol Area Boy Scouts;
$150,000 for the Leadership Academy, Abbeville, Alabama;
$600,000 for the Alaska Children's Trust;
$547,000 for the National Child Protection Development and
Training Center at Winona State University;
$750,000 to the Alaska Mentoring Demonstration Project;
$375,000 for the YMCA of Albuquerque, NM, for after-school
programs for at-risk children;
$600,000 for the Birmingham Educational Technology Center;
$3,000,000 for the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation for youth
prevention programs aimed at leadership, teamwork, and drug
prevention;
$100,000 for the City of Wrangell, AK, Youth Court;
$750,000 for Court House, Inc. Youth Programs, CO;
$1,500,000 for the Crimes Against Children Research Center,
NH;
$2,000,000 to expand and replicate the Girl Scouts' Beyond
Bars and PAVE programs;
$1,500,000 for the Girls and Boys Town USA National
Projects;
$5,000,000 for continuation and expansion of the Junior
Achievement program;
$500,000 for the Juvenile and Offender Treatment and
Prevention Project in Tulsa County, OK;
$400,000 for the juvenile fire setting prevention program;
$500,000 for LOVE Social Services in Fairbanks, AK;
$600,000 for Pennsylvania's Martin Luther King, Jr. Center
for Non-Violence to continue its Life Skills program which
enables students to work alongside business and industry
mentors;
$1,900,000 for the National, Coordinated Law-Related
Education program;
$300,000 for the Ohio Attorney General's Office Amber
Alert/SORN Program;
$300,000 for the Open Door Youth Gang Alternative;
$250,000 to Opportunities Industrialization Centers of
America [OIC] for a program that works with adjudicated youth
and provides alternative sentencing and job skills;
$500,000 for the outdoor education and outreach program run
by the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America;
$50,000 for operations at the Prevent Child Abuse New
Hampshire program;
$150,000 for the Teen Shelter Project in Alabama;
$1,000,000 to Western Kentucky University Spotlight Youth;
$800,000 for the Youth Violence Prevention Research Project
at the University of South Alabama;
$350,000 for the Rialto, CA, Police Activities League [PAL]
Program;
$250,000 for prevention of the commercial sexual
exploitation of children;
$300,000 for the Wynona Lipman Child Advocacy Center in
Newark, NJ;
$200,000 for Covenant House New Jersey for its Rights of
Passage Program;
$250,000 to the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Pine Ridge, SD, for
the Flowering Tree program;
$250,000 to Our Home, Inc. in Huron South Dakota for
programming and equipment at its Parkston, SD, juvenile group
care facility;
$300,000 for the Los Angeles, CA, CLEAR Program;
$300,000 for the Iowa Child Advocacy Domestic Violence
Initiative;
$2,000,000 for the South Carolina Truancy and Dropout
Prevention Initiative;
$750,000 to the Low Country Children's Center in South
Carolina for continued support for a collaborative effort
among local organizations in Charleston that provide full
services to children who have been abused;
$300,000 to the Vermont Children Forum;
$250,000 to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont to test its child
abuse prevention model on a state-wide basis;
$245,000 to South Dakota Coalition for Children;
$75,000 for the Children's Treatment Program in the Sioux
Falls Rape and Domestic Abuse Center;
$500,000 for the State of Wisconsin Office of Justice
Assistance to create a program that provides services to
children who witness adult domestic violence;
$900,000 to the Wisconsin Families and Schools Together
[FAST] program;
$900,000 for the Wisconsin Safe and Sound Program based in
Milwaukee, WI;
$300,000 for the Milwaukee Summer Stars;
$200,000 to the Rutland, VT, Area Prevention Coalition;
$300,000 for Project Return--Washington County, VT;
$150,000 for the City of Battle Creek, MI, to implement the
Around the CLOCK program;
$100,000 to the Omaha Boys and Girls Club Gang Prevention
Project;
$1,400,000 for the Las Vegas, NV, Family Development
Foundation;
$1,750,000 for the National Council of Juvenile and Family
Court Judges;
$100,000 for the Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies at
the University of Nevada, Reno;
$250,000 for the Saginaw Youth Program;
$250,000 for the Multnomah County Oregon Children's
Receiving Center;
$350,000 for the Recovery and Progress Drug Court: Breaking
the Cycle of Juvenile Drug Abuse;
$600,000 for the Northwestern University's Juvenile
Project;
$1,000,000 for World Vision for at-risk youth programs;
$2,000,000 for Parents Anonymous;
$624,000 for the Teens, Crime and Community program;
$250,000 for the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of
America `Stop the Violence' program;
$300,000 for Prevent Child Abuse America for the programs
of the National Family Support Roundtable;
$40,000 for Partnership for Prevention for juvenile
delinquency prevention programs;
$500,000 for Learning for Life;
$350,000 for the Virginia Attorney General's Office for
Class Action and other educational programs in Virginia
schools;
$3,000,000 for the Hamilton Fish National Institute on
School and Community Violence;
[[Page 31506]]
$1,000,000 shall be for a national conference on domestic
trafficking and prostitution. This conference, to be led by
the Department of Justice, shall include participation from
Federal, State and local prosecutors and law enforcement, as
well as nongovernmental organizations and community leaders.
Over the past several years, the conferees have provided a
significant level of resources to the Department of State to
combat international human trafficking. This national
conference shall begin to address the problems of trafficking
and prostitution within the United States;
$500,000 for the Farmington Children's Home for delinquency
prevention programs;
$202,000 for the Comin' Up youth gang prevention program;
$250,000 for Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries for a youth
corrections program;
$250,000 for a gambling addiction prevention program for
at-risk youth in Peoria, IL;
$250,000 for the IMPACT/Night Light Program in San
Bernardino County, CA, to team police officers with probation
officers to reduce juvenile crime;
$750,000 for the Child Endangerment Response Coalition in
Spokane, WA;
$100,000 for the Center for Women and Children, Inc. for a
child abuse prevention program;
$250,000 for the Healing Tree Program for collaborative
efforts with law enforcement to prevent child abuse;
$250,000 for the Best Friends Foundation for delinquency
prevention programs;
$300,000 for the Community Prosecuting Attorney Service
System--Safe School Initiative;
$500,000 for St. Petersburg, FL, for a delinquency
prevention program;
$400,000 for the YMCA of Suncoast in Dunedin, FL, for an
at-risk youth program;
$250,000 for the Pinellas County, FL, Police Athletic
League;
$250,000 for the CASA program in St. Petersburg, FL;
$500,000 for the Florida Gulf Coast University Interagency
Family Assessment Team program for at-risk youth;
$200,000 for the Will County, IL, Children's Advocacy
Center;
$250,000 for the Gracious Promise Foundation for Project
Incarceration Cycle Escape for Kids;
$500,000 for the ARISE Foundation;
$300,000 for an at-risk youth program in Harrison Township
in Allegheny County, PA;
$100,000 for Laurinburg, NC, for a juvenile delinquency
program;
$300,000 for the University of Connecticut for a juvenile
delinquency prevention program;
$250,000 for the Residential Care Consortium for
delinquency prevention programs;
$300,000 for the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch for
delinquency prevention programs;
$425,000 for Monroe County, NY, for a juvenile justice
integration initiative;
$250,000 for the Casita Maria After-School Program and Day
Camp for at-risk youth;
$200,000 for the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center to
fund programs for at-risk youth;
$200,000 for Suffolk County, NY, for the District
Attorney's anti-gang initiative;
$400,000 for the City of Florence, KY, for the SAFE Schools
Model City program;
$500,000 for the Granite, UT, School District's COALITIONS
Project for at-risk youth;
$500,000 for the Pine Tree Legal Center's Children's Law
Project (CLP) for the State of Maine;
$200,000 for Girls Incorporated of Huntsville, AL, to work
with at-risk youth;
$250,000 for the National Children's Advocacy Center;
$100,000 for the Northwest Alabama Children's Advocacy
Center in Florence, AL;
$100,000 for the ``The Teen Shelter'' in Huntsville, AL, to
work with at-risk youth;
$200,000 for ``Philadelphia Safe & Sound'' to expand its
Youth Violence Reduction Partnership in Philadelphia, PA;
$250,000 for the Father's Day Rally Committee of
Philadelphia, PA, to support youth violence interdiction
programs;
$250,000 for Lucas County, OH, for the Community Mentoring
Partnership for Juveniles;
$250,000 for the Appalachia Juvenile and Family Rural and
Mining Crisis Program;
$150,000 for Fitchburg, MA, for the Montachusett
Opportunity Council Program for At-Risk Youth;
$100,000 for Orange, MA, for the Quabbin Mediation Youth
Violence Prevention Project;
$100,000 for the State of Indiana for the ``No Workshops,
No Jumpshots'' Program;
$100,000 for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of South
Georgia for ``Buddies in School'';
$50,000 for Americus and Sumter County, GA, for the
``Visions for Sumter'' program;
$75,000 for the Urban League of Greater Columbus, GA, for
the Chattahoochee Court Appointed Special Advocate Program;
$250,000 for Youth Crime Watch of America;
$500,000 for the City of Macon, GA, for services for first-
time juvenile offenders and to address crime, gang, and drug
problems;
$50,000 for Valdosta Technical College for ``Roadmap to
Success'' to support at-risk youth;
$200,000 for the Overtown Youth Center in Miami, FL, for
programs to support at-risk youth;
$250,000 for Chicago, IL, Public Schools for the ``After-
School Counts'' and ``After-School Matters'' programs;
$150,000 for the Erikson Institute to develop the Clinical
Assessment and Early Learning Center in Chicago, IL;
$100,000 for the Village of Riverdale, IL, for the Youth
Intervention Program;
$300,000 for the ``Operation Quality Time'' program for at-
risk youth in Phoenix, AZ;
$25,000 for Secaucus, NJ, to enhance school safety;
$35,000 for Palisades Park, NJ, to enhance school safety;
$100,000 for the City of Downey, CA, for an anti-gang
program;
$500,000 for a demonstration project to examine racial
disparities in local juvenile justice systems under Part D
and Part E of the JJDPA;
$250,000 for Huntington Park, CA, for juvenile assistance
activities at the Police Department Regional Youth Center;
$250,000 for the Los Angeles, CA, LA's BEST After School
Enrichment Program;
$375,000 for Long Island University, Tilles Center for the
Performing Arts for arts programs for at-risk children;
$50,000 for the Studio LAB in Los Angeles, CA, for the
``Central City Gardens Initiative'';
$100,000 for the Cypress Park Youth and Family Center in
Los Angeles, CA, for programs for at-risk youths;
$100,000 for El Centro Del Pueblo youth programs;
$100,000 for A Place Called Home in Los Angeles, CA, for
the expansion of the ``Creative Expression'' program;
$500,000 for Soundview Community in Action to expand and
develop additional outreach programs for at-risk youth in the
South Bronx;
$100,000 for the Long Island City/Vanderbilt YMCA's
``Strong Sisters United'' program;
$100,000 for Queens, NY, for a youth development program to
help at-risk youth;
$314,000 to expand and enhance programming for at-risk
youth in New York, NY;
$250,000 for the ``Dispelling Problem Behaviors in
Adjudicated Teens and At-Risk Youth'' initiative in the
Barrio of Corpus Christi, TX;
$300,000 for the Brooklyn Academy of Music for programs in
support of at-risk youth;
$400,000 for the Brooklyn Public Library for ``Library
Cadet Program'' in support of at-risk youth;
$50,000 for the Hacienda-La Puente, CA, Unified School
District for the Seniors With Interests in New Generations
Delinquency Prevention Program;
$250,000 for the City of Detroit, MI, for the Mayor's Time
Public Safety and Public Service Academies in support of at-
risk youth;
$250,000 for the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill to implement a new ``Career Start'' model of middle
school education to prevent juvenile delinquency;
$150,000 for the Caribbean American Steel Pan Education
Center in New York for COMMUNITYSAFE;
$200,000 for El Puente's ``Youth Leadership Center'';
$150,000 for Providence Holy Cross Medical Center for
programs to assist at-risk youth;
$100,000 for the Santa Barbara, CA, Police Department for
the Police Activities League;
$150,000 for the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts for
programs for at-risk youth;
$200,000 for the Baltimore, MD, City Board of School
Commissioners to develop alternative education centers for
at-risk youth;
$100,000 for Lane County, OR, for the ``Breaking the
Cycle'' program for juveniles;
$100,000 for the Gateway Foundation for programs in support
of at-risk youth;
$100,000 for the National Institute for Law and Equity for
a research project on at-risk juveniles;
$100,000 for the Institute for International Sport for
projects to prevent youth crime;
$250,000 for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
for juvenile delinquency and mentoring programs;
$100,000 for the Suffolk University Law School for the
Juvenile Justice Center;
$100,000 for Union County College for the ``College for
Teens'' program for at-risk youth;
$100,000 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
in Houston, TX, for juvenile crime prevention programs;
$150,000 for the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
for an after-school program for at-risk youth;
$100,000 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center in
Oakland, CA, to promote conflict resolution and decrease
youth violence;
$100,000 for the New Jersey Community Development
Corporation for the Paterson Center for At-Risk Youth;
$200,000 for the Southern Vermont Recreation Center
Foundation for at-risk youth crime prevention programs;
$100,000 for the Richmond, VA, Midnight Basketball League
for their ``No Workshops...No Jump Shots'' program for at-
risk youth;
$100,000 for the Humboldt County, CA, Gang Risk
Intervention Program;
$250,000 for Los Angeles Community Law Enforcement and
Recovery (CLEAR),
[[Page 31507]]
Hollenbeck Division, for a multi-jurisdictional program to
combat gangs and violence;
$100,000 for delinquency prevention and safe school
programs in North Carolina;
$100,000 for Labor and Industry for Education (LIFE) in
Hewlett, NY, to expand its after school and prevention
programs for at-risk youth.
The conferees recognize Project CRAFT (Community,
Restitution, and Apprenticeship-Focused Training), a program
of the Home Builders Institute, the workforce development arm
of the National Association of Home Builders, as a model
intervention technique in the rehabilitation and reduced
recidivism of adjudicated youth. The conferees encourage OJP
to replicate Project CRAFT.
The conference agreement adopts by reference the House
report language concerning ``hazing'' activities and
submission of a report to the Committee on Appropriations
within 180 days of enactment of this Act on the prevalence of
such incidents and on the strategies that can be used by
school and law enforcement officials to address these
problems.
Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Program.--Within the
funds provided in Title V, the conference agreement provides
$25,000,000 for grants to assist States in enforcing underage
drinking laws. Within the program for underage drinking, OJP
shall make an award to the Alaska Federation of Natives to
continue an Underage Drinking Prevention Program in rural
Alaska including assessment and education, focusing on the
children of alcoholics.
Gang Prevention.--The conference agreement includes
$20,000,000 for OJP to administer a gang resistance and
education program in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as described in the House
report. OJP shall submit a financial plan to the Committees
on Appropriations within 45 days of enactment of this Act to
describe how this program will be administered.
Victims of Child Abuse Act.--The conference agreement
includes $13,000,000 for the various programs authorized
under the Victims of Child Abuse Act, of which not less than
$9,000,000 shall be available for Child Advocacy Center.
Performance Data.--States and subgrantees shall collect and
submit performance data for juvenile justice programs such as
the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program, as
determined and approved by the ODJJP Administrator.
Subgrantees shall provide annual performance measurement data
in an Assessment Report to be designated by the State agency.
Designated State agencies shall aggregate data provided by
subgrants and submit such data to OJJDP in the Assessment
Report, due June 30th of each fiscal year. Training and
technical assistance on data collection and reporting will be
made available to grantees and subgrantees.
Public Safety Officers Benefits
The conference agreement includes $52,054,000 for this
account, including $3,000,000 for disability benefits. The
conferees fully fund the Department of Justice's latest
estimate for this account.
General Provisions--Department of Justice
(Including Rescission)
The conference agreement includes the following general
provisions for the Department of Justice:
Section 101 provides language, included in previous
Appropriations Acts, which makes up to $45,000 of the funds
appropriated to the Department of Justice available to the
Attorney General for reception and representation expenses.
Section 102 provides language, included in Appropriations
Acts for the last seven years and prior to 1994, which
prohibits the use of funds to perform abortions in the
Federal Prison System.
Section 103 provides language, included in previous
Appropriations Acts, which prohibits use of the funds in this
bill to require any person to perform, or facilitate the
performance of, an abortion.
Section 104 provides language, included in previous
Appropriations Acts, which states that nothing in the
previous section removes the obligation of the Director of
the Bureau of Prisons to provide escort services to female
inmates who seek to obtain abortions outside a Federal
facility.
Section 105 provides language, included in previous
Appropriations Acts, which allows the Department of Justice
to spend up to $10,000,000 for rewards for information
regarding criminal acts and acts of terrorism against a
United States person or property at levels not to exceed
$2,000,000 per award.
Section 106 provides language similar to language included
in previous Appropriations Acts, which allows the Department
of Justice, subject to the Committee's reprogramming
procedures, to transfer up to 5 percent between any
appropriation, but limits to 10 percent the amount that can
be transferred into any one appropriation.
Section 107 provides language to continue section 114 of
Public Law 107-77 during fiscal year 2004.
Section 108 provides language previously included in
General Administration authorizing the Attorney General to
transfer property to a State or local agency for community-
based programs.
Section 109 includes language providing authorization for
Department of Justice programs until the effective date of a
subsequent Justice authorization act.
Section 110 includes new language regarding ethical
conduct.
Section 111 includes new language regarding additional
funding for Project Seahawk.
Section 112 includes new language establishing a rural
justice and law enforcement commission in Alaska.
Section 113 includes new language providing for an
additional amount for San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Section 114 includes new language rescinding $100,000,000
from certain unobligated balances available to the Department
of Justice.
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND RELATED AGENCIES
TRADE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
RELATED AGENCIES
Office of the United States Trade Representative
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $41,994,000 for the
Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for
fiscal year 2004, as proposed by the House, instead of
$36,994,000, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House regarding the United States trade
deficit with other nations; complaints by American
businesses; and the lack of responsiveness of the USTR to
American small and medium-sized businesses; and the steps
taken by the PRC Government in meeting its World Trade
Organization obligations, no later than 14 days after the
close of the first quarter of fiscal year 2004.
The conferees expect the USTR to make use of all available
mechanisms, including the safeguards delineated under the
Trade Act of 1974, including Sections 301 and 421, to address
the disruptions resulting from trade with the PRC.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House regarding funding for negotiations with
the PRC. In addition the conferees adopt, by reference, House
language concerning representation funds, and language under
the headings Inadequate Budget Requests, Free Trade
Agreements and WTO Negotiations, Reporting Requirements, FTAA
Permanent Secretariat, WTO Fund, and WTO Negotiations.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate under the heading of World Trade
Organization.
The conferees understand that a number of Federal agencies
are involved in monitoring and enforcing our trade
agreements. The conferees agree that robust monitoring and
enforcement efforts are critical and that such efforts must
be well coordinated within the Executive Branch. Accordingly,
the conferees direct the USTR, working with the Department of
Commerce and other Federal agencies, to take steps to assure
that monitoring and enforcement efforts are coordinated among
the Federal agencies to maximize their effectiveness and are
based on a strategy that focuses on priority areas of
potential trade violations. USTR is directed to report back
to the Committees on Appropriations on these steps within 120
days of the enactment of this Act.
International Trade Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $58,295,000 as proposed
by the Senate for the International Trade Commission for
fiscal year 2004, instead of $57,000,000, as proposed by the
House.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, Senate
language regarding EDIS II, an electronic filing project and
a certain report.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION
The conference agreement includes $395,123,000 in total
resources for the programs of the International Trade
Administration (ITA) for fiscal year 2004, of which
$13,000,000 is to be derived from fee collections, as
proposed by the House, instead of $375,053,000, of which
$3,000,000 is to be derived from fee collections, as proposed
by the Senate.
The conference agreement adopts by reference language in
the House report regarding the mission of the ITA, the
failure of ITA to meet its mission, and the May 22, 2003
public hearing on the efforts of the International Trade
Administration, the Bureau of Customs, and the Office of the
United States Trade Representative to support U.S.
businesses.
The conferees understand the difficulties in attempting to
balance the positive and the negative effects of a free trade
agenda. The conferees are steadfast in their support of
America's trade policy to create growth and raise living
standards around the globe, and in return to increase the
benefits to U.S. workers, farmers, consumers, and businesses.
Yet, the U.S. Government must uphold its responsibility to
enforce trade laws, particularly with China. If trading
partners do not
[[Page 31508]]
abide by the rules that are set in the global trading system,
then U.S firms are not competing on a level playing field.
The United States Government has an obligation to ensure
American companies are not forced to compete with foreign
companies that are engaged in unfair trading practices,
including receiving subsidies from their governments.
The conference agreement includes by reference House report
language regarding the Trade Policy Body Review, Reports,
Reorganization, Trade Promotion, American Trading Centers,
Manufacturing and Services, Import Administration,
Investigations/Operations, Office of China Compliance, Policy
and Negotiations, New Shipper Review Process, Market Access
and Compliance, Executive Direction/Administration, Human
Rights Training, Trade Missions, International Standards, and
Travel Expenditures.
The conferees direct the Secretary of Commerce to report
back to the Committees on Appropriations, no later than
January 20, 2004, on the trade and U.S. employment impact of
the currency valuation of our trading partners including,
China, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, the Ukraine, and
Indonesia.
The conferees expect the Secretary of Commerce, in
consultation with the U.S.-China Economic and Security
Commission to report back to the Committees no later than May
1, 2004. The conferees have extended the deadline further
than the deadline proposed in the House report.
The conference agreement includes bill language designating
the amounts available for each unit within ITA. The conferees
remind ITA that any deviation from the funding distribution
provided in the bill and report, including carryover
balances, is subject to reprogramming procedures set forth in
section 605 of this Act. In addition, ITA is directed to
submit to the Committees on Appropriations, not later than 60
days after the enactment of this Act, a spending plan for all
ITA units that incorporates any carryover balances from prior
fiscal years.
The conference agreement includes $10,000,000 for the
National Textile Center, $3,000,000 for the Textile/Clothing
Technology Corporation, $1,000,000 for the Kansas Trade
Center, and $500,000 for the International Trade Processing
Center, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language as
proposed by the Senate under the heading of World Trade
Organization.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
regarding the Appalachian-Turkish Trade Project as proposed
by the Senate.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed in the House regarding an international
competitiveness program and the Office of Textiles.
Of the amounts provided, $500,000 is for a comprehensive
study of future domestic demand for steel.
Bureau of Industry and Security
OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION
The conference agreement includes a total operating level
of $68,203,000 for the operations and administration of the
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), as proposed by the
House, instead of $73,060,000, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, House report
language under the headings of Export Administration, Export
Enforcement, and Management and Policy Coordination.
The conferees are aware of the invaluable expert technical
capabilities of the seized computer evidence recovery
specialists. However, due to the shortage of specialists
within BIS, the conferees direct BIS to forge a closer
relationship with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
in this area to take greater advantage of the FBI's technical
expertise.
Economic Development Administration
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The conference agreement includes $288,115,000 for Economic
Development Assistance (EDA) Programs. The conferees direct
EDA to continue traditional programs to provide needed
assistance to communities struggling with long-term economic
dislocation, as well as sudden and severe economic
dislocation. Of the amounts provided, $202,280,000 is for
Public Works and Economic Development, $40,900,000 is for
Economic Adjustment Assistance, $24,00,000 is for planning,
$8,435,000 is for technical assistance, including university
centers, $12,000,000 is for trade adjustment assistance, and
$500,000 is for research.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, proposed by
the House regarding coal and timber industry downturns.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, Senate
language regarding the economic downturns including the
timber, steel, and coal industries, United States-Canadian
trade-related issues, communities in New England, the mid-
Atlantic, Hawaii, and Alaska impacted by fisheries
regulations, and communities in the southeast impacted by
downturns due to the North American Free Trade Agreement, and
a certain report.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $30,565,000 as proposed
by both the Senate and the House.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, House
language regarding efforts to maximize the operating funding
level, a special headquarters reserve fund, Indian lands,
employees, and requirements for reorganization proposals.
Minority Business Development Agency
MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The conference agreement includes $28,859,000 for the
Minority Business Development Agency for fiscal year 2004,
instead of $29,000,000 as proposed by the House, and
$28,718,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement adopts, by reference, House language regarding the
Entrepreneurial Technology Apprenticeship Program.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, Senate
language regarding the Office of Native American Business
Development.
ECONOMIC AND INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Economic and Statistical Analysis
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $75,000,000, as proposed
by the House, instead of $84,756,000 as proposed by the
Senate for the economic and statistical analysis programs of
the Department of Commerce, including the Bureau of Economic
Analysis (BEA), for fiscal year 2004.
The BEA has received programmatic increases over the past
three years to ensure that policy makers have access to more
accurate and timely economic data.
Bureau of the Census
The conference agreement includes a total operating level
of $630,864,000 for the Bureau of the Census, instead of
$661,961,000 as proposed by the House, and $550,878,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $194,811,000 for the
salaries and expenses of the Bureau of the Census for fiscal
year 2004, instead of $181,811,000 as proposed by the Senate,
and $220,908,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement adopts by reference House report
regarding the highest priority core activities,
reimbursement, the North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS), key reports, and Advanced Technology.
Periodic Censuses and Programs
The conference agreement includes a total of $436,053,000
for all periodic censuses and related programs in fiscal year
2004, as proposed by the House, instead of $369,067,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement adopts language proposed by the
House under the American Community Survey (ACS), Master
Address File (MAF)/Topologically Integrated Geographic
Encoding and Referencing (TIGER), and Subgroup Enumeration.
The conference agreement includes $107,090,000 for the re-
engineered design process, of which $3,605,000 is for design
strategy, $18,559,000 is for data collection design research,
$16,969,000 is for questionnaire and content design,
$3,900,000 is for address list updates, $22,287,000 is for
software related to quality assurance and integration, and
$41,770,000 is for test evaluation.
The conference agreement includes funding as proposed by
the House for the non-decennial census periodic programs.
The conferees expect to be kept apprised on a monthly basis
on the expenditure of these funds.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The conference agreement includes a total of $51,604,000
for the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), instead of $32,544,000 as proposed by
the House, and $85,542,000 as proposed by the Senate.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $14,604,000 for the
Salaries and Expenses appropriation of the NTIA as proposed
by the House, instead of $15,042,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House regarding electromagnetic spectrum and
a report regarding the allocation of spectrum.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House regarding the maximization of the
operating level and reimbursements.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate regarding a paperless system.
PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION
The conference agreement includes $22,000,000, instead of
$2,538,000 as proposed by the House, and $55,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House regarding public television stations,
and language proposed by the Senate regarding digital
broadcasting as it relates to rural areas.
Information Infrastructure Grants
The conference agreement includes $15,000,000 for the
Information Infrastructure
[[Page 31509]]
Grant program, instead of $15,402,000 as proposed in the
House, and $15,500,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees expect NTIA to give preference to
applications relating to the expansion of commercial entities
to enable local communities to attract commercial investment
to spur growth of American jobs, especially in the areas of
education, health care, and public information. The conferees
expect NTIA to work with the Economic Development
Administration to ensure resources are leveraged to result in
the largest benefit to local communities suffering from
economic downturns.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate regarding the eligibility of certain
law enforcement entities for funding.
United States Patent and Trademark Office
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $1,222,460,000 for the
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for fiscal
year 2004, instead of $1,238,700,000 as proposed by the
House, and $1,217,460,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes language restricting
certain travel payments. The conferees note that there is
broad agreement that the patent process is in dire need of
reform.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by both the House and Senate regarding the
Administration's legislative fee proposal.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House regarding the National Inventor's Hall
of Fame and Inventure Place and the International
Intellectual Property Institute.
The conferees remind the PTO that any changes from the
funding distribution provided in the bill and report
including carryover balances are subject to the reprogramming
procedures set forth in section 605 of this Act.
In addition, PTO is directed to submit to the Committees on
Appropriations, not later than three months after the
enactment of this Act, a spending plan, which incorporates
any carryover balances from previous fiscal years and any
increases to the patent or trademark fee structure.
The conferees adopt, by reference, language proposed by the
House regarding intellectual property protections for
American businesses in international negotiations and
telework.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Technology Administration
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $6,411,000 under this
heading, instead of $7,822,000 as proposed by the House, and
no funding as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $450,000 for the National
Medal of Technology Program under the heading ``National
Institute of Standards and Technology, Scientific and
Technical Research and Services''.
The conference agreement includes $600,000 for the Office
of Space Commercialization and $500,000 for the Interagency
Global Positioning System Executive Board Secretariat under
the heading of ``National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Operations, Research, and Facilities''.
The conference agreement provides $335,000 for the
Technology Administration to conduct an assessment of the
extent and implications of workforce globalization in
knowledge-based industries such as life sciences, information
technology, semi-conductors and financial services. The
conferees expect the assessment to focus on U.S. firms'
business strategies and practices, as well as the education
and training programs in countries such as Japan, China, and
India. The conferees expect monthly updates on the progress
of this effort, and direct that a summary of findings be
reported back to the Committees on Appropriations no later
than six months from enactment of this Act.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
The conference agreement includes $628,102,000 for the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for
fiscal year 2004, instead of $460,059,000 as proposed by the
House, and $845,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES
The conference agreement includes $344,366,000 for the
Scientific and Technical Research and Services (core
programs) of the NIST, instead of $357,862,000 as proposed by
the House, and $391,147,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The following is a breakdown of the amounts provided under
this account by activity.
Fiscal Year 2004 Recommendation
($ in 000)
Electronics & Electrical........................................$44,700
Manufacturing Engineering........................................21,800
Chemical.........................................................42,313
Physics..........................................................37,675
Building and Fire Research.......................................21,542
Materials Science & Engineering..................................53,000
Computer & Applied Mathematics...................................49,478
Technology Assistance............................................15,000
Award Programs....................................................5,655
Research Support.................................................53,203
________________
Total, STRS.................................................344,366
Under the Electronics and Electrical heading, $3,000,000 is
for the Office of Law Enforcement Standards, $1,200,000 is
for the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology Program (FIRST), and $500,000 is for a joint
project between FIRST and the Boston Museum of Science.
Under the Manufacturing heading, $800,000 is for a
spreadsheet engineering initiative at the Tuck School of
Business.
Under the Chemical Science and Technology heading,
$1,600,000 is for the Hollings Marine Laboratory, and
$400,000 for advanced measurements, standards, and data that
health care providers and researchers need to improve health
care quality.
Under the Physics heading, $725,000 is for the necessary
critical back-up elements for the NIST time scale and time
dissemination services, and $1,450,000 is for research to
develop measurements and standards for nanotechnology-based
products.
Under the Building and Fire heading, $3,000,000 is for
costs relating to the World Trade Center investigation,
$1,900,000 is to continue a certain wind demonstration
project in Texas, and $600,000 is for a school safety and
preparedness project at the National Infrastructure
Institute.
Under the Award Program heading, $450,000 is for costs
associated with the National Medal of Technology.
In addition, under the Research Support heading, $2,400,000
is to continue a certain telework project, $6,500,000 is to
continue a certain critical infrastructure program, and
$5,500,000 is for maintenance and operations costs at the
Advanced Measurement Laboratory.
The agreement does not include an increase to the amount to
be transferred to the working capital fund.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
included in past years, regarding the A-76 contracting
process.
Industrial Technology Services
The conference agreement includes $218,782,000 for the
Industrial Technology Services appropriation of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, instead of $39,607,000
as proposed by the House, and $369,223,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes $179,175,000 for the
Advanced Technology Program, instead of $259,600,000 as
proposed by the Senate and no funding as proposed by the
House. The conference agreement does not include a
$50,000,000 new program as proposed by the Senate for ATP
focused competitions on homeland security technologies. The
conferees agree that a focused competition on homeland
security technologies should be held out of the $60,700,000
provided for new awards.
The conference agreement includes $39,607,000 for
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the same amount as
proposed by the House, instead of $106,000,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
CONSTRUCTION OF RESEARCH FACILITIES
The conference agreement includes $64,954,000 for the
construction and major renovations of the NIST campuses at
Boulder, Colorado, and Gaithersburg, Maryland.
The Committee directs NIST to report to the Committees on
Appropriations on the progress of these construction projects
on a quarterly basis beginning with the second quarter of
fiscal year 2004.
This account supports all NIST activities by providing
state of the art facilities necessary to carry out the NIST
mission.
The conference agreement provides sufficient funding to
complete the new Advanced Measurement Laboratory in
Gaithersburg, Maryland and the conferees expect occupancy by
2005.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate regarding a facilities improvement
plan.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The conference agreement does not include $20,743,000 for
the International Fisheries Commissions under this heading,
as proposed by the Senate, and provides funding for this
purpose under Title IV of this Act. The conference agreement
does not include $5,000,000 for a new litigation and
settlement fund, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement fulfills the agreement regarding
conservation activities as included in the Title VII of the
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act of 2001.
OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conference agreement includes total funding of
$2,748,520,000, as proposed by the Senate, instead of
$2,259,705,000 as proposed by the House. Of the amounts
provided, $62,000,000 is from balances in the account
entitled, ``Promote and Develop Fishery Products and Research
Pertaining to American Fisheries'', instead of $79,251,000 as
proposed by the House, and $52,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
[[Page 31510]]
The conference agreement includes language to allow NOAA to
retain gifts and contributions made under the Marine
Sanctuary Program.
Language is also included in the bill specifying the total
amount of direct obligations available for each of the NOAA
line offices and other related activities funded through this
account. The conference agreement includes language
prohibiting administrative charges levied against certain
activities assigned in the bill or the report accompanying
this Act.
NOAA is directed to submit a spending plan to the
Committees on Appropriations at a level of detail comparable
to that of the tables included in this report. The plan shall
be delivered not later than 60 days after the enactment of
this Act.
The conferees expect NOAA to comply with reprogramming and
transfer requirements under sections 204 and 605 of this Act.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, the
direction and reporting requirements included in language
proposed by the Senate under the heading of Pacific Salmon
Funding, including language relating to validation
monitoring.
The following identifies the activities, sub-activities,
and projects funded in this appropriation:
NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE
The conference agreement includes a total of $513,910,000
for activities of the National Ocean Service (NOS) for fiscal
year 2004. The conference agreement adopts, by reference,
language proposed by the House under the heading of Mapping
and Charting.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House under the heading Long-Term Vessel
Charter. The conference agreement provides an additional
$2,500,000 for this purpose. The conferees expect to be kept
apprised of any changes to the plan.
The conferees continue to support the implementation of the
Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System program and the
National Water Level Operation Network, including work in the
Great Lakes.
The conference agreement includes funding to increase
coastal ocean monitoring and prediction efforts for West
Florida.
The conferees recognize and support the work of NOAA and
the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF) to protect and preserve
coral reefs. Coral reefs are the most complex, species-rich
and productive marine ecosystems. Reefs cover two percent of
the ocean's floor, yet they support one-third of all marine
fish species and tens of thousands of other marine species,
providing essential fish habitat for endangered and
threatened species, and harboring protected marine mammals
and turtles. Coral reef fisheries yield 6 million metric tons
of fish catch annually, with one-quarter of total worldwide
fish production occurring in developing countries with coral
reefs. NOAA and the CRTF are developing and implementing
coordinated efforts to map and monitor U.S. coral reefs,
research coral reef degradation, reduce and mitigate coral
reef degradation from pollution and other causes, and carry
out strategies to promote conservation and sustainable use of
coral reefs internationally.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate under the headings of Budget Structure
and Various. The conference agreement consolidates all NOAA
coral reef funding under NOS. The conferees expect NOAA to
prepare a spending plan for coral reef funding and deliver to
the Committees on Appropriations, not later than January 15,
2004.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate under the heading of Coastal Ocean
Science.
The conferees have provided a significant amount of funding
during the past two years for the establishment of an
integrated interagency ocean and coastal observing system.
The conferees understand that NOAA has outlined a strategy
for establishing a national network. The conferees expect
regional entities to share the costs of the funding the
establishment of an integrated interagency ocean and coastal
observing system. Therefore, the conferees plan to require
all participants receiving funding from the Federal
government to contribute an equal share of funds in fiscal
year 2005.
Of the amounts available under the Aquatic Resources
Initiative, up to $750,000 is for Bluegrass Pride, Inc.
The conference agreement includes a new structure as
proposed in the Senate bill for identifying and funding
extramural research. The conferees direct NOAA to submit a
spending plan within 30 days outlining the process for
administering the program. The conferees do not intend for
the new structure to restrict current participation by the
external research community or by researchers identified with
the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science laboratories.
The conferees do intend, however, that greater interaction
and participation occur between the external research
community and Federal researchers located at NOAA's
laboratories.
[[Page 31511]]
[[Page 31512]]
[[Page 31513]]
[[Page 31514]]
[[Page 31515]]
National Marine Fisheries Service
The conference agreement includes $639,990,000 for the
operations of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House under the heading of Regulatory
Streamlining.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate under the headings of Base Funding,
Regional Office Financial Accountability, Fisheries
Enforcement, Enforcement and Surveillance, International
Conservation of Sea Turtles, Decline Pacific Marine Mammals,
Enforcement of International Dolphin Agreement, Gulf/Atlantic
Turtle Excluder Devices, Fisheries Research and Management,
Seafood Inspections, and Ecosystem Management.
The conferees remain concerned regarding the seismic and
erosion conditions near the Southwest Fisheries Science
Center (SWSC). The conferees understand that economies of
scale may be achieved by collocating the SWSC with other NOAA
facilities in California. In 1997, the Department of Commerce
Office of the Inspector General issued a report, which
highlighted options for relocation of the SWSC. The Committee
directs NOAA to issue a follow-on report on the best location
for SWSC facilities by no later than June 30, 2004.
The conferees expect NMFS to allocate sufficient funds to
achieve ten percent observer coverage in the New England
groundfish fishery, and in the non-directed fishery to the
extent practicable, by no later than May 1, 2004.
The conferees expect NOAA to continue to support the Center
for Coastal Studies' efforts regarding right whale protection
and expect the final funding allocation to be based on
recommendations of the right whale program coordinator at the
Center.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House under the headings of Chesapeake Bay,
Habitat Conservation and Management, NMFS Facilities
Maintenance, and Saltonstall-Kennedy.
The conferees recognize the value of NOAA presence and
programs in Louisiana in serving the northern Gulf of Mexico
region. The conferees expect a report to be submitted by the
agency on the development and installation of a Coastal
Services Center to be established in the state and to serve
the Northern Gulf of Mexico Region.
The conferees understand that on February 21, 2003, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued
new regulations to increase the dimension of Turtle Excluder
Device (TED) openings to protect endangered sea turtles. The
Final Rule went into effect on April 15, 2003 in the South
Atlantic and August 21, 2003, in the Gulf of Mexico. Industry
representatives in Louisiana and South Texas have voiced
concern about the impact of TEDs on shrimp catch and loss of
income for the industry. Conservation groups and scientists,
on the other hand, have expressed serious concern over the
status of these turtle populations and have threatened
litigation to ensure sea turtle protection. The conferees
direct NOAA to work with the National Academy of Sciences on
a multi-year, comprehensive in-water study designed to
accurately measure shrimp fishery effort and the impacts of
such effort on sea turtle mortality, including measuring
turtle-shrimp trawl interaction in the inshore, nearshore and
offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico and similar
geographical locations in the South Atlantic. The conferees
expect observers to be placed on the commercial shrimp
fishing vessels for the purposes of the study.
The study shall evaluate innovative technologies to
increase shrimp retention in TEDs but also ensure the
protection of endangered and threatened sea turtles. The
National Academy of Sciences shall provide an interim report
to the committee every six months summarizing preliminary
findings.
The conference agreement includes language transferring
funding to the Marine Mammal Commission.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate regarding the Gulf and South Atlantic
Fisheries Development Foundation.
[[Page 31516]]
[[Page 31517]]
[[Page 31518]]
[[Page 31519]]
[[Page 31520]]
[[Page 31521]]
[[Page 31522]]
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
The conference agreement includes $400,813,000 for the
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) line office.
The conferees support NOAA's efforts to provide national
and international leadership on critical environmental
issues, and to address the environmental research and
development needs of internal NOAA customers, States,
industry, and other Federal agencies. The conferees expect
OAR to prioritize research efforts that have true operational
benefits to NOAA.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House and Senate regarding a review of
research requirements and a certain laboratory plan, and
language proposed by the Senate under the heading NISA
Alaska.
The conference agreement includes $12,000,000 for the
National Undersea Research Program, of which $6,000,000 is
for research conducted though the east coast NURP centers and
$6,000,000 is for the west coast NURP centers, including
Hawaiian and Pacific Center and the West Coast and Polar
Regions Center. The conferees expect fiscal year 2003 funding
to be available for Aquarius, and ALVIN.
Of the amounts provided under the climate research heading,
$2,500,000 is for the Analytical Center for Climate and
Environmental Change to enhance existing capabilities.
The conference agreement includes $500,000 to expand
efforts of the Cooperative Sensor Development Laboratory in
cooperation with the Atlantic Oceanographic and
Meteorological Laboratory and the Pacific Marine
Environmental Laboratory.
The conference agreement includes $3,525,000 for ballast
water demonstrations and technologies, of which $1,700,000 is
for a collaborative ballast water treatment test bed platform
for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of injecting
ozone into ballast water to kill invasive aquatic species.
NOAA is directed to prepare, for the Committees on
Appropriations, a report, no later than ninety days after the
enactment of this Act, showing the impact of ozone in
eradicating invasive species and the presence of any toxic
effluents in the treated ballast water. Further, of the
amounts provided $1,825,000 is for ballast water
demonstrations to mitigate concerns in the Chesapeake Bay and
the Great Lakes.
The conference agreement includes $994,000 to provide for
an autonomous underwater vehicle, selected based on Brooks
Act qualifications, for survey services in the deep water of
the central Gulf of Mexico.
[[Page 31523]]
[[Page 31524]]
[[Page 31525]]
The conference agreement includes $729,685,000 for the
operations of the National Weather Service.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate under the headings of Budget
Structure, Network Integrity, NEXRAD Coverage, NOAA Profiler
Network, and Phased Array Radar Engineering and
Manufacturing.
The conference agreement transfers funding from the
``Oceanic and Atmospheric Research'' to this account for
tsunami mitigation efforts.
The conference agreement includes funding for the
operations of five Micronesian weather service offices
located at Pohnpei, Yap, Chuuk, Koror, and Majuro, as
proposed. The conferees understand that the Department of the
Interior will no longer reimburse NOAA for the costs of the
Compact of Free Association that expires in 2003.
The conference agreement includes funding for the
Susquehanna River basin project and Delaware Basin efforts
within funding for the Advanced Hydrological Prediction
Services.
The conference agreement includes $100,000 for a
transmitter for Kemmerer and Dubois, Wyoming.
[[Page 31526]]
[[Page 31527]]
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA, AND INFORMATION SERVICE
The conference agreement includes $153,827,000 for the
operational and research and development programs of the
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information
Service.
The conference agreement includes $500,000 for the
Interagency Global Positioning System Executive Board
Secretariat, and $600,000 for the Office of Space
Commercialization. The conferees transfer these functions
from the heading ``Technology Administration'', as proposed
by the Senate.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate under the heading of Budget Structure.
The conference agreement includes $2,500,000 for a data
storage facility in West Virginia.
[[Page 31528]]
PROGRAM SUPPORT
The conference agreement includes $310,295,000 for the
Program Support line office.
The conference agreement includes language to prohibit NOAA
funding to support the Department of Commerce's E-government
initiative.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House under the heading of Office
Relocations, Pribilof Island Cleanup, and Minority Serving
Institutions.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the Senate under the heading of Truth in
Budgeting.
[[Page 31529]]
[[Page 31530]]
[[Page 31531]]
PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION
The conference agreement includes $990,127,000 under this
heading.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House under the headings of Marine
Sanctuaries Construction, Construction, Geostationary Systems
and Polar Orbiting Systems, and language proposed by the
Senate under the headings Land Acquisition and Construction
and Other NOS Facilities.
The conferees expect NOAA to submit a reprogramming,
pursuant to section 605 of this Act, should a land
acquisition project specifically identified in this report
become no longer viable.
The following distribution reflects the activities funded
within this account:
[[Page 31532]]
[[Page 31533]]
[[Page 31534]]
[[Page 31535]]
[[Page 31536]]
PACIFIC COASTAL SALMON RECOVERY
The conference agreement includes $90,000,000, the same
amount as proposed by both the House and the Senate, of which
$5,000,000 is for the State of Idaho, $26,274,000 is for the
State of Washington, $20,868,000 is for the State of Alaska,
$13,133,000 is for the State of Oregon, $13,133,000 is for
the State of California, $8,500,000 is for the Pacific
coastal tribes, and $3,092,000 is for the Columbia River
tribes.
Of the amounts provided to the State of Washington,
$4,000,000 is for the Washington State Department of Natural
Resources and other State and Federal agencies for purposes
of implementing the State of Washington's Forest and Fish
report, and $1,800,000 is for the purchase of mass marking
equipment used at Federal hatcheries in Washington State to
promote selective fisheries and protect threatened and
endangered species.
Of the funds provided for the State of Alaska, $3,500,000
is for the Arctic Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon
initiative; $1,000,000 is for the Cook Inlet Fishing
Community Assistance Program; $500,000 is for the Yukon River
Drainage Association; $3,368,000 is for Fairbanks hatchery
facilities; $1,500,000 is for the City of Adak for marine
related infrastructure; $250,000 is for the State of Alaska
to participate in discussions regarding the Columbine River
hydrosystem management and for fisheries revitalization;
$100,000 is for the United Fishermen of Alaska's subsistence
program; $3,500,000 is to restore salmon fisheries in
Anchorage at Ship Creek, Chester Creek, and Campbell Creek
including habitat restoration and facilities; $1,500,000 is
to restore salmon runs in Resurrection Bay at the Alaska
SeaLife Center; $1,000,000 is for scientific fisheries
systems riverine sonar; $150,000 is for the Southeast
Revitalization Association for its fleet stabilization
program; $1,000,000 is to mitigate albatross-fish
interactions; $2,000,000 is for the Kenai River; $1,000,000
is for the Russian River; $200,000 is to restore the Craig
watershed; and $300,000 is for Chinook Salmon Research in
Auke Bay.
Of the amounts provided to the State of Oregon, $1,100,000
is for conservation mass marking at the Columbia River
Hatcheries.
FISHERIES FINANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The conference agreement includes language to support up to
$59,000,000 to finance fishing capacity reduction loan
programs, of which $40,000,000 may be used for the United
States distant water tuna fleet, and $19,000,000 may be used
for the United States menhaden fishery. Further, the
conference agreement includes language to support up to
$5,000,000 for Individual Fishing Quota loans.
DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $47,289,000 for costs
related to managing the Department of Commerce. Of the amount
provided, $900,000 is for costs related to the renovation of
the Herbert C. Hoover building. The conference agreement
includes designating $1,621,000 and 12 full-time equivalents
for the legislative affairs function of the Department.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language
proposed by the House under the heading of Office
Relocations.
Office of Inspector General
The conference agreement includes $21,116,000 for the
Inspector General for fiscal year 2004, the same amount as
proposed by the Senate, instead of $22,000,000 as proposed by
the House.
General Provisions--Department of Commerce
(Including Rescission)
The conference agreement includes the following general
provisions for the Department of Commerce:
Section 201 of the bill making Department of Commerce funds
available for advanced payments only upon certification of
officials designated by the Secretary that such payments are
considered to be in the public interest.
Section 202 making appropriations for the Department in the
bill for Salaries and Expenses available for hire of
passenger motor vehicles, and for services, uniforms and
allowances as authorized by law.
Section 203 prohibiting any of the funds for NOAA being
used to support hurricane reconnaissance aircraft and
activities that are under the control of the United States
Air Force or the United States Air Force Reserve.
Section 204 providing the authority to transfer funds
between Department of Commerce appropriation accounts and
requiring notification to the Committees of certain actions.
Section 205 providing that any costs incurred by the
Department in response to funding reductions shall be
absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to
the Department and shall not be subject to the reprogramming
limitations set forth in this Act.
Section 206 allowing the Department of Commerce franchise
fund to retain earnings from services.
Section 207 designating funds for certain projects.
Section 208 designating amounts available in the ``Promote
and Develop Fishery Products and Research Pertaining to
American Fisheries'' fund and including language to provide
authorities for a certain Board.
Section 209 providing authorities for the Economic
Development Administration.
Section 210 authorizing the Secretary of Commerce to
operate a marine laboratory.
Section 211 extending the Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee
Act of 1999 and including language providing $2,000,000 to
administer the program.
Section 212 providing additional funding for certain
projects.
Section 213 providing the authority and amounts to
administer a certain program regarding a lobster fishery.
Section 214 providing the authority and amounts to
administer a certain program regarding a Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands non-pollock groundfish fishery.
Section 215 rescinding $100,000,000 from certain
unobligated balances.
TITLE III--THE JUDICIARY
The conferees adopt by reference the House report language
concerning the submission of a financial plan within 45 days
after enactment of this Act. If shortfalls arise during the
course of fiscal year 2004, the conferees expect the
Judiciary to attempt to address these shortfalls through the
reprogramming process, consistent with section 605 of this
Act, before requesting supplemental appropriations.
Supreme Court of the United States
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $55,360,000 for the
salaries and expenses of the Supreme Court, as provided by
the House, instead of $59,414,000 as provided by the Senate.
The conferees are supportive of the funding increases and
report language included in the Senate report concerning data
systems, additional personnel, and the Metrocheck transit
subsidy program. Within the funding level provided, the
conferees ask the Court to fund these programs to the maximum
extent possible based the Court's priorities. The Court's
financial plan is expected to outline the Court's allocation
of funding among these priorities. As described in the Senate
report, the Court is also expected to report to the
Committees on Appropriations on the savings associated with
hiring systems accountants to replace contractors.
The conferees adopt by reference the House report language
concerning minority hiring and diversity among law clerks.
CARE OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS
The conference agreement includes $10,591,000 for the
Supreme Court ``Care of the Building and Grounds'' account,
as provided by the House, instead of $4,658,000 as provided
by the Senate. The conference agreement adopts by reference
the House report language concerning the submission of a
study, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, on the
feasibility of establishing a visitor screening site outside
of the Supreme Court building.
united States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $20,662,000 for the
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, as
provided by the Senate, instead of $20,665,000 as provided by
the House. The conference agreement provides no funding to
establish a Deputy Circuit Executive, as described in the
Senate report.
United States Court of International Trade
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $14,068,000 for the U.S.
Court of International Trade, as provided by the House,
instead of $13,210,000 as provided by the Senate.
Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $3,994,176,000 for the
salaries and expenses of the Courts of Appeals, District
Courts and Other Judicial Services instead of $4,004,176,000
as provided by the House and $3,894,021,000 as provided by
the Senate.
The conferees would like to see greater emphasis on
automation in local courts. The conferees understand that the
time required to hear Court cases can be reduced by as much
as 15 percent through the use of technologies in the
courtroom. The Conferees direct the Judiciary to continue to
implement these new technologies in courtrooms.
The conferees adopt by reference the Senate report language
requiring a report on the savings generated by the CM/ECF
program and requiring a report on the Court Operations
Support Center. The conferees adopt by reference the House
report language concerning Electronic Public Access fees.
The conferees are concerned with the methodology used to
prepare and the presentation of the Judiciary's information
technology budget and long-range plan. The conferees expect
the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) to
work with the Committees on Appropriations on the
presentation of funding requests for this program. The
conferees are concerned with the presentation of new
initiatives in the O&M budget, and as well as the large
amount of O&M funding required in proportion to the total
information technology budget request.
[[Page 31537]]
The conferees understand that the Judiciary's staffing,
operations and maintenance, and information technology
resources are allocated to the courts according to formulas
intended to equitably distribute resources based on the
actual workload of each district. The conferees direct the
Judiciary to update the formulas to improve their accuracy.
The updates should incorporate changes in the courts'
resource needs to reflect the implementation of technology
enhancements such as the CM/ECF project and the unique
situations that occur in districts with large geographic
divisions. The conferees direct the Judiciary to report
within 180 days of enactment of this Act on the Judiciary's
efforts to update these formulas.
The Edwin L. Nelson Local Initiative Program.--The
conferees have learned that many courts are developing
significant IT solutions to meet local needs. The entire
Judiciary receives great benefit from the development of
automation initiatives at the local court level and the
sharing of this technology with other courts will realize
precious savings throughout the Judiciary. The conferees
noted the inclusion of an Information Technology Grant
program in the ``Long Range Plan for Information Technology
in the Federal Judiciary'', specifically goal 7, initiative
1. The conferees fully support this program. However the
conferees understand that even though funding was included in
previous years' financial plans, no grants for this program
have been awarded in fiscal years 2002 or 2003. To accelerate
the pace of this program, the conferees direct that no less
than $2,000,000 shall be made available for the Edwin L.
Nelson Local Initiatives Program. These funds shall be used
to establish and operate a National Clearing House,
facilitate local court collaboration, expand training
opportunities at the circuit level, and provide Information
Technology Grants. The conferees direct the development and
execution of this new Edwin L. Nelson Local Initiatives
Program shall be coordinated with United States Judicial
Conference Committee on Information Technology. The conferees
direct the AO to report to the Committees on Appropriations,
within 90 days of enactment of this Act, on the proposed
process and structure to operate the Clearing House, evaluate
initiatives, distribute grants, conduct training and execute
the Local Initiatives Program, as approved by the Judicial
Conference. In addition, the AO shall report the status of
this program no later than April 1 and September 1, 2004. The
status reports shall contain, at a minimum, an activity
report from the Clearing House, a list of courts receiving
grants including the purpose and amount of each grant and any
training conducted.
VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION TRUST FUND
The conference agreement provides $3,193,000 from the
Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund instead of $3,293,000
as provided by the House and the Senate.
DEFENDER SERVICES
The conference agreement includes $604,477,000 for the
Federal Judiciary's Defender Services account, instead of
$613,948,000 as provided by the House and $595,006,000 as
provided by the Senate.
The conference agreement does not provide any increases in
panel attorney hourly pay rates above the current rates. The
conference agreement adopts by reference the House and Senate
report language concerning future budget requests for panel
attorney pay rate increases. Conferees expect the Judiciary
to address these concerns before requesting panel attorney
rate increases above the rate of inflation.
FEES OF JURORS AND COMMISSIONERS
The conference agreement includes $57,822,000 for Fees of
Jurors and Commissioners, instead of $53,181,000 as provided
by the House and Senate. The conferees understand the
Judiciary's ``First Day'' statistics show that the percentage
of petit jurors called that are not selected, serving or
challenged on their first day has increased from 33 percent
in fiscal year 1997 to 39 percent in fiscal year 2002. The
conferees are concerned with the decline in juror utilization
rates and the associated increase in costs. The conferees
direct the Judicial Conference of the United States to report
to the Committees on Appropriations within 180 days of
enactment of this Act on (1) the reasons for the decline in
juror utilization, (2) the impact the implementation of the
Jury Modernization System has had on juror utilization, and
(3) recommendations on how the Judiciary can improve the
efficiency with which it calls petit jurors.
COURT SECURITY
The conference agreement includes $277,500,000 for the
Federal Judiciary's Court Security account, instead of
$288,941,000 as provided by the House and $266,058,000 as
provided by the Senate.
The conferees adopt by reference the House report language
requiring a monthly report on court security equipment and
systems spending throughout fiscal year 2004. The Conferees
are concerned about the delay in submitting the management
study the United States Marshals Service (USMS) was directed
to conduct in fiscal year 2003 and hope this study will
provide recommendations to improve the administration of this
program by the USMS and the Judiciary.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $66,000,000 for the
Administrative Office of the United States Courts instead of
$66,968,000 as provided by the House and $63,717,000 as
provided by the Senate. The conferees adopt by reference the
Senate report language concerning cyclical replacement of
automation equipment and the Senate report language directing
the AO to develop a comprehensive records management plan and
inform the Committees on Appropriations of this plan as soon
as possible. In addition, the conferees adopt by reference
the Senate report language requiring the submission of semi-
annual reports to the Committees on Appropriations on travel
expenses associated with AO personnel by directorate.
Federal Judicial Center
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $21,440,000 for salaries
and expenses of the Federal Judicial Center as provided by
the House, instead of $22,434,000 as provided by the Senate.
The conferees laud the Center's education and training
program and believe it can be a model for training programs
in the Federal government.
Judicial Retirement Funds
PAYMENT TO JUDICIARY TRUST FUNDS
The conference agreement includes $29,000,000 for payment
to various judicial retirement funds, as provided by the
House and Senate.
United States Sentencing Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $12,354,000 for the U.S.
Sentencing Commission, instead of $12,746,000 as provided by
the House and $12,011,000 as provided by the Senate.
General Provisions--The Judiciary
Section 301.--The conference agreement includes a provision
included by both the House and Senate allowing appropriations
to be used for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109.
Section 302.--The conference agreement includes a provision
related to the transfer of funds.
Section 303.--The conference agreement includes a provision
allowing up to $11,000 to be used for official representation
expenses of the Judicial Conference of the United States.
TITLE IV--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCY
In total, the conference agreement includes $8,264,072,000
for the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of
Governors. Of the total amount provided, $8,129,093,000 is
derived from general purpose discretionary funds and
$134,979,000 is scored as mandatory spending. This funding
level includes significant program increases to improve
diplomatic readiness and security. The conference agreement
includes $1,508,101,000 to continue worldwide security
activities, including the design and construction of
replacement facilities for the most vulnerable overseas
posts.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
The conference agreement for the Department of State is
intended to continue the Department's efforts to achieve
diplomatic readiness, strengthen diplomatic and border
security, and institute sweeping management reforms. In the
past four fiscal years, the Congress has provided
appropriations increases of over 44 percent for the
Department's operating budget, including funding to support
the hiring and training of more than 2,000 new employees.
The conference agreement includes a total of $7,706,639,000
for fiscal year 2004 for the Department of State. Of the
total amount provided, $7,571,660,000 is derived from general
purpose discretionary funds and $134,979,000 is scored as
mandatory spending. The overall funding level for fiscal year
2004 represents an additional 8.9 percent increase to the
operating budget, which will support up to 603 new positions.
The conferees expect that this funding level will allow the
Department to meet critical embassy security and staffing
requirements, modernize its technology and equipment, and
continue vigorous management reform initiatives to right-size
America's overseas presence.
The conference agreement includes a total of $5,969,805,000
for the discretionary appropriation accounts under
Administration of Foreign Affairs; $1,465,305,000 for
International Organizations; $57,795,000 for International
Commissions; and $78,755,000 for Other activities. The
conferees' priorities for the Department of State are
delineated in the following paragraphs.
Administration of Foreign Affairs
Diplomatic and Consular Programs
The conference agreement includes $4,106,701,000 for the
Diplomatic and Consular Programs account, instead of
$4,099,961,000 as proposed by the House and $3,874,778,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement includes
$646,701,000 to continue funding for worldwide security
upgrades, $301,563,000 for public diplomacy programs, and
$40,000,000 for worldwide OpenNet and classified connectivity
infrastructure. The
[[Page 31538]]
conference agreement represents an increase of $210,868,000
above the fiscal year 2003 appropriation.
The conference agreement includes a program increase of
$72,572,000 to support the hiring and training of new foreign
service and civil service employees, including foreign
service positions dedicated to visa adjudication as described
in both the House and Senate reports. The conferees are
concerned that not all of the new full-time equivalents hired
by the Department under the Diplomatic Readiness Initiative
(DRI) are available for worldwide deployment. One of the
primary objectives of the DRI was to allow the Department to
address staffing shortages at U.S. diplomatic posts overseas.
The Department shall submit a report to the Committees, no
later than February 1, 2004, on the number of personnel hired
under DRI that are not available for worldwide deployment and
on the Department's plan for ensuring that personnel yet to
be hired under DRI are available for worldwide deployment. To
the greatest extent possible Foreign Service Officers hired
during the third and final year of DRI should be available
for worldwide deployment.
The conferees urge the Department to move forward
expeditiously with its right-sizing plan. Right-sizing refers
to the reconfiguration of overseas U.S. Government personnel
to the number necessary to achieve U.S. foreign policy goals.
The conferees recognize that, as the property manager for all
U.S. Government properties overseas, the Department of State
faces considerable pressure to accommodate ever-greater
numbers of non-State Department personnel in its overseas
facilities.
For any right-sizing framework to be effective, it must
have two main components: (1) a process for determining,
internally, the appropriate numbers of State Department
personnel stationed overseas, and (2) an interagency process
for determining the appropriate numbers of non-military U.S.
government personnel stationed overseas. To this end, the
conference agreement includes up to $2,000,000 for the
Department to establish and operate an Office on Right-Sizing
the United States Overseas Presence, and adopts, by
reference, the language on this matter in the House report.
The conferees expect this new Office, which shall report
directly to the Undersecretary for Management, to lead the
Department's effort to develop internal and interagency
mechanisms to better coordinate, rationalize, and manage the
deployment of U.S. government personnel overseas.
The conferees commend the Department for its recent steps
to strengthen internal processes for determining staffing
projections for overseas personnel needs. However, more needs
to be done. The conferees are not aware of any right-sizing
analysis in the past three years that has resulted in a
proposed reduction to a country-wide staffing presence. The
conferees are supportive of the concept of regionalization.
Regionalization refers to the practice of basing certain
administrative functions and personnel in regional centers,
or ``hubs'', thereby creating efficiencies. The conferees
note that the Department has made less than notable progress
towards developing an interagency right-sizing process. The
conferees urge the Department, with the Office of Management
and Budget, to take the lead in establishing an interagency
process for developing staffing projections for U.S.
government facilities overseas. The conferees support the
Department's cost-sharing plan which will encourage other
Federal agencies to examine more closely whether the
personnel they send overseas are truly mission-critical. The
conferees remind the Department that this interagency process
should not supercede the authority of the Chiefs of Mission
(COM) to determine the composition of their posts, but rather
to serve as a tool and support mechanism for the COM's. The
post must remain at the center of the right-sizing process.
The conference agreement includes the requirements
stipulated in the House report regarding a report on the
impact of new staffing analysis requirements in the Mission
Performance Planning process, and the direction to undertake
a review and report on the size of the largest overseas
missions using the mission performance plan and the right-
sizing criteria developed by the General Accounting Office.
The conference agreement includes program increases as
described in the House report for Trafficking in Persons,
International Summits, International Religious Freedom, and
re-establishing a United States Mission to the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The conference agreement includes language specifying that
$301,563,000 is available only for public diplomacy programs.
The conference agreement continues support for special
program initiatives in the Arab and Muslim world, which were
significantly expanded in fiscal years 2002 and 2003.
The conferees are aware of the recently completed report of
the Advisory Panel on Public Diplomacy, and the Department's
response to the Panel's recommendations. The amounts provided
for public diplomacy under this heading and under
``Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs'', including a
reallocation of base funding toward the Arab and Muslim
World, will allow the Department to pursue the Panel's
recommendations. The conferees urge the Department to act
expeditiously on several items proposed by the Panel,
including the establishment of an office of policy, plans and
resources within the Office of the Under Secretary;
strengthening the authority of the Under Secretary for Public
Diplomacy and Public Affairs and improving accountability for
public diplomacy resources; improved interagency
coordination; increased resources dedicated to program
performance measurement and research; expansion of English
language office, speaker and fellows programs; expansion of
American studies programs including American Corners; and
increased public diplomacy staff with better language skills.
The conferees expect that significant resources from the
Diplomatic Readiness Initiative will be allocated to
increased Public Diplomacy staff resources and training.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
in the Senate report regarding the refining of public
diplomacy strategy, including the harmonization of mission
and strategy with the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and
the incorporation of public diplomacy into ongoing
international assistance and volunteer programs.
The conference agreement includes $646,701,000 for
worldwide security upgrades as proposed by the House, instead
of $594,373,000 as proposed by the Senate. This conference
agreement includes $542,998,000 to provide full year costs of
maintaining base security activities at current levels. These
activities include perimeter security upgrades, guard
services, physical security equipment, armored vehicles,
personnel, training and wireless communications. The
conference agreement includes $7,952,000 for 85 additional
security professional staff positions and $25,300,000 for
completion of the initial multi-year plan to enhance
perimeter security at 243 posts, and technical upgrades at
annexes and other buildings not included in the original
program. The conferees note that funds provided under this
category may be used for protection and security costs in
Kabul, Afghanistan. The conference agreement also includes up
to $3,000,000 for State Department participation in the
TOPOFF III national counterterrorism exercise and $5,000,000
for the Center for Antiterrorism and Security Training.
The conference agreement includes $736,013,000 for the
Department's Border Security program, to be funded entirely
though collection of Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fees. The
fiscal year 2004 program level is an increase of
$119,192,000, and includes a program increase of 125 new
consular positions. The conference agreement does not include
language proposed in the Senate bill regarding the automatic
transfer of funding to the Border Security program in the
event of MRV fee shortfalls. The Department received an
appropriation of $109,500,000 in Public Law 108-106 to cover
the estimated shortfall. However, the underlying problem--
that a decline in visa fee revenue could disrupt the Border
Security program--remains. The conferees direct the
Department to submit a plan, no later than April 2, 2004, to
ensure that visa fee revenue shortfalls do not disrupt the
Department's critical border security operations in fiscal
year 2004 or beyond. The conferees urge the Department to
continue to work on an interagency basis to strengthen the
visa process to make it an effective antiterrorism tool,
while avoiding the creation of unnecessary barriers or delays
to legitimate travel to the United States.
The conference agreement includes language designating
$40,000,000 under this account for worldwide OpenNet and
classified connectivity infrastructure. These costs were
requested under the Capital Investment Fund. While that
account was the appropriate one for funding the costs of
developing and deploying these automation initiatives, the
conferees agree that the costs of sustaining these systems,
including hardware replacement and refreshment, are more
appropriately funded under this heading.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
in the House report on the Africa Policy Advisory Panel, the
interagency task force to monitor the United Nations
headquarters renovation project, minority hiring and
recruiting, overseas schools, extradition, security of
classified material, Tibet, the Bureau of Legislative
Affairs, and U.S. presence in China. The conference agreement
also includes, by reference, language in the Senate report on
financial operations, foreign language proficiency, and
international trade; and language and corresponding funding
levels pertaining to the Arctic Council and the Bering
Straits Commission.
The conferees expect the Department and the Bureau of
International Organization Affairs to place top priority on
international human rights protection and advocacy, and to
submit a report to the Committees by December 15, 2003,
presenting an international human rights agenda and work plan
for the coming year. In addition, the conferees expect the
Department to continue the effort begun last year to make
funds available to each U.S. Embassy to translate into the
official language of the host country the report
[[Page 31539]]
for the host country from the ``Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices'', the ``Annual Report on International
Religious Freedom'', and the ``Trafficking in Persons
Report'' within 30 days of issuance, and post those documents
on the embassy website along with the English version. The
Department shall notify the Committees by January 31, 2004,
if there are any U.S. Embassies that do not comply with this
requirement.
The conference agreement includes such funds as necessary
for costs associated with fulfilling United States
responsibilities with regard to participation in
interparliamentary meetings, including North Atlantic Treaty
Organization and Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe meetings taking place during fiscal year 2004.
The conference agreement includes language, as in the
previous fiscal year, providing that funds under this heading
may be used for a United States Government interagency task
force to examine, coordinate, and oversee United States
participation in the United Nations headquarters renovation
project.
The conference agreement includes up to $10,000,000 for
continuing language education programs, as described in the
Senate report.
The conference agreement also includes up to $500,000 for a
cultural antiquities task force as described in the Senate
report. The task force will coordinate with all relevant
Federal law enforcement and cultural agencies to prevent
further looting and promote preservation of Iraq's
historically and culturally significant works. The conferees
urge the Department to create a database as described in the
Senate report. The conferees further urge the Department to
make changes to visa policies as they pertain to persons
found to have looted, damaged, or trafficked historically or
culturally significant works. The Department shall submit a
report to the Committees no later than April 15, 2004, on the
Department's progress towards establishing the task force.
This report should include recommendations concerning the
database and changes in visa policy.
The conference agreement includes up to $2,000,000 for the
Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, as described in
the Senate report.
The conferees are concerned that the Department's policy of
rotating Foreign Service Officers may hinder the work of the
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and
Scientific Affairs (OES). The successful negotiation of
effective international agreements often takes place over an
extended period of time and relies heavily on historical and
institutional knowledge of the pertinent issues. The rotation
of officers on a three year cycle may inhibit the development
of such knowledge. The conferees direct the Department to
report to the Committees no later than July 1, 2004, on the
impact of such personnel policies on the United States'
ability to negotiate effective international environmental
treaties. From within the amount available to the OES Bureau,
the conferees agree that up to $1,000,000 may be available
for international health affairs.
The conferees remain concerned about the adequacy of the
Department's efforts to counter the serious problem of
international child abductions. The conferees direct that the
Department use the authorities in existing law to prohibit
the issuance of visas to international child abductors. The
conferees also direct that, henceforward, the Department
require that children over the age of one year and under the
age of 14 be physically present at the time of application
for a United States passport, or renewal thereof. The
conference agreement includes up to $1,300,000 to promote
international information sharing to combat child pornography
as described in the Senate report.
The conferees direct the Department to undertake a general
survey of foreign missions operating throughout the United
States as part of a performance measurement of the work of
the Office of Foreign Missions. The Department shall report
to the Committees on the findings of this survey no later
than October 1, 2004.
The conferees are aware of dissatisfaction with the
Department's position regarding certain shipments of mahogany
lumber from Brazil. It is the understanding of the conferees
that the required export permits were obtained by the
proprietor of these shipments from the Government of Brazil,
in accordance with existing law. The conferees expect the
Department to facilitate the resolution of this matter in a
way that is equitable and consistent with U.S. law.
The conferees urge the Department, in consultation with the
Department of Commerce, to ensure that U.S. conservation
standards are applied to foreign fisheries that wish to
import fish products to the U.S., consistent with Public Law
101-162. The conferees direct the Department to submit an
enforcement plan to the Committees by April 1, 2004, as
described in the House and Senate reports. The Secretary of
State and the Secretary of Commerce shall establish standards
and measures for bycatch reduction that are comparable to
U.S. standards, as described in the Senate report.
As in previous years, the conferees expect that there will
be additional savings available to the Department, including
exchange rate gains and vacancies in funded positions. The
Department will have the ability to propose that savings be
used for needs not funded by the recommendation through the
normal reprogramming process. The conferees are concerned
about the Department's practice of resubmitting reprogramming
requests that have previously been denied by the Committees
on Appropriations. Reprogrammings should be resubmitted only
if the circumstances surrounding the request or the request
itself change substantially enough to warrant a reevaluation
by the Committees.
Capital Investment Fund
The conference agreement includes $80,000,000 for the
Capital Investment Fund, instead of $142,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $207,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. In
addition, the conferees expect that $114,000,000 in expedited
passport fees will be used to support the information
technology modernization effort, for a total fiscal year 2004
spending availability of $194,000,000.
The entire amount available under this heading, including
fees, will support investments in new information
technologies to improve the efficiency of Department
operations. Costs associated with ongoing information
technology operations and maintenance, including $40,000,000
for equipment replacement requested under this account, are
funded under the Diplomatic and Consular Programs account.
The conferees encourage the Department to allocate funding
under this heading to the following high priority projects:
the SMART messaging initiative; public key infrastructure;
and up to $8,000,000 for the wide area network/thin client
prototype.
Office of Inspector General
The conference agreement includes $31,703,000 for the
Office of Inspector General (OIG) as proposed by the Senate,
instead of $29,777,000 as proposed by the House. The
conference agreement includes language, as carried in
previous years, waiving the requirement for a five-year post
inspection cycle. The conference agreement does not include
language in the Senate report on conducting risk and threat
assessments.
Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs
The conference agreement includes a total of $320,000,000
under this heading, instead of $345,346,000 as proposed by
the House and $255,292,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
following chart displays the conference agreement on the
distribution of funds by program or activity under this
account, including an estimated $7,650,000 in prior year
recoveries and unobligated balances:
Amount
(in thousands)
Academic Programs:
Fulbright Students, Scholars, Teachers.......................$150,000
Graduate Fellowships/Junior Faculty Development................25,000
Foreign Study Grants for U.S. Undergraduates....................1,600
Educational Advising and Student Services.......................3,500
English Language Programs.......................................6,800
American Overseas Research Centers..............................2,700
South Pacific Exchanges...........................................500
Tibet Exchanges...................................................500
East Timor Exchanges..............................................500
Disability Exchange Clearinghouse.................................500
________________
Subtotal, Academic Programs.................................191,600
================
Professional and Cultural Programs:
International Visitor Program..................................58,000
Citizen Exchange Program.......................................22,000
Youth Exchanges/Excellence Awards...............................8,000
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange...............................3,000
Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program...............................1,800
Youth Science Leadership Institute of the Americas................100
Special Olympics..................................................800
Africa Workforce Development Exchanges............................400
Arctic Winter Games...............................................100
George Mitchell Scholarship Program...............................500
PSC U.S.-Pakistan Educator Development............................250
Institute for Representative Government...........................500
Irish Institute...................................................350
Northern Forum....................................................250
Winter Cities Conference..........................................100
Seed Programs.....................................................500
Atlantic Corridor.................................................250
[[Page 31540]]
Interparliamentary Exchanges......................................150
________________
Subtotal, Professional and Cultural Exchanges................97,050
================
Exchanges Support................................................39,000
================
Prior Year Balances Applied.....................................(7,650)
================
Total, Exchange Programs....................................320,000
Deviations from this distribution of funds will be subject to
the normal reprogramming procedures under section 605 of this
Act.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language in
the House report on the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
program; Fulbright exchanges with Tibet; the Leaders in
Education Initiative; Traditional Public-Private Partnership
grants; artistic and cultural exchanges; minimizing
unnecessary barriers to legitimate travel of exchange program
participants; the priority of enhanced support for engaging
Arab and Muslim audiences through exchange programs; the
allocation of funding under this heading for the Near East
and South Asia regions; and the allocation of all resources
under this account in accordance with worldwide policy
priorities.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language in
the Senate report regarding a program for Afghan women; the
Fulbright program in Iraq; and a Council of American Overseas
Research Centers program on diamond fingerprinting.
The conference agreement includes increased funding for
exchanges with the countries of Eastern Europe and the former
Soviet Union built into the base programs funded under this
account. The conference agreement includes, by reference,
language in the House report on funding levels for staff and
administrative support. Funding in the preceding chart
includes funding for the Future Leaders Exchange Program. No
funding under this account shall be expended for programs
that have foreign assistance or international development as
the primary goal. The conference agreement does not include
funding for programs, previously funded by transfers from
other appropriations, which do not directly relate to
international educational and cultural exchanges of persons.
The amount provided for Graduate Fellowships is for all such
programs worldwide.
The conferees recognize, in particular, the notable success
of the Fulbright Educational Exchange Program. The conferees
commend Fulbright for developing innovative initiatives, such
as the Fulbright Legacy Fund.
Within funds identified in the above chart for ``Seed
Programs'', the conferees expect the Department to consider
supporting grants for an African career internship immersion
program, a youth cultural festival exchange program, a
program to promote religious tolerance and understanding
through artistic and cultural exchanges, and the five
programs listed in the Senate report under the heading ``Seed
Programs''. Should additional funds become available during
the course of the fiscal year, the conferees encourage the
Department to provide additional funding to the Institute for
Representative Government.
The conferees recognize, in particular, the notable success
of the Fulbright Educational Exchange Program. The conferees
commend Fulbright for developing innovative initiatives, such
as the Fulbright Legacy Fund.
Representation Allowances
The conference agreement includes $9,000,000 for
representation allowances as proposed by the House, instead
of $6,643,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement includes, by reference, language in the House
report regarding the submission of a quarterly report on
expenditures under this account.
Protection of Foreign Missions and Officials
The conference agreement includes $10,000,000 under this
heading as proposed by both the House and the Senate. The
conference agreement includes, by reference, language in the
House report regarding the Department's treatment of
reimbursement requests, and the submission of a report on
budgeting for protection expenses in light of heightened
security measures.
Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance
The conference agreement includes a total appropriation of
$1,391,400,000 for Embassy Security, Construction, and
Maintenance. The conference agreement designates $861,400,000
as available only for priority worldwide security upgrades,
acquisition, and construction, the full amount requested for
such activities. The conference agreement includes
$530,000,000 for base programs and non-security construction
costs. The conference agreement includes full requested wage
and price increases for the Department's Bureau of Overseas
Buildings Operations (OBO), which will support 787 positions
in fiscal year 2004. The conference agreement includes
$20,000 for domestic and overseas representation, instead of
$15,000 proposed by the House and $25,000 proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes $861,400,000 for
worldwide security upgrades, including $761,400,000 to
continue the capital security program of constructing new
secure replacement facilities for the Department's most
vulnerable embassies and consulates. None of the funds made
available under the Security Capital Construction program
shall be used for facilities that are exclusively for the use
of a non-State Department agency. Within the funds made
available under this category, the conferees expect the
Department to undertake new office building projects from
among the highest priority facilities listed in the Long
Range Overseas Buildings Plan. Projects funded under this
account must follow a rigorous rightsizing methodology. The
conferees expect that such rightsizing efforts will enable
the Department to support ten new security capital embassy or
consulate construction projects instead of seven as proposed
in the budget request.
The conferees understand that the Department has evaluated
options for a new embassy facility in Beirut, Lebanon. The
conferees expect the Department to report to the Committees
no later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act on the
status of plans to construct such a facility, and to allocate
funds provided under this heading, if appropriate.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
in the House report regarding capital security cost sharing,
compound security, security capital projects fully meeting
existing security standards, immediate notification on
serious security risks, reprogramming, and right-sizing. The
conference agreement includes, by reference, language in the
Senate report on a project at U.S. Embassy Mexico and asset
management funds.
The conference agreement includes up to $15,000,000 to
secure and protect soft targets, up to $8,000,000 for
consular workspace improvements, and up to $20,000,000 for
buyout of uneconomic leases, as described in the Senate
report.
The conference agreement does not include funds requested
under this heading for a new Embassy in Berlin, Germany, and
instead proposes that this project be funded entirely from
funds available in the assets management account. The
conferees agree that the total amount to be provided from
proceeds of sale for the Berlin project is $128,300,000, and
that the facility will be sized to correspond with this
project budget. The conference agreement includes, by
reference, language in the House report regarding the
disposal of property at posts that have had funding approved
for the construction of a new secure compound.
The conferees direct the Department to provide a report no
later than July 1, 2004, which justifies the continued need
for a U.S. consulate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is
located approximately 260 miles away from the U.S. Consulate
in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The conferees expect the Department to submit to the
Committees any waiver or waivers signed by the Secretary of
State in accordance with section 606(a)(2) and section
606(a)(3) of the Secure Embassy Construction and
Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-113) within five
days of the Secretary's signature of such a waiver or
waivers.
The conferees direct that the budget categories of
``interiors and furnishings'', ``seismic programs'', and
``energy conservation'' be funded at no less than fiscal year
2003 levels.
Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service
The conference agreement includes $1,000,000 under this
heading as proposed by the House, instead of $1,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement anticipates
that carryover balances from fiscal year 2003 will be
available for obligation in fiscal year 2004. Within prior
year unobligated balances, the conferees expect that at least
$4,000,000 will be used for the cost of hosting the 2004
Summit of the Industrialized Nations.
Repatriation Loans Program Account
The conference agreement includes $612,000 for the subsidy
cost of repatriation loans and $607,000 for administrative
costs of the program as proposed by both the House and
Senate.
Payment to the American Institute in Taiwan
The conference agreement includes $18,782,000 under this
heading as proposed by the House, instead of $19,893,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement includes, by
reference, language in the House report regarding the
submission of a fiscal year 2004 spending plan, except that
such plan shall be submitted by December 31, 2003.
Payment to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund
The conference agreement includes $134,979,000 under this
heading, as proposed by both the House and the Senate.
International Organizations
Contributions to International Organizations
The conference agreement includes $1,010,463,000 under this
heading as proposed
[[Page 31541]]
by the House, instead of $921,888,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
in the House report regarding offset of exchange rate losses,
reprogramming to meet additional unanticipated costs of
UNESCO membership, UNESCO reforms, reassessment of U.S.
membership in certain international organizations, reform and
budget discipline, the UN regular budget, and the Pan
American Health Organization. The conference agreement
includes, by reference, language from the Senate report
regarding the provision of certain information to the Senate
Committee on Appropriations regarding the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development.
The conference agreement includes language requiring the
Secretary to transmit the most recent biennial budget for the
operations of the UN. The conference agreement includes
language, as in fiscal year 2003, providing that funds within
the Diplomatic and Consular programs account may be used for
a United States Government interagency task force to examine,
coordinate, and oversee United States participation in the
United Nations headquarters renovation project. The conferees
are concerned that the task force is not drawing upon the
expertise of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
(OBO) of the Department of State to the degree that it should
be. The conferees direct the task force to coordinate its
efforts with OBO and to consult with senior OBO officials in
formulating its recommendations.
The conferees are aware of significant potential benefits
that could result from U.S. participation in the
International Coffee Organization (ICO). The Department may
propose to use funds provided under this heading, through the
regular reprogramming process under section 605 of this Act,
for costs associated with rejoining ICO.
Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities
The conference agreement includes a total funding level of
$550,200,000 for payments for Contributions for International
Peacekeeping Activities as proposed by the House, instead of
$482,649,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement includes $454,842,000 in new direct appropriations
and $95,358,000 in prior year unobligated balances, and will
provide for the full payment of anticipated fiscal year 2004
assessments for United Nations peacekeeping missions. The
conference agreement includes language making ten percent of
the amount provided available for two fiscal years.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
in the House report regarding UN peacekeeping in the Western
Sahara; UN peacekeeping reform; benchmarks for mission
performance and termination; UN peacekeeping in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo; and the Office of Internal
Oversight Services. The conference agreement includes, by
reference, language in the Senate report regarding
peacekeeping reports. The allocation of funds under this
account to specific missions shall be subject to the
reprogramming requirements in section 605 of this Act.
The conferees support the work of the Special Court for
Sierra Leone, and expect the United Nations Mission in Sierra
Leone to provide support, as necessary, to the Court. The
conferees urge the Department to work with the Court and
other nations to ensure the expeditious prosecution of
indicted persons.
The conferees direct the Department to provide a report to
the Committees, no later than August 1, 2004, outlining the
Department's views and strategies regarding United Nations
peacekeeping missions that have been in existence for more
than 10 years. The report shall include an assessment of the
possibilities for near-term drawdowns or terminations, and
detailed justifications for the continuation of such
missions. The report shall also include recommendations for
U.S. policies regarding such missions.
International Commissions
International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico
The conference agreement includes a total of $29,551,000
for the International Boundary and Water Commission, United
States and Mexico (IBWC). The total amount provided includes
$26,000,000 for Salaries and Expenses and $3,551,000 for
Construction. The conference agreement includes language
authorizing not to exceed $6,000 for representation expenses.
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement for the Salaries and Expenses
account includes $26,000,000, instead of $25,668,000 as
proposed by the House and $28,312,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conference agreement includes, by reference,
language in the House report regarding the use of surplus
operations and maintenance funding through reprogramming.
Construction
The conference agreement includes $3,551,000 in new direct
appropriations under this heading, instead of $5,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $8,201,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conferees agree that the Commission may use an
additional $3,125,000 in prior year unobligated balances for
fiscal year 2004 for a total spending level of $6,676,000.
The conference agreement spending levels for ongoing
projects are: $2,306,000 for Boundary-wide construction; and
$2,305,000 for Rio Grande construction. The conference
agreement also includes $950,000 for compliance with the
Surfriders consent decree. Any additional obligations under
this heading within the total spending level cited above,
including any new project starts, shall be subject to the
reprogramming process described in section 605 of this Act.
The conference agreement assumes that the IBWC may carry
out requested Western Boundary activities using prior year
unobligated balances, and propose a distribution of such
funds through the regular reprogramming process. The
conferees encourage the IBWC to attempt, if possible, to
achieve greater secondary treatment of Mexican sewage within
current funding levels under this account. Any plan that
assumes a significant increase in appropriations under this
heading in future years is not feasible given resource
restraints and competing priorities.
American Sections, International Commissions
The conference agreement includes a total of $8,944,000
under this heading as proposed by the House, instead of
$10,942,000 as proposed by the Senate. This amount includes
$1,261,000 for the International Boundary Commission,
$5,550,000 for the International Joint Commission and
$2,133,000 for the Border Environment Cooperation Commission.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language in
the House report regarding funding for a study of the water
regulation plan governing Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence
River.
International Fisheries Commissions
The conference agreement includes $19,300,000 under this
heading, instead of $16,989,000 as proposed by the House. The
Senate proposed $20,043,000 for this purpose under the
Department of Commerce. The conference agreement includes
$2,250,000 for the Pacific Salmon Commission, $2,100,000 for
the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, $2,180,000 for
the International Pacific Halibut Commission, and $12,248,000
for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, of which not less
than $700,000 is for lampricide in Lake Champlain. The
conferees expect the Department to allocate the balance of
funds in the conference agreement, and, through the regular
reprogramming process, any additional funds that may become
available, to priority commissions. In allocating the balance
of funds, the conferees encourage the Department to
particularly consider funding needs of the International
Whaling Commission, the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, the North Pacific Anadromous
Fish Commission, the Inter-American Sea Turtle Convention
Commission, and the North Pacific Marine Science
Organization. The conferees are aware that the Department may
propose to reprogram funds to meet the needs of the various
fisheries commissions should funding become available.
The conferees expect the Department to take immediate
action to evaluate and prioritize United States participation
in, and funding for, international fisheries commissions. In
a climate of limited resources the conferees continue to
insist that the Department operate within appropriated
amounts, prioritize as necessary among commissions according
to policy goals, take steps as necessary to withdraw from
lower priority commissions, and refrain from entering into
new commitments.
Other
Payment to the Asia Foundation
The conference agreement includes $13,000,000 under this
heading, instead of $10,376,000 as proposed by the House and
no funding as proposed by the Senate.
International Center for Middle Eastern-Western Dialogue Trust Fund
The conference agreement includes language creating a
permanent trust fund for the International Center for Middle
Eastern-Western Dialogue Trust (in Section 634). The purpose
of this fund is to provide for the operations of the Center
in Istanbul, Turkey, on an annual basis.
The conference agreement includes $7,000,000 under this
heading to be deposited in the International Center for
Muslim-Western Dialogue Trust (the Center) for the perpetual
operations of the Center. The Center is located in the
historic Palazzo Corpi, formerly the U.S. Consulate building
in Istanbul, Turkey. The purpose of the Center is to develop
programs of cooperative study, training, and research for
students and scholars to exchange views and ideas. The Center
shall develop regional-based dialogue groups on such topics
as post-war Iraq and the empowerment of women in Iraq's
government and leadership, among others. The conferees
encourage non-profit organizations to play a continuing role
in the administration of the Center and in the execution of
its programs.
The conference agreement also includes $250,000 for a
steering committee, chaired by the Council of American
Overseas Research Centers (CAORC), to establish the Center.
The CAORC may use the funds provided under this heading for
steering committee meetings and planning workshops to be held
in Istanbul, Turkey, and the United States.
[[Page 31542]]
The steering committee shall seek to achieve the following
goals: identify potential partners in the U.S. and abroad;
review all aspects of the structure of the Center and make
recommendations concerning its governance, by-laws, internal
organization, and modes of operation. In addition, CAORC
shall be the coordinating liaison with concerned federal and
private agencies, monitor progress and report to the
Committees on Appropriations on an annual basis.
Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program
The conference agreement includes an appropriation for
fiscal year 2004 of interest and earnings from the Eisenhower
Exchange Fellowship Program Trust Fund, expected to total
$500,000. The conference agreement includes, by reference,
language in the House report regarding geographical
priorities and the selection of fellows.
Israeli Arab Scholarship Program
The conference agreement includes an appropriation for
fiscal year 2004 of interest and earnings of the Israeli Arab
Scholarship Endowment Fund, expected to total $375,000.
East-West Center
The conference agreement includes $17,880,000 under this
heading, instead of no funds as proposed by the House and
$19,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement includes language waiving an authorization
requirement for fiscal year 2003 appropriations under this
heading.
National Endowment for Democracy
The conference agreement includes $40,000,000 for the
National Endowment for Democracy (NED), instead of
$42,000,000 as proposed by the House and $36,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
RELATED AGENCY
Broadcasting Board of Governors
International Broadcasting Operations
The conference agreement includes $546,038,000 to carry out
United States International Broadcasting Operations for
fiscal year 2004. The conference agreement adopts, by
reference, House language regarding communications with the
Committees on Appropriations, and language under the headings
of Arabic Television, Language Service Review and Research,
Africa Broadcasting, and Anti-Jamming Efforts.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, Senate
language under the headings of Africa Broadcasting, Security
of Worldwide Broadcasting Facilities, Middle East Television
Network, and Jamming.
The conferees support efforts to devote more resources to
regions of the world that have had exposure to U.S.
broadcasting efforts, with particular attention to the Middle
East and to Muslim populations around the globe. The
conferees adopt the Broadcasting Board of Governors' (BBG)
proposal regarding funding for language services in central
and eastern European nations that have been invited to become
new member states of the European Union or the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, and have received a Freedom House press
freedom ranking equal to that of the United States. The
conferees expect the BBG to continue to monitor the press
freedoms in these countries, and throughout the world, and
advise the Committees on Appropriations regarding any change
to language service priorities.
BBG's proposal would reduce, but not eliminate, language
services to the Ukraine and Armenia. The conferees understand
the VOA Armenian programming would be merged with Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) broadcasting efforts. The
conferees understand the BBG would not eliminate broadcasting
in Romanian or Croatian.
The conference agreement adopts BBG's proposal to double
VOA radio broadcasts and increase television broadcasts to
Indonesia.
The conferees continue to support RFE/RL programming
efforts in Persian, Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, Arabic, Kazakh,
Kyrgyz, and Azeri. The conferees commend RFE/RL for
developing programming in Avar, Chechen, and Circassian, and
for expanding broadcasting to the Northern Caucasus. The
conferees recognize the continuing importance of broadcasting
objective, uncensored information to the isolated minorities
of the Northern Caucasus in their native languages.
The conferees continue to support Radio Free Asia's
broadcasting efforts to China, Tibet, Burma, Vietnam, North
Korea, Laos, and Cambodia and VOA's efforts in North Korea.
The conference agreement includes funding to continue daily
Uyghur broadcasts.
The conferees expect BBG to provide up to $1,000,000 to
administer a pilot program using Internet technologies to
overcome jamming of broadcasts to China.
The conference agreement adopts BBG's proposal to
streamline and reduce costs of management and administration
throughout the BBG, including the realignment of RFE/RL staff
from headquarters to regional bureaus.
The conference agreement includes the realignment of the
CFO office as proposed in a prior reprogramming notification
to the Committees on Appropriations.
The conferees expect the BBG to provide a spending plan to
the Committees on Appropriations in both the House and Senate
by no later than February 14, 2004.
The conference agreement includes language providing for
radio and television broadcasting to the Middle East under
the Middle East Television Network.
The conference agreement includes funding for Office of
Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) under this heading. The conferees
commend the OCB for the successful completion of the
conversion to digital audio and computer networking
technologies. The conferees direct the BBG to pursue
alternative means of transmission, including Internet
transmission. The conferees expect BBG to provide up to
$1,200,000 for this activity.
Further, the conference agreement does not include funding
requested for the operating costs related to transmission
stations that are not currently in operation.
The conferees understand the Administration has engaged the
government of the Czech Republic regarding the relocation of
the headquarters facility of the RFE/RL from St. Wenceslas
Square in Prague, the Czech Republic, to a different
location. The conferees further understand that, to date, the
BBG and RFE/RL have not reached agreement with the Czech
Republic on a suitable site within the Czech Republic for
relocation. The conferees direct the Chairman of the BBG to
submit no later than April 1, 2004, a relocation plan to the
Committees on Appropriations. The plan shall include at least
four possible sites, developed in consultation with the
Director of the Department of State's Bureau of Overseas
Buildings Operations. In determining the site options, the
conferees direct the BBG to consider sites in other countries
in the region in addition to the Czech Republic, and include
a comparison of the long-term costs of operating in the
different countries.
The BBG is directed to submit a spending plan for funds
provided under this heading, in accordance with section 605
of this Act.
Broadcasting Capital Improvements
The conference agreement includes $11,395,000 for
broadcasting capital improvements, as proposed by both the
House and Senate.
The conference agreement adopts, by reference, House
language regarding a certain transmitting station. The
conferees expect the Board to keep the Committees on
Appropriations in both the House and Senate informed on the
status of its efforts to acquire additional transmission
capabilities in the Middle East, including Egypt.
General Provisions--Department of State and Related Agency
The conference agreement includes section 401, permitting
the use of funds for allowances, differentials and
transportation.
The conference agreement includes section 402 dealing with
transfer authority.
The conference agreement includes section 403 prohibiting
the use of funds by the Department of State or the
Broadcasting Board of Governors to provide certain assistance
to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation.
The conference agreement includes section 404 regarding the
recording of place of birth on certain passport applications.
The conference agreement includes section 405 regarding
certain State Department Basic Authorities.
The conference agreement includes section 406 regarding the
denial of visas in certain instances. Nothing in this section
shall be construed as cutting off the need to continue
administrative processing of visa applications after 60 days.
The conference agreement includes section 407 waiving
certain authorization requirements.
The conference agreement includes section 408 regarding the
Senior Policy Operating Group on Trafficking in Persons. The
conference agreement includes language clarifying the
responsibilities of the Senior Policy Operating Group on
Trafficking in Persons. The conferees understand that the
Operating Group has been actively meeting and performing its
designated functions since enactment of Section 406 of
division B of Public Law 108-7. The conferees agree that all
anti-trafficking policies, grants and grant policies shall be
covered by the provisions of Section 406 of division B of
Public Law 108-7. The conference agreement also includes
language clarifying that the Senior Policy Operating Group
and its chairman are the coordinating body (and official)
accountable for federal anti-trafficking policies, grants and
grant policies. The conferees are concerned by recent
administrative efforts to subordinate and transfer the
Operating Group's coordinating responsibilities. The language
also makes clear that the coordinating responsibilities of
the Operating Group are not intended to supercede the
decision making authority of the constituent members of the
Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, to
whom Operating Group members continue to report. The
Operating Group is, and was intended to serve as, the forum
for interagency coordination of anti-trafficking policies,
even as final decisions regarding any such policies are
necessarily vested with the President and the senior
officials who comprise the Task Force. The conferees agree
that the Senior Operating Group and its chair have
successfully performed the coordinating functions assigned to
them.
[[Page 31543]]
The conference agreement includes section 409 regarding
State Department provision of certain information to the
Committees on Appropriations.
TITLE V--RELATED AGENCIES
Antitrust Modernization Commission
Salaries and Expenses
The conference report includes $1,200,000 for the Antitrust
Modernization Commission instead of $1,799,000 as provided by
the House. The Senate did not fund this commission.
Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $496,000 for the
Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad,
instead of $499,000 as proposed by the House and $659,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement will allow
the Commission to fund its administrative expenses through
appropriated funds while relying on other sources of funding
for actual purchase and restoration of property.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
in the House Report under this heading.
The conferees encourage the Commission to undertake Phase
II of its survey of sites abroad associated with the lives
and deeds of foreign-born heroes of the American Revolution.
Commission on Civil Rights
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $9,096,000 for the
salaries and expenses of the Commission on Civil Rights for
fiscal year 2004, as proposed in both the House and Senate
bills.
The conferees note that the Commission has achieved cost
savings in fiscal year 2003 by holding its monthly meetings
in Washington, DC, versus other locations around the country.
The conferees urge the Commission to continue to seek cost
savings in this manner. In addition, the conferees encourage
the Commission to address the recommendations made by the
October 2003 General Accounting Office report, which
suggested establishing greater controls over contracting
activities and meeting financial statement preparation and
audit requirements.
Commission on International Religious Freedom
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $3,000,000 for the
Commission on International Religious Freedom, as proposed by
the House, instead of $2,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
in the House Report under this heading.
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $1,615,000 for the
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe as proposed
by the House and the Senate.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
in the House Report under this heading.
Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $1,800,000 for the
Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic
of China, as proposed by the House, instead of $1,400,000, as
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement also
includes new language making $300,000 available for the
Political Prisoners Registry.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
in the House Report under this heading.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $328,400,000 for the
salaries and expenses of the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) for fiscal year 2004, as proposed by the
House, instead of $334,754,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees recognize that the Chair and Commissioners
have engaged EEOC stakeholders in a public forum in order to
hear many different perspectives on the proposed
restructuring effort. However, the conferees remain concerned
about the impact this restructuring will have on the quality
of service provided by the agency. The Committees on
Appropriations should be kept apprised of any organizational
changes, in accordance with the reprogramming requirements in
Section 605 of the Act.
The conferees are aware of the many financial management
initiatives the EEOC has successfully undertaken over the
last year, and the conferees commend the Commission for these
actions. The Commission is urged to continue these cost
saving measures and the financial management discipline it
has instituted. The conference agreement adopts, by
reference, the language in the House report requiring
quarterly reports on planned and actual spending and staffing
levels. The conference agreement also includes, by reference,
the language in the House report on Alternative Dispute
Resolution programs.
Federal Communications Commission
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $273,958,000 for the
salaries and expenses of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) for fiscal year 2004, instead of
$278,958,000 as provided by the House and $277,798,000 as
provided by the Senate. Of the amounts provided, $272,958,000
is to be derived from offsetting fee collections, resulting
in a net direct appropriation of $1,000,000.
The FCC performs four major functions: spectrum allocation,
creating rules to promote fair competition and protect
consumers where required by market conditions, authorization
of service, and enforcement. The conferees direct the FCC to
expend for enforcement in fiscal year 2004 an amount equal to
or greater than the amount expended for enforcement in fiscal
year 2003.
The conference agreement includes, by reference, language
included in the House and Senate reports on broadcast
television standards. The conference agreement includes, by
reference, language in the Senate report regarding Universal
Service Fund audits and wireless portability.
The conferees are pleased that the FCC is voluntarily
examining the practice of Commissioners and staff receiving
travel payments from entities it regulates in order to
largely eliminate section 1353 travel. The FCC should inform
the Committees on Appropriations of any resulting changes to
the travel policy. The conference agreement includes a level
of funding that is sufficient to accommodate mission-critical
travel.
The conference agreement allows the FCC to spend up to
$85,000,000 to administer the spectrum auctions program. In
addition, all collections retained by the FCC in accordance
with section 309(j)(8)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934
are subject to the requirements of section 605 of this Act.
Federal Trade Commission
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $186,041,000 for the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC), instead of $183,041,000 as
proposed by the House and $189,032,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Of the amounts provided, $112,000,000 is derived from
Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger filing fees, $23,100,000 is
derived from Do-Not-Call fees, and $50,941,000 is derived
from discretionary appropriations.
The conference agreement adopts by reference the House
report language requiring GAO to study the implementation of
the Do-Not-Call program and determine whether the Commission
is achieving its goal of reducing by 80 percent the number of
telemarketing calls received by registered consumers. To
improve responsiveness to an individual's decision to enroll
in the Do-Not-Call program, the conference report includes
bill language requiring telemarketers who are subject to the
Telemarketing Sales Rule to obtain from the Federal Trade
Commission the list of telephone numbers on the Do-Not-Call
registry once a month.
The conference agreement adopts by reference the House
report language concerning violent video games. In addition,
the conferees direct the Commission to make the toll free
consumer complaint line (1-877-FTC-HELP) and the Commission's
web-site available for consumer complaints on media violence.
The Commission should make consumers aware that the complaint
line and web-site are available for this purpose.
The conference agreement adopts by reference the Senate
report language concerning child protection, the Internet,
and commercial fleet card programs.
Federal Deposit Insurance Act.--In the Fiscal Year 2003
Conference Report, the conferees directed the General
Accounting Office (GAO) to study the enforcement of section
43 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and make
recommendations to the Committees on Appropriations on which
Federal agency could most effectively enforce this provision.
GAO Report 03-971 recommends that the Commission is the best
among the Federal agencies considered to enforce the consumer
protection activities of this provision. In addition, the
report also concludes that the most apparent impact on
consumers, from the lack of enforcement of section 43, may
result from non-Federally insured credit unions not providing
adequate disclosure that they are not Federally insured.
Based on these recommendations, the conference agreement
revises language included in the House and Senate bills
requiring enforcement concerning disclosure and annual
independent audits, but maintains the prohibition of
enforcement of section 43(e) concerning the eligibility of
Federal deposit insurance.
In the enforcement of section 43, the FTC is directed to
consult with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and
the National Credit Union Administration when determining the
manner and content of disclosure requirements, and to
coordinate with State supervisors of non-Federally insured
depository institutions to assist in enforcing these
requirements.
[[Page 31544]]
HELP Commission
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $3,000,000 for necessary
expenses of establishing the Helping to Enhance the
Livelihood of People (HELP) Around the Globe Commission. The
conference agreement also includes authorization language
under title VI of this Act concerning the Commission and its
activities.
Legal Services Corporation
Payment to the Legal Services Corporation
The conference agreement includes $338,848,000 for the
payment to the Legal Services Corporation, as proposed in
both the House and Senate bills. The recommendation is
$9,548,000 above the budget request. Of the amounts provided,
the Legal Services Corporation will provide $2,500,000 in
grants equitably distributed to the ten states most
negatively affected by recent census-based reallocations.
Administrative Provision
The conference agreement includes bill language to continue
the terms and conditions included under this section in
previous Appropriations Acts.
Marine Mammal Commission
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $1,856,000 for the Marine
Mammal Commission, as proposed by the House, instead of
$3,063,000 as proposed by the Senate. An additional
$1,207,000 is provided by transfer from the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, Operations, Research, and
Facilities account. The conference agreement includes, by
reference, the language in the Senate report on the cost
effectiveness of current protection programs and the effects
of rogue killer whales on the most endangered marine mammals.
National Veterans Business Development Corporation
The conference agreement includes $2,000,000 for the
National Veterans Business Development Corporation as
provided by the House and the Senate. The conferees note that
the Corporation's authorizing legislation mandates that it
institute a plan to raise private funds and become a self-
sustaining corporation by the end of fiscal year 2004. The
conferees encourage efforts by the Corporation to meet this
goal.
Securities and Exchange Commission
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $811,500,000 for the
Securities and Exchange Commission, instead of $841,500,000
as provided by the House and Senate.
Staffing.--In fiscal year 2003, the Commission was provided
with funding for 840 new positions to protect investors and
implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The fiscal year 2004 budget
request assumed that the 840 new positions funded in fiscal
year 2003 would be hired by the start of fiscal year 2004.
The conferees understand the Commission has had difficulty
hiring accountants and examiners but that Public Law 108-44
provides the Commission with greater flexibility in hiring
these positions. The conferees understand that through
November 1, 2004, the Commission has only been able to
increase its staff by 309. As a result of lower than
anticipated on-board staffing levels, the conference
agreement has reduced the level of funding provided to the
Commission by $30,000,000. The conferees direct the
Commission to continue to work to fill all of the 840 new
positions as quickly as possible and to provide the
Committees on Appropriations with quarterly staffing reports.
The conference agreement adopts by reference the Senate
report language concerning pay parity and enforcement. The
conference agreement adopts by reference the Senate report
language concerning data management and includes such sums as
are necessary to fund these efforts. The conference agreement
adopts by reference the Senate report language requiring a
monthly report to the Senate Appropriations Committee listing
the exercise of stock options by corporate officers and
directors. The conference agreement adopts by reference the
House report language requiring GAO to study the Commission's
allocation of funding increases provided in fiscal years 2003
and 2004. The conference agreement adopts by reference all of
the House report language concerning the establishment of an
Office of Global Security Risk within the Division of
Corporation Finance.
Small Business Administration
The conference agreement provides a total of $718,343,000
for the four appropriations accounts of the Small Business
Administration (SBA). Detailed guidance for the four SBA
appropriation accounts is contained in the following
paragraphs.
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $325,750,000 for the
salaries and expenses account of the SBA instead of
$326,592,000 as provided by the House and $332,413,000 as
provided by the Senate. Of the amount provided under this
heading, $185,000,000 is for operating expenses of the SBA.
In addition, a total of $136,500,000 from other SBA accounts
may be transferred to and merged with the salaries and
expenses account for indirect operating costs. This amount
consists of $128,000,000 from the Business Loans Program
account and $8,500,000 from the Disaster Loans Program
account for the administrative expenses related to those
accounts.
The conference agreement includes the full amount requested
for Low Documentation Processing Centers and expects the SBA
to continue to help small businesses adapt to a paperless
procurement environment.
The conferees adopt by reference the House report language
concerning the submission of a long-range plan for the
implementation of the loan monitoring system and the joint
accounting and administrative systems project.
Non-Credit Programs.--The conference agreement includes the
following for the non-credit programs of the SBA:
Regulatory Fairness Boards/National Ombudsman..................$500,000
Advocacy Research.............................................1,100,000
Veterans Programs...............................................750,000
7(j) Technical Assistance Programs............................2,000,000
Small Business Development Centers...........................89,000,000
SCORE.........................................................5,000,000
Women's Business Centers.....................................12,500,000
Women's Business Council........................................750,000
Native American Outreach......................................2,000,000
Drug-free Workplace Program...................................1,000,000
Business Information Centers....................................400,000
Microloan Technical Assistance...............................15,000,000
PRIME Technical Assistance....................................5,000,000
SBIR Technical Assistance.......................................250,000
SBIR--FAST....................................................2,000,000
HUBZones......................................................2,000,000
US Export Assistance..........................................1,500,000
Total, non-credit programs..............................140,750,000
The SBA shall not reduce these non-credit programs to fund
operating costs. Of the amounts provided for the Small
Business Development Center (SBDC) program, $500,000 shall be
available for the South Carolina Women's Business Center. In
addition, SBA shall fund the SBDC defense transition program
and the regulatory compliance simplification program at the
fiscal year 2003 level. The conferees adopt by reference the
House report language requiring SBA to submit a report to the
Committees on Appropriations within 90 days of enactment of
this Act describing the various programs offered by SBDCs to
support American small businesses.
SBA is directed to report to the Committee prior to closing
any Business Information Centers. The report should include a
justification for closing the particular office and a
detailed proposal as to how services will be provided to the
affected community in the future.
The conferees adopt by reference the Senate report language
concerning an electronic grant system. The conferees support
the SBA's 8(a) business development program internet
application program.
The conferees adopt by reference the Senate report language
directing that disaster loans in Alaska continue to be
managed by SBA and not be sold for processing.
Because of the unique legal status of Alaska Natives,
Native Hawaiians, and residents living in the territories,
the offices handling SBA programs on reservations often lack
the knowledge and ability to make SBA programs work outside
the continental United States. To address this failure, the
conferees direct the SBA to assign a Senior Executive Service
(SES) position to focus on these unique communities. The
conferees expect this new SES position shall be accommodated
within SBA's existing number of SES positions. Within 60 days
of enactment of this Act, the conferees direct SBA to submit
to the Committees on Appropriations a report outlining all
SES positions within the SBA, including their titles and
responsibilities, and a proposed reorganization of these
positions to ensure the needs of Alaska Natives, Native
Hawaiians, and residents living in the territories are being
addressed.
Office of Inspector General
The conference agreement includes $13,000,000 for the
Office of Inspector General of the Small Business
Administration as proposed by the House instead of
$12,341,000 as provided by the Senate. The conference
agreement includes language allowing $500,000 to be
transferred to this account from the Disaster Loans Program
for oversight costs related to that program.
Business Loans Program Account
The conference agreement includes $209,042,000 under this
account, consisting of: $79,132,000 for the Business Loans
Program account for subsidies for guaranteed business loans;
$1,910,000 for subsidies for direct business loans; and
$128,000,000 for administrative expenses related to business
loan programs. The amount provided for administrative
expenses may be transferred to and merged with the
appropriation for SBA salaries and expenses to cover the
common overhead expenses associated with business loans. In
addition, the conference agreement includes a provision, also
carried in previous years,
[[Page 31545]]
which allows up to $45,000,000 to remain available for two
fiscal years.
7(a) Business Loan Program.--The conference agreement
includes $101,228,000 for the 7(a) program. This amount
includes $79,132,000 in appropriations, $19,773,000 in prior
year unobligated balances, and $2,455,000 in remaining
balances from the DELTA 7(a) program. Section 633 of this Act
makes the remaining balances available for the DELTA 7(a)
program available for the general 7(a) program. The conferees
understand that there is no longer a demand for the DELTA
7(a) programs.
The total level of funding provided will support a loan
program level of $9,550,000,000, which is $250,000,000 above
the requested program level and $612,000,000 above the level
of 7(a) business loans provided in fiscal year 2003.
The conferees were disappointed to learn that the subsidy
included in the Administration's budget request is inaccurate
and that an additional $4,000,000 above the request is
required to fund the Administration's requested program
level. While the conferees have provided this increase to
ensure sufficient funding is available to assist American
small businesses, the conferees expect future budget requests
to contain accurate subsidy rate calculations.
Disaster Loans Program Account
The conference agreement includes $170,551,000 for the
Disaster Loans Program Account for loan subsidies and
associated administrative expenses instead of $190,250,000 as
provided by the House and Senate. The conference agreement
includes new budget authority of $56,188,000 for the subsidy
costs of disaster loans and $114,363,000 for administrative
expenses associated with carrying out the program.
The conference agreement provides for a total of
$89,109,000 for disaster loans of which $56,188,000 is in new
appropriations and $32,921,000 in prior year carryover
balances, including $15,032,000 made available through
Section 628 of this Act. This fully funds the
Administration's requested disaster loans program level of
$760,316,000. The conferees understand that at this time the
Administration believes that the costs associated with
Hurricane Isabel and the fires in California can be funded
within the requested disaster loan program level.
Within the $114,363,000 provided for administrative
expenses, $500,000 is available for the Office of Inspector
General, $105,363,000 is available for direct administrative
expenses of loan making and servicing, and $8,500,000 is
available to be transferred to the Salaries and Expenses
account for indirect costs of the program.
State Justice Institute
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement provides $2,250,000 for the State
Justice Institute (SJI), instead of $3,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $5,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees encourage SJI to work with the Office of Justice
Programs on issues involving State courts and encourages SJI
to apply for funding under OJP grant programs that support
State court programs.
United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement includes $2,000,000 for the
Commission, as proposed by the Senate. The House did not
include funding for this Commission under this heading.
The conferees direct the Commission to consult with the
Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, to research and report
back to the Committees on Appropriations regarding the
following:
China's industrial policies, including ``pillar'' sectors,
technology acquisitions through joint ventures, various forms
of subsidization, and the short and long-term implications of
the modernization of those industries for the U.S. economy,
industry, and employees;
Exports from China's state enterprises, the types and
amounts of subsidies provided, and the longer-term effects of
such exports/subsidies on specific U.S. industries;
Various means to compensate losses of U.S. intellectual
property holders created by China's inability to meet its WTO
intellectual property commitments;
Shifts of research and development from the United States
to China, the nature of the 134 major foreign research and
development corporate complexes now identified by the
People's Republic of China, the prospects for future European
Union, Japanese, and United States research and development
shifts to China, and the resulting implications to U.S
capacities;
Items on the U.S.--China Advanced Technology Trade list
cross-referenced to the items on the Department of Defense's
Critical Technology List, and what part of total U.S.
purchases of these items are imported from China;
An analysis of the extent of professional service
outsourcing that now exists and is projected from the United
States, and the ultimate location of that outsourcing, and
quantifications of the longer-term consequences to affected
U.S. professions, such as software engineering;
A survey of business groups on the extent to which U.S.
manufacturers and their supply chains are relocating to
China.
The conferees expect this report to be provided to the
Committees on Appropriations no later than May 1, 2004.
TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS
The conference agreement includes the following General
Provisions:
Sec 601.--The conference agreement includes section 601
regarding the use of appropriations for publicity and
propaganda purposes.
Sec. 602.--The conference agreement includes section 602
regarding the availability of appropriations for obligation
beyond the current fiscal year.
Sec. 603.--The conference agreement includes section 603
regarding the use of funds for consulting purposes.
Sec. 604.--The conference agreement includes section 604
providing that should any provision of the Act be held to be
invalid, the remainder of the Act would not be affected.
Sec. 605.--The conference agreement includes section 605
regarding the policy by which funding available to the
agencies funded under this Act may be reprogrammed for other
purposes.
Sec. 606.--The conference agreement includes section 606
regarding the construction, repair, or modernization of
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessels in
overseas shipyards.
Sec. 607.--The conference agreement includes section 607
regarding the purchase of American made products.
Sec. 608.--The conference agreement includes section 608
prohibiting funds in the bill from being used to implement,
administer, or enforce any guidelines of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) similar to proposed guidelines
covering harassment based on religion published by the EEOC
in October 1993.
Sec. 609.--The conference agreement includes section 609
prohibiting the use of funds to implement a certain
Memorandum of Agreement between the Federal Trade Commission
and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice.
Sec. 610.--The conference agreement includes section 610
prohibiting the use of funds for any United Nations
peacekeeping mission that involves U.S. Armed Forces under
the command or operational control of a foreign national
unless the President certifies that the involvement is in the
national security interest.
Sec. 611.--The conference agreement includes section 611
that requires agencies to provide quarterly reports to the
Committees on Appropriations regarding unobligated balances.
Sec. 612.--The conference agreement includes section 612
that prohibits use of funds to expand the U.S. diplomatic
presence in Vietnam beyond the level in effect July 11, 1995,
unless the President makes a certification that several
conditions have been met regarding Vietnam's cooperation with
the United States on POW/MIA issues.
Sec. 613.--The conference agreement includes section 613
requiring agencies and departments funded in this Act to
absorb any necessary costs related to downsizing or
consolidation within the amounts provided to the agency or
department.
Sec. 614.--The conference agreement includes section 614
concerning funding under the Local Law Enforcement Block
Grant program.
Sec. 615.--The conference agreement includes section 615
regarding the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products.
Sec. 616.--The conference agreement includes section 616
extending the prohibition on the use of funds to issue a visa
to any alien involved in extrajudicial and political killings
in Haiti, including exemption and reporting requirements.
Sec. 617.--The conference agreement includes section 617
that prohibits a user fee from being charged for background
checks conducted pursuant to the Brady Handgun Control Act of
1993, and prohibits implementation of a background check
system which does not require or result in destruction of
certain information.
Sec. 618.--The conference agreement includes section 618
regarding amounts available under the Crime Victims Fund.
Sec. 619.--The conference agreement includes section 619
prohibiting the use of Department of Justice funds for
programs that discriminate against, denigrate, or otherwise
undermine the religious beliefs of students participating in
such programs.
Sec. 620.--The conference agreement includes section 620
prohibiting the use of funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to the Departments of State and Justice to process
visas for citizens of countries that the Attorney General has
determined deny or delay accepting the return of deported
citizens.
Sec. 621.--The conference agreement includes section 621
providing additional amounts for the Small Business
Administration.
Sec. 622.--The conference agreement includes section 622
prohibiting the use of Department of Justice funds to
transport a maximum or high security prisoner to any facility
other than a facility certified by the Bureau of Prisons as
appropriately secure to house such a prisoner.
Sec. 623.--The conference agreement includes section 623
that prohibits the use of
[[Page 31546]]
appropriated funds to purchase certain audio-visual materials
to be used by Federal prisoners for primarily recreational
purposes.
Sec. 624.--The conference agreement includes section 624
regarding a position within the Small Business
Administration.
Sec. 625.--The conference agreement includes section 625
regarding transfers of funds.
Sec. 626.--The conference agreement includes section 626
regarding the negotiation or reevaluation of international
agreements.
Sec. 627.--The conference agreement includes section 627
regarding the implementation of telecommuting programs.
Sec. 628.--The conference agreement includes section 628
regarding the Small Business Administration Disaster Loans
Program.
Sec. 629.--The conference agreement includes section 629
regarding the national ownership cap on television broadcast
licenses.
Sec. 630.--The conference agreement includes section 630
regarding firearms tracing studies.
Sec. 631.--The conference agreement includes section 631
regarding a Small Business Administration loan program fee.
Sec. 632.--The conference agreement includes section 632
regarding Small Business Administration balances.
Sec. 633.--The conference agreement includes section 633
regarding a Middle East International Center.
Sec. 634.--The conference agreement includes section 634
regarding patents.
The conferees have included a provision prohibiting funds
to process patents of human organisms. The conferees concur
with the intent of this provision as expressed in the
colloquy between the provision's sponsor in the House and the
ranking minority member of the House Committee on
Appropriations as occurred on July 22, 2003, with respect to
any existing patents on stem cells.
Sec. 635.--The conference agreement includes section 635
regarding the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
Sec. 636.--The conference agreement includes section 636
regarding international child abduction.
Sec. 637.--The conference agreement includes section 637
regarding the HELP Commission.
Sec. 638.--The conference agreement includes section 638
regarding amount provided in this Act.
TITLE VII--RESCISSIONS
(Including Rescissions)
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
General Administration
Working Capital Fund
(Rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$67,326,000 from unobligated balances in this account,
instead of $499,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House did
not propose a rescission.
Counterterrorism Fund
(Rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$40,000,000 from prior year unobligated balances in this
account instead of $50,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
House did not propose a rescission. The conferees note that
unobligated balances of $20,784,000 remain available for
obligation in this account.
Legal Activities
Asset Forfeiture Fund
(Rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$61,608,000 from available balances in the Asset Forfeiture
Fund Super Surplus.
Federal Prison System
Buildings and Facilities
(Rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$51,895,000 from prior year unobligated balances in this
account originally made available for the FCI California
prison construction project.
Office of Justice Programs
State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance
(Rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$21,600,000 from unobligated balances under this heading
including $2,500,000 from Drug Courts, $13,600,000 from State
Prison Grants, $4,000,000 from State Prison Drug Treatment,
and $1,500,000 from CCTV.
Community Oriented Policing Services
(Rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$6,378,000 from the unobligated balances under this heading,
as requested and as included in the House bill.
Juvenile Justice Programs
(Rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$15,900,000 from the unobligated balances under this heading
for Part B formula grants.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND RELATED AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Operations and Administration
(Rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$40,000,000 from unobligated travel and tourism funds
provided in Public Law 108-7.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Coastal and Ocean Activities
(Rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$2,500,000 in unobligated land acquisition funds provided in
Public Law 106-553 and designated for Winyah Bay.
TITLE VIII--ALASKAN FISHERIES
The conference agreement includes language regarding the
management of Alaskan fisheries.
Conference Total--With Comparisons
The total new budget (obligational) authority for the
fiscal year 2004 recommended by the Committee of Conference,
with comparisons to the fiscal year 2003 amount, the 2004
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 2004
follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003.......$40,530,029
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year41,211,965
House bill, fiscal year 2004.................................41,230,679
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004................................40,372,908
Conference agreement, fiscal year 2004.......................41,041,509
Conference agreement compared with:
New budget (obliga
tional) authority, fiscal year 2003........................+511,480
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year-170.456
House bill, fiscal year 2004.................................-189,170
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004................................+668,601
DIVISION C
District of Columbia Appropriations
In implementing this agreement, the Departments and
agencies should comply with the language and instructions set
forth in House Report 108-214 and Senate Report 108-142. The
committee of conference approves the language and
instructions set forth in these reports, which are not
changed by the conference agreement.
In the case where the language and instructions
specifically address the allocation of funds, the Departments
and agencies are to follow the funding levels specified in
the Congressional budget justifications accompanying the
fiscal year 2004 budget or the underlying authorizing statute
and should give full consideration to all items, including
items allocating specific funding included in the House and
Senate reports. With respect to the provisions in the House
and Senate reports that specifically allocate funds, each has
been reviewed and those that are jointly concurred in have
been included in this joint statement.
A summary chart appears later in this statement showing the
Federal appropriations by account and the allocation of
District funds by agency or office under each appropriation,
the fiscal year 2004 request, the House and Senate
recommendations, and the conference allowance.
The District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2004, put in
place by this bill, incorporates the following agreements of
the managers:
TITLE I--FEDERAL FUNDS
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR RESIDENT TUITION SUPPORT
The conference agreement includes $17,000,000 for a Federal
payment for resident tuition support as proposed by both the
House and Senate. The agreement also includes language to
require the Office of the Chief Financial Officer to provide
a quarterly financial report to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate as
proposed by the House. The Senate bill required the Resident
Tuition Support Office and the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer to provide such a report.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING AND SECURITY COSTS IN THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The conference agreement includes $11,000,000 for a Federal
payment for emergency planning and security costs in the
District of Columbia. This amount, together with funds
carried over from fiscal year 2003, provides a total program
level of $15,000,000 as proposed by both the House and
Senate. The agreement makes a technical correction describing
the use of these funds as proposed by the House.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS
The conference agreement includes $167,765,000 for a
Federal payment to the District of Columbia courts, instead
of
[[Page 31547]]
$163,819,000 as proposed by the House and $172,104,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is $3,946,000
above the President's request for fire and security system
upgrades, Moultrie Courthouse renovation, and the Integrated
Justice Information System. The Courts shall provide written
notification of how this funding will be distributed to the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and Senate.
The agreement includes a provision as proposed by the
Senate to allow the District of Columbia courts to reallocate
not more than $1,000,000 of the funds provided under this
heading among items and entities funded under this heading.
The House bill allowed funds for the Court of Appeals,
Superior Court, and Court System to be reallocated, but such
reallocation may increase or decrease funding for such entity
by no more than two percent.
The conferees understand the Courts have submitted plans to
the National Capital Planning Commission for the restoration
of the Old Courthouse for re-use by the District of Columbia
Court of Appeals, but the Commission is holding up review of
these plans pending an agreement with the Law Enforcement
Museum on a design for the outdoor plaza area. The conferees
expect the project will move forward as quickly as possible
to permit efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and note that
delaying the review and approval of the restoration plan
could needlessly increase the cost of the project.
DEFENDER SERVICES IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS
The conference agreement includes $32,000,000 for Defender
Services in District of Columbia courts as proposed by both
the House and Senate.
The agreement includes language as proposed by the Senate
to allow funds to be used for payments for counsel appointed
in adoption proceedings under chapter 3 of title 16, D.C.
Code. The House bill contained no similar provision.
The agreement includes modified Senate language to allow
the courts to enter into contractual agreements to provide
guardian ad litem representation, training, technical
assistance, and/or other services to improve the quality of
guardian ad litem representation. The House bill contained no
similar provision. The Joint Committee on Judicial
Administration of the District of Columbia shall monitor the
guardian ad litem program and provide the necessary technical
support to ensure superior representation of children and
families.
The agreement also includes two provisions as proposed by
the House to allow District of Columbia Court funds to be
used for payments under this heading and to allow the Joint
Committee on Judicial Administration to use District of
Columbia Court funds to make payments described under this
heading for obligations incurred during any fiscal year. The
Senate bill contained no similar provisions.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The conference agreement includes $168,435,000 for a
Federal payment to the Court Services and Offender
Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, instead of
$163,081,000 as proposed by the House and $173,396,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is $1,910,000
above the President's request to reduce supervision caseload
ratios for sex-offenders, mental health, and domestic
violence cases to 25:1 by the end of fiscal year 2004.
Current caseload ratios for these high-risk offenders are
36:1, 47:1, and 42:1 respectively.
The agreement includes language as proposed by the Senate
to allow the Public Defender Service for the District of
Columbia to transfer and hire motor vehicles. The House bill
contained no similar provision. The agreement does not
include Public Defender Service descriptive language as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
The agreement does not include a provision proposed by the
Senate to allow the Director of the Court Services and
Offender Supervision Agency the authority to accept
appropriation reimbursements from the District government for
space and services provided on a cost reimbursable basis. The
House bill contained no similar provision.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
The conference agreement includes $30,000,000 for a Federal
payment to the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
for the continued implementation of the Combined Sewer
Overflow Long-Term Plan, instead of $35,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $25,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR HOSPITAL BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS IN THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA
The conference agreement includes $7,500,000 for a Federal
payment to the District of Columbia Department of Health for
hospital bioterrorism preparedness in the District of
Columbia, instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The House bill contained no similar provision. Of this
amount, $3,750,000 is for the expansion of quarantine
facilities and the establishment of a decontamination
facility at Children's National Medical Center and $3,750,000
is for construction of containment facilities at the
Washington Hospital Center.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR THE ANACOSTIA WATERFRONT INITITIAVE
The conference agreement includes $5,000,000 for a Federal
payment to the District of Columbia Department of
Transportation for design and construction of a continuous
pedestrian and bicycle trail system from the Potomac River to
the District's border with Maryland, instead of $4,300,000 as
proposed by the House and $6,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The agreement also makes these funds available until
September 30, 2005, as proposed by the House. The Senate bill
made these funds available until expended. The conferees
concur with language contained in the Senate report requiring
the Comptroller General to conduct a study of National Park
Service land in the District of Columbia.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL
The conference agreement includes $1,300,000 for a Federal
payment to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council as
proposed by the House. The Senate bill contained no similar
provision.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The conference agreement includes $8,150,000 for a Federal
payment to the District of Columbia for capital development,
instead of $8,000,000 as proposed by the House and $5,000,000
as proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is
$150,000 for renovations at Eastern Market. Also included in
this amount is $8,000,000 for the Unified Communications
Center as proposed by the House, instead of $5,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES
The conference agreement includes $4,500,000 for a Federal
payment to the District of Columbia Public Schools for public
school facilities. The Senate bill contained no similar
provision. Of this amount, $500,000 is for a window repair
and reglazing program and $4,000,000 is for a playground
repair and replacement program.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR A FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM
The conference agreement includes $2,000,000 for a Federal
payment to the District of Columbia for a family literacy
program as proposed by the House. The Senate bill contained
no similar provision. The agreement also includes a provision
as proposed by the House to require the District to provide a
100 percent match with local funds as a condition of
receiving this payment. The Senate bill contained no similar
provision.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE
The conference agreement includes $3,500,000 for a Federal
payment to the District of Columbia Department of
Transportation for transportation assistance as proposed by
the Senate. The House bill contained no similar provision. Of
this amount, $500,000 is for a downtown circulator transit
system and $3,000,000 is for the District's operating subsidy
payment to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR FOSTER CARE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA
The conference agreement includes $14,000,000 for a Federal
payment for foster care improvements in the District of
Columbia as proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained
no similar provision. Of this amount, $9,000,000 is for the
District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency,
$3,900,000 is for the District of Columbia Department of
Mental Health, and $1,100,000 is for the Washington
Metropolitan Council of Governments.
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The conference agreement includes $32,350,000 for a Federal
payment to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer of the
District of Columbia, instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $33,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. These
funds are for programs and activities to support economic
development and infrastructure in the District, and the
health, education, and job training needs of District
residents and are to be allocated as follows: $50,000 to the
Educational Advancement Alliance for the Youth Civic
Engagement and DC Exposure program; $75,000 to the Polaris
Project for an outreach program to assist victims of
trafficking; $100,000 for Anacostia Town Hall and
Entertainment Center and the Washington Ballet for a
collaborative effort to complete construction of a dance
studio to serve low-income children; $100,000 to Asian
American Leadership, Empowerment and Development for Youth
and Families for educational and social programs; $100,000 to
the Association for the Preservation of Historic
Congressional Cemetery for the development of a comprehensive
landscape plan, the removal of dead or dying trees, and the
continued repair of the Public Vault; $100,000 to the Levine
School of Music for the establishment
[[Page 31548]]
of a DC Charter Schools Music Education program; $100,000 to
the Latin American Youth Center for renovation of a
residential home for teen girls; $100,000 to the National
Child Research Center for the establishment of early
childhood education programs; $100,000 to the Youth
Leadership Foundation for character building programs for
middle school students; $125,000 to the Shakespeare Theater
for educational outreach programs in the District of Columbia
public schools; $150,000 to the International Youth Service
and Development Corps for the Washington, D.C. Mentoring
Friends program and the People's House Hotline; $150,000 to
KidBiz3000 for a reading comprehension, fluency and
vocabulary program in District of Columbia schools; $150,000
to Kids Voting USA for the establishment of citizenship
programs in the District of Columbia; $150,000 to the Les
Aspin Center of Government for training and development of
the Community Service and Outreach program; $150,000 to Safe
Shores--The D.C. Children's Advocacy Center for outreach and
services to child abuse victims in the District; $150,000 to
Southeastern University for expansion of the E-Learning
program; $200,000 to the Best Friends Foundation for a youth
development program for District youth; $200,000 to the Court
Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the District of
Columbia for expansion of services to children in the Family
Court; $200,000 to the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus to
purchase and equip additional mobile vans to screen for and
treat glaucoma; $200,000 to Everybody Wins! DC, Inc. for the
Power Lunch mentoring and literacy program; $200,000 to
Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena for capital improvements;
$200,000 to the National Music Center and Museum Foundation
Institute for Education and the Arts for a program to use the
performing and visual arts as teaching and learning tools in
District public schools; $200,000 to the District of Columbia
Public Libraries to expand access to public computers and the
Internet in neighborhoods where it is needed the most;
$200,000 to the Three Doctors Foundation, Inc. for an
educational and motivational lecture series to include
District of Columbia high schools; $200,000 to Values First,
Inc. for the continuation of a values infusion program in the
District of Columbia public schools; $200,000 to Washington
Center on Best Practices for assistance to and promotion of
early college awareness programs; $250,000 to American Cities
Foundation to convene policymakers and civic leaders in the
District of Columbia to address urban challenges; $250,000 to
the ARISE Foundation for a life-management skills program
targeting high-risk youth in the District; $250,000 to the
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop for capital improvements; $250,000
to the Caribbean American Mission for Education Research and
Action to build linkages between Caribbean educational
entities and District of Columbia and other regional higher
education institutions; $250,000 to New Leaders for New
Schools for the development of fellows partnerships with
District public schools and public charter schools; $250,000
to the Phelps-Stokes Fund for the implementation of the
Teacher's Laboratory and Workshop for District of Columbia
Public School teachers; $300,000 to the DC Safe Kids Campaign
to establish additional child safety seat fitting stations
throughout low-income neighborhoods in the District of
Columbia; $350,000 to Friends in Choice in Urban Schools for
the development of new charter schools in the District;
$350,000 to Soaring Towards Educational Enrichment via Equine
Discovery, Inc. for an education and recreation program in
the District; $400,000 to Catalyst for the establishment of
the Benjamin Banneker Institute for Science and Technology;
$400,000 to Community Youth Connection to provide clothing,
shoes, eyeglasses, and services to low-income school-age
children; $400,000 to the Eisenhower Foundation's Youth Safe
Haven and Delancey Street Replication for services to reduce
crime, drug use, and improve the lives of children in this
neighborhood; $400,000 to Recording for the Blind and
Dyslexic Services for teacher training in District of
Columbia schools; $400,000 to initiate a Targeted Abstinence
Program in the District of Columbia that will provide
technical training and resource materials to promote
effective intervention strategies; $400,000 to the
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' District of
Columbia Area Housing Trust Fund to increase funds available
in a pool of resources to provide low-income housing in the
District of Columbia; $450,000 to The House DC, Inc. for
renovations; $500,000 to the Discovery Creek Children's
Museum for the purchase of supplies for mobile school
exhibits and to increase access to the museum's programs on
the Chesapeake Bay and the Anacostia River; $500,000 for
implementation of the Environmental Active Cap demonstration
project on the Anacostia River; $500,000 to Gospel Rescue
Ministries of Washington, DC for a residential program to
help men and women recover from substance abuse,
homelessness, and chronic unemployment; $500,000 to the
National Capital Children's Museum for planning and design;
$500,000 to the National Rehabilitation Hospital for capital
improvements; $500,000 to Trident Systems Incorporated for
deployment of the District Public Safety Situation Awareness
system; $500,000 to the Second Chance Employment Service for
capital equipment to expand services for women who have been
victims of domestic violence; $500,000 to the Washington
Opera for the Education and Community program to enhance
classroom learning in District of Columbia Public Schools
through music education and with the D.C. Arts Humanities
Education Collaborative; $600,000 to Green Door for
completion of a new facility to provide coordinated services
for individuals with mental illness; $750,000 to the Center
for Mental Health, Inc. to increase the number of families in
the District served through its model of family-centered
treatment; $750,000 to the Historical Society of Washington
for the City Museum to develop educational programming and
materials for District school children; $750,000 to the
Institute for Educational Equity and Opportunity for
educational programs; $750,000 to the National Center for
Manufacturing Sciences for a partnership with the Excel
Institute to develop a job training program for District
residents; $750,000 to the Whitman-Walker Clinic for
renovation of the Max Robinson Center; $850,000 to the
Women's Center for the expansion of the Family Strengthening
Program and Hispanic Outreach Service into the District of
Columbia; $1,000,000 to Access Housing for renovation of the
Southeast Veterans Service Center; $1,000,000 to Barracks Row
Main Street, Inc. for the construction of two gateways;
$1,000,000 to Shakespeare Theater for construction of a new
downtown facility which will provide affordable access to the
Arts; $1,050,000 to Voyager Expanded Learning for
implementation of the Universal Literacy Program in District
of Columbia schools; $1,200,000 to the National Trust for
Historic Preservation for the restoration of the Lincoln
Cottage and for the creation of interpretive programs and
exhibits at the site; $1,500,000 to the Old Naval Hospital
Foundation project for creation of a community center on
Capitol Hill; $2,000,000 to St. Coletta of Greater
Washington, Inc. for property acquisition and construction of
a facility to provide services for mentally retarded and
multiple-handicapped adolescents and adults in the District
of Columbia; and $5,000,000 to Children's National Medical
Center in the District of Columbia for expansion of a neo-
natal care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, and cardiac
intensive care unit.
The agreement includes $200,000 to the Office of the Chief
Financial Officer (OCFO) for auditors, attorneys,
accountants, and additional staff to review and audit all
entities who are receiving funding under this heading. The
conferees expect that the OCFO will report to the Committees
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate
on the financial status of these organizations and how they
have used Federal funds provided under this heading. The
conferees expect all entities receiving funds to provide
proper access to records as is necessary for the OCFO to
carry out these reviews.
The agreement includes a provision as proposed by the
Senate to require each entity that receives funding under
this heading to submit to the Committees on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives and Senate, a report on the
activities carried out with such funds no later than March
15, 2004. The House bill contained no similar provision.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY
PERSONNEL CROSS TRAINING
The conference agreement includes $500,000 for a Federal
payment to the Emergency Management Agency for activities
related to the cross training of police officers,
firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and other
emergency personnel. The agreement makes these funds
contingent upon the submission of a detailed cross training
plan for the District's public safety workforce. The House
and Senate bills contained no similar provision.
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
The conference agreement includes $40,000,000 for a Federal
payment for a school improvement program in the District of
Columbia, instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$27,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included in this
amount is $13,000,000 for the District of Columbia Public
Schools to improve public school education; $13,000,000 for
the State Education Office to expand quality charter schools
in the District of Columbia; and $14,000,000 for the
Secretary of the Department of Education to provide
opportunity scholarships for students in the District of
Columbia.
The conferees expect that the $13,000,000 provided to the
District of Columbia Public Schools for the improvement of
public school education in the District of Columbia shall be
used to strengthen leadership and instructional excellence
through principal and teacher recruitment and retention, and
to increase student achievement through supplemental services
and public school choice.
The $13,000,000 provided to the State Education Office to
expand charter schools in the District of Columbia shall be
distributed as follows: $5,000,000 for the City Build Charter
School Initiative; $6,000,000 for the Direct Loans Fund for
Charter School Improvement, of which not more than five
percent shall be for administrative expenses; and $2,000,000
as a one-time payment to the Charter School Facilities Fund.
The funding to develop the City Build Charter School
Initiative will create five
[[Page 31549]]
new charter schools in the District. The conferees support
the concept that improving education is integral to securing
neighborhoods and promoting urban development. The Mayor
shall submit a plan to the Committees on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives and Senate within thirty days of
enactment, identifying the five potential City Build charter
schools and detailing the city's plan for implementation of
the Initiative.
In identifying the schools, the Mayor shall take into
account how a new school would contribute to and encourage
economic development in a specific neighborhood by:
attracting business investment; stabilizing and increasing
the population; and encouraging community collaboration. The
conferees recommend that the Mayor hold a public meeting to
consult with advocacy groups and community leaders on the
location of the five City Build pilot schools. The Mayor
shall notify Congress at regular intervals on the progress of
the Initiative.
The $14,000,000 provided to the Secretary of the Department
of Education is to provide opportunity scholarships to low-
income students in the District of Columbia who are attending
consistently under-performing public schools to choose to
attend private schools within the District of Columbia. These
scholarships will be for tuition, transportation, and fees at
participating private schools within the District and cannot
exceed $7,500 per student. If the funds provided are not
sufficient to serve all the eligible applicants, scholarships
will be awarded through random selection. The agreement
intends that up to $1,000,000 of these funds may be used to
administer and fund assessments for title III of this Act.
The conferees expect the Secretary of Education to enter into
a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mayor of the District
of Columbia to select one or more grantees to administer the
scholarship program through a competitive process.
The conferees expect that the Memorandum of Understanding
between the Mayor and the Secretary will include, but not be
limited to, the following components: (1) strong
accountability measures and program performance evaluations;
(2) specifications for a lottery system which will provide
fair and unbiased acceptance of students into the scholarship
program, and allow participating schools to consider a
sibling preference; (3) joint oversight by the Mayor of the
District of Columbia and the Secretary of Education of the
program's operations; (4) the evaluation and methodology for
the selection of participating schools which have met the
District of Columbia's current licensure requirements; (5)
the methodology for determining the tuition and fees of
participating schools, including the actual cost; (6) the
development of appropriate oversight and accountability
measures; and (7) teacher quality criteria.
TITLE II--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FUNDS OPERATING EXPENSES
DIVISION OF EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides that operating expenses
for the District of Columbia for fiscal year 2004 shall not
exceed $6,326,138,000, of which $3,832,734,000 is from local
funds, including $96,248,000 from funds identified in the
fiscal year 2002 comprehensive annual financial report as the
District's fund balance funds, $1,568,734,000 is from Federal
grant funds, $910,904,000 is from other funds, and
$13,766,000 is from private funds as proposed by both the
House and Senate. In addition, the agreement includes
$119,650,000 from funds previously appropriated in this Act
as Federal payments, instead of $59,800,000 as proposed by
the House and $109,500,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The agreement exempts sections 417 and 436 from the total
appropriation provided under this heading. The House bill
provided an exemption for section 417 and the Senate bill
provided for the exemption of all provisions of this Act.
The agreement does not include an earmark for intra-
District funds as proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
GOVERNMENTAL DIRECTION AND SUPPORT
The conference agreement includes $284,415,000 for
governmental direction and support, including $206,825,000
from local funds, $57,440,000 from Federal grant funds, and
$20,150,000 from other funds as proposed by both the House
and Senate. In addition, the agreement includes $46,450,000
from funds previously appropriated in this Act as Federal
payments, instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$21,100,000 as proposed by the Senate. These Federal payment
funds are allocated as follows:
Office of the Mayor.--$1,100,000 for foster care
improvements, $2,000,000 for a family literacy program, and
$11,000,000 for emergency planning and security costs.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer.--$32,350,000 to
support economic development and infrastructure in the
District, and the health, education, and job training needs
of District residents.
The conferees are disappointed with the slow pace in which
the District and the Board of Education are providing charter
schools access to surplus public school facilities and space
in underutilized schools. There are 28 surplus schools in the
city's inventory that could be made available to charter
schools. Likewise, student enrollment in public schools is
down almost 15,000 freeing up space equivalent to 20 school
buildings. Yet 23 charter schools do not have permanent homes
and new charter schools are being established each year. The
conferees believe the District should take this opportunity
to provide strong leadership and foster a plan to develop and
promote public schools and public charter schools, including
the co-location of schools. The conferees direct the District
government and the Board of Education to develop a task force
to study what can be done to ensure the equitable and
efficient use of public school buildings, both surplus and
underutilized buildings. The conferees request a report no
later than January 16, 2004 on the status of this task force.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION
The conference agreement includes $276,647,000 for economic
development and support, including $53,336,000 from local
funds, $91,077,000 from Federal grant funds, $132,109,000
from other funds, and $125,000 from private funds as proposed
by both the House and Senate.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE
The conference agreement includes $745,958,000 for public
safety and justice, including $716,715,000 from local funds,
$10,290,000 from Federal grant funds, $18,944,000 from other
funds, and $9,000 from private funds as proposed by both the
House and Senate. In addition, the agreement includes
$1,800,000 from funds previously appropriated in this Act as
Federal payments, instead of $1,300,000 as proposed by the
House. The Senate bill contained no similar provision. These
Federal payment funds are allocated as follows:
Emergency Management Agency--$500,000 for emergency
personnel cross training.
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council--$1,300,000 to
support initiatives related to the coordination of Federal
and local criminal justice resources in the District of
Columbia.
PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM
The conference agreement includes $1,157,841,000 for the
public education system, including $962,941,000 from local
funds, $156,708,000 from Federal grant funds, $27,074,000
from other funds, $4,302,000 from private funds, and not to
exceed $6,816,000 from the Medicaid and Special Education
Reform Fund as proposed by both the House and Senate. In
addition, the agreement includes $47,500,000 from funds
previously appropriated in this Act as Federal payments,
instead of $21,500,000 as proposed by the House and
$43,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. These Federal payment
funds are allocated as follows:
District of Columbia Public Schools.--$4,500,000 for public
school facilities and $13,000,000 for school improvement.
State Education Office.--$13,000,000 for school improvement
and $17,000,000 for resident tuition support.
The conferees are disappointed with the slow pace in which
the District and the Board of Education are providing charter
schools access to surplus public school facilities and space
in underutilized schools. There are 28 surplus schools in the
city's inventory that could be made available to charter
schools. Likewise, student enrollment in public schools is
down almost 15,000 freeing up space equivalent to 20 school
buildings. Yet 23 charter schools do not have permanent homes
and new charter schools are being established each year. The
conferees believe the District should take this opportunity
to provide strong leadership and foster a plan to develop and
promote public schools and public charter schools, including
the co-location of schools. The conferees direct the District
government and the Board of Education to develop a task force
to study what can be done to ensure the equitable and
efficient use of public school buildings, both surplus and
underutilized buildings. The conferees request a report no
later than January 16, 2004 on the status of this task force.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 designated elementary
and secondary schools and libraries as beneficiaries of
universal service for telecommunications services. This
specific support, in the form of discounts on
telecommunications services, has become known as the
education rate or E-rate. The conferees request a report no
later than March 1, 2004 that shows, by fiscal year, the
total amount of E-rate funding District of Columbia Public
Schools received and a breakout of which schools received
funding and how much they received. The report should also
include further details of how each school spent its E-rate
funding and a brief description of the impact this funding
has had on integrating technology into its curriculum and
programs.
District of Columbia Public Schools.--The allocation
includes $870,135,000 for District of Columbia public
schools, including $738,444,000 from local funds,
$114,749,000 from Federal grant funds, $6,527,000 from other
funds, $3,599,000 from private funds, and not to exceed
$6,816,000 from the Medicaid and Special Education Reform
Fund as proposed by both the House and Senate. In addition,
the agreement includes $17,500,000 from funds previously
appropriated in this Act as Federal payments, instead of
$4,500,000 as proposed by the House. The Senate bill
contained no similar provision.
[[Page 31550]]
State Education Office.--The allocation includes
$38,752,000 for the State education office, including
$9,959,000 from local funds, $28,617,000 from Federal grant
funds, and $176,000 from other funds as proposed by both the
House and Senate. In addition, the agreement includes
$30,000,000 from funds previously appropriated in this Act as
Federal payments, instead of $43,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The House bill contained no similar provision.
District of Columbia Public Charter Schools.--The
allocation includes $137,531,000 from local funds for
District of Columbia public charter schools as proposed by
both the House and Senate.
University of the District of Columbia.--The allocation
includes $80,660,000 for the University of the District of
Columbia, including $48,656,000 from local funds, $11,867,000
from Federal grant funds, $19,434,000 from other funds, and
$703,000 from private funds as proposed by both the House and
Senate.
District of Columbia Public Libraries.--The allocation
includes $28,287,000 for District of Columbia public
libraries, including $26,750,000 from local funds, $1,000,000
from Federal grant funds, and $537,000 from other funds as
proposed by both the House and Senate. In addition, the
agreement includes $200,000 from funds previously
appropriated in this Act as Federal payments to the Office of
the Chief Financial Officer to expand access to public
computers and the Internet in neighborhoods where it is
needed the most.
Commission on the Arts and Humanities.--The allocation
includes $2,476,000 for the commission on the arts and
humanities, including $1,601,000 from local funds, $475,000
from Federal grant funds, and $400,000 from other funds as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
HUMAN SUPPORT SERVICES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conference agreement includes $2,360,067,000 for human
support services, including $1,030,223,000 from local funds,
$1,247,945,000 from Federal grant funds, $24,330,000 from
other funds, $9,330,000 from private funds, and $48,239,000
from the Medicaid and Special Education Reform Fund as
proposed by both the House and Senate. In addition, the
agreement includes $20,400,000 from funds previously
appropriated in this Act as Federal payments, instead of
$12,900,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar provision. These Federal payment funds
are allocated as follows:
Department of Mental Health.--$3,900,000 for foster care
improvements.
Department of Health.--$7,500,000 for hospital bioterrorism
preparedness.
Child and Family Services Agency.--$9,000,000 for foster
care improvements.
PUBLIC WORKS
The conference agreement includes $327,046,000 for public
works, including $308,028,000 from local funds, $5,274,000
from Federal grant funds, and $13,744,000 from other funds as
proposed by both the House and Senate. In addition, the
agreement includes $3,500,000 from funds previously
appropriated in this Act as Federal payments as proposed by
the Senate. The House bill contained no similar provision.
These Federal payment funds are allocated as follows:
Department of Transportation.--$3,500,000 for
transportation assistance.
CASH RESERVE
The conference agreement includes $50,000,000 from local
funds for the cumulative cash reserve as proposed by both the
House and Senate.
EMERGENCY AND CONTINGENCY RESERVE FUNDS
The conference agreement provides such amounts from local
funds as are necessary to meet the balance requirements for
the emergency reserve fund and the contingency reserve fund
as proposed by both the House and Senate.
REPAYMENT OF LOANS AND INTEREST
The conference agreement includes $311,504,000 from local
funds for repayment of loans and interest as proposed both
the House and Senate.
PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON SHORT-TERM BORROWING
The conference agreement includes $3,000,000 from local
funds for payment on short-term borrowing as proposed by both
the House and Senate.
CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION
The conference agreement includes $4,911,000 from local
funds for certificates of participation as proposed by both
the House and Senate.
SETTLEMENTS AND JUDGMENTS
The conference agreement includes $22,522,000 from local
funds for settlements and judgments as proposed by both the
House and Senate.
WILSON BUILDING
The conference agreement includes $3,704,000 from local
funds for the Wilson building as proposed by both the House
and Senate.
WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS
The conference agreement includes $22,308,000 from local
funds for workforce investments as proposed by both the House
and Senate.
NON-DEPARTMENTAL AGENCY
The conference agreement includes $19,639,000 for the non-
Department agency, including $11,455,000 from local funds and
$8,184,000 from other funds as proposed by both the House and
Senate.
PAY-AS-YOU-GO CAPITAL
The conference agreement includes $11,267,000 from local
funds for pay-as-you-go capital as proposed by both the House
and Senate.
TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PROGRAM
The conference agreement includes $1,940,000 from local
funds for a tax increment financing program as proposed by
both the House and Senate.
MEDICAID DISALLOWANCE
The conference agreement includes $57,000,000 from local
funds for making refunds associated with disallowed Medicaid
funding as proposed by both the House and Senate.
ENTERPRISE AND OTHER FUNDS
WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
The conference agreement includes $259,095,000 from other
funds for the water and sewer authority as proposed by both
the House and Senate. The agreement also includes
$229,807,000 from other funds for construction projects
instead of $199,807,000 as proposed by both the House and
Senate. In addition, the agreement includes $30,000,000 from
funds previously appropriated in this Act as a Federal
payment for the combined sewer overflow long-term plan,
instead of $35,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$25,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
washington aqueduct
The conference agreement includes $55,553,000 from other
funds for the Washington aqueduct as proposed by both the
House and Senate.
stormwater permit compliance enterprise fund
The conference agreement includes $3,501,000 from other
funds for the stormwater permit compliance enterprise funds
as proposed by both the House and Senate.
lottery and charitable games enterprise fund
The conference agreement includes $242,755,000 from other
funds for the lottery and charitable games enterprise fund as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
sports and entertainment commission
The conference agreement includes $13,979,000 from local
funds for the sports and entertainment commission as proposed
by both the House and Senate.
district of columbia retirement board
The conference agreement includes $13,895,000 for the
District of Columbia retirement board from other funds as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
washington convention center enterprise fund
The conference agreement includes $69,742,000 from other
funds for the Washington convention center enterprise fund as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
national capital revitalization corporation
The conference agreement includes $7,849,000 from other
funds for the National capital revitalization corporation as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
CAPITAL OUTLAY
(including rescissions)
The conference agreement includes $1,004,796,000 for
capital outlays, including $601,708,000 from local funds,
$46,014,000 from Highway Trust funds, $38,311,000 from the
Rights-of-way funds, $218,880,000 from Federal grant funds,
and a rescission of $99,884,000 from local funds appropriated
under this heading in prior years as proposed by both the
House and Senate. In addition, the agreement includes
$13,150,000 from funds previously appropriated in this Act as
Federal payments, instead of $4,300,000 as proposed by the
House and $11,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. These
Federal payment funds are allocated as follows: $150,000 for
renovations at Eastern Market; $5,000,000 for the Anacostia
Waterfront Initiative; and $8,000,000 for the Unified
Communications Center.
The conferees request that a report on the activities
carried out with these funds be submitted to the Committees
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate
no later than March 15, 2004.
TITLE III--DC SCHOOL CHOICE INCENTIVE ACT OF 2003
The conference agreement includes language to establish a
5-year school choice program in the District of Columbia.
TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS
The conference agreement changes several section numbers
for sequential purposes and makes technical revisions to
several provisions.
The conference agreement retains Sec. 407(a) as proposed by
the House to prohibit the use of any funds in the Act for
publicity or propaganda purposes or implementation of any
policy including boycott designed to support or defeat
legislation pending before Congress or any State legislature.
The Senate bill allowed the use of local funds for this
purpose.
[[Page 31551]]
The conference agreement retains Sec. 407(b) and (c) as
proposed by the House to allow the use of local funds to
carry out lobbying activities on any matter except the
promotion or support of any boycott, statehood for the
District or voting representation in Congress. The Senate
bill allowed the use of local funds for these purposes.
The conference agreement retains Sec. 417 as proposed by
the House to establish criteria for the acceptance,
obligation, and expenditure of Federal, private, and other
grants by the District government. The Senate bill included a
similar provision, but included different criteria.
The conference agreement includes Sec. 421 as proposed by
the House to prohibit the use of any funds contained in this
Act for needle exchange programs. The Senate bill allowed the
use of local funds for such programs.
The conference agreement makes Sec. 429 permanent law as
proposed by the House. The Senate bill contained no similar
provision.
The conference agreement makes Sec. 431 permanent law as
proposed by the House. The Senate bill contained no similar
provision.
The conference agreement includes Sec. 432 as proposed by
the Senate. The House bill contained a similar provision, but
required that all savings be used to expand special education
services within the District.
The conference agreement includes Sec. 434 to amend the
Student Loan Marketing Association Reorganization Act of 1996
to clarify that annual administrative costs should be
provided through the credit enhancement fund. The House and
Senate bills contained no similar provision. The
administrative fee cannot exceed 5 percent within any year,
is non-cumulative, and is to be based on annual calculations.
Any unobligated amounts at the close of the fiscal year shall
revert back to the credit enhancement fund prior to the
calculation of the following year's administrative cap. These
funds will enable the Office of Charter School Financing and
Support to expand its ability to conduct outreach to charter
schools and provide technical assistance to attain
appropriate facilities.
The conference agreement includes Sec. 435 as proposed by
the Senate to provide for the appointment and compensation of
counsel in adoption cases. The House bill contained no
similar provision.
The conference agreement includes Sec. 436 which amends
Senate Sec. 141 to allow the District to exceed its
appropriation by not more than $15,000,000 from funds
identified in comprehensive annual financial report as the
fiscal year 2003 general fund surplus with prior approval
from the Committees on Appropriations. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
The conference agreement does not include a provision as
proposed by the House to prohibit the use of funds in the Act
to support the action of District of Columbia, et al., v.
Beretta U.S.A. et al. The Senate bill contained no similar
provision.
The conference agreement does not include a provision as
proposed by the Senate related to the District acceptance and
use a gift or donation. The House bill contained no similar
provision. This provision is permanent law.
The conference agreement does not include a provision as
proposed by the Senate related to the procurement of goods or
services. The House bill contained no similar provision.
The conference agreement does not include a provision as
proposed by the Senate related to payments within the
District of Columbia Courts. The House bill contained no
similar provision. This provision is permanent law.
The conference agreement does not include a provision as
proposed by the Senate related to the Crime Victims
Compensation Fund. The House bill contained no similar
provision. This provision is permanent law.
The conference agreement does not include a provision as
proposed by the Senate related to other type funds. The House
bill contained no similar provision.
[[Page 31552]]
[[Page 31553]]
[[Page 31554]]
Conference Total--With Comparisons
The total new budget (obligational) authority for the
fiscal year 2004 recommended by the Committee of Conference,
with comparisons to the fiscal year 2003 amount, the 2004
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 2004
follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003..........$508,670
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year 20420,644
House bill, fiscal year 2004....................................466,000
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004...................................545,000
Conference agreement, fiscal year 2004..........................545,000
Conference agreement compared with:
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003.........+36,330
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year+124,356
House bill, fiscal year 2004..................................+79,000
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004......................................+0
DIVISION D--FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS,
2004
TITLE I--EXPORT AND INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE
Export-Import Bank of the United States
The managers note that in fiscal year 2004, there is no
request by the President for a subsidy appropriation for the
Export-Import Bank of the United States. While the conference
agreement provides no funding for the subsidy appropriation,
the managers expect that there will be no reduction in
Export-Import Bank activity levels due to the extraordinarily
high level of carryover balances in fiscal year 2004, which
total approximately $575,000,000.
The conference report includes no appropriation for the
tied-aid ``war chest''. The estimated $260,000,000 remaining
``war chest'' balance for tied-aid purposes may be used to
support loans. The managers continue to expect that none of
the funds appropriated by prior Acts for the tied-aid credits
or grants may be used for any other purpose except through
the regular notification procedures of the Committees on
Appropriations.
The conference agreement appropriates $72,895,000 for
administrative expenses for the Export-Import Bank, instead
of $71,395,000 as proposed by the House and $74,395,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement does not include a first-time
appropriation for the Office of Inspector General. The Senate
provided $1,000,000 for this office and the House did not
address this matter. The managers note that the Export-Import
Bank already has an audit committee and other regimes in
place, including independent auditors that provide financial
oversight to its operations.
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
The managers direct the President of OPIC to continue
current policy and consult with the Committees on
Appropriations before any future financing for non-
governmental organizations or private and voluntary
organizations is approved.
Trade and Development Agency
The managers commend the Trade and Development Agency (TDA)
for its efforts to assist countries in improving their
aviation safety and security systems, which has had a
positive effect on enhancing United States trade for our
aviation and aerospace industries. The managers recognize
that setting aviation and safety standards worldwide is an
important component for integrating a global system of trade.
Accordingly, the managers recommend $1,500,000 for TDA to
promote its work in this area by providing for the
development of training materials to help prepare
participating countries for International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) audits and to correct safety and security
deficiencies.
TITLE II--BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
United States Agency for International Development
Child Survival and Health Programs Fund
The conference agreement appropriates $1,835,000,000 for
the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund instead of
$2,235,830,000 as proposed by the House and $1,435,500,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Significant funding for HIV/AIDS is
in a new account, the ``Global HIV/AIDS Initiative'', and
additional funding for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria,
and other health issues is provided in Assistance for Eastern
Europe and the Baltic States, Economic Support Fund,
Assistance for the Independent States of the Former Soviet
Union, and Foreign Military Financing accounts. The managers
welcome the emergence of the Office of the Global AIDS
Coordinator at the State Department, and specific direction
for this office and its funding is included under the heading
``Global HIV/AIDS Initiative''.
The conference agreement includes the list of funding
categories as proposed by the House which makes clear that
funding for children orphaned or otherwise made vulnerable by
HIV/AIDS should be considered separately from that for other
orphans and vulnerable children. The managers also include
$250,000 for the monitoring and oversight of child survival,
maternal and family planning/reproductive health, and
infectious disease programs, instead of $150,000 as contained
in the Senate.
The conference agreement includes language allocating
$1,835,000,000 among seven program categories in the Child
Survival and Health Programs Fund: $330,000,000 for child
survival and maternal health, including vaccine-preventable
diseases such as polio; $28,000,000 for vulnerable children
(not including children affected by HIV/AIDS); $516,500,000
for HIV/AIDS, including assistance for communities, including
children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and otherwise affected by the
disease; $185,000,000 for other infectious diseases,
including TB and malaria; $375,500,000 for reproductive
health/family planning; and $400,000,000 for the Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global ATM Fund).
The managers expect that any change proposed subsequent to
the allocation as directed in bill language will be subject
to the requirements of section 515 this Act. A definition of
program categories and their components can be found on pages
9 through 11 of House Report 107-142 and under the heading
``Family Planning/Reproductive Health'' on page 12 of Senate
Report 107-58. The managers, for the first time in several
years, include funding for UNICEF in ``International
Organizations and Programs'' rather than in this account.
The managers commend the President for his commitment to
combat HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. The conference agreement
includes $1,646,000,000 to fight these three diseases, and
anticipates that $754,00,000 is available in the Labor,
Health and Human Services Appropriations Act. It is
anticipated that a total of $2,400,000,000 is provided to
fight HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria in these two Acts.
Of the amounts in this Foreign Operations Appropriations
Act, $516,500,00, $185,000,000, and $400,000,00 are for HIV/
AIDS, TB, and malaria, and a United States contribution to
the Global ATM Fund, respectively. An additional $491,000,000
is included in the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative account, and
$53,500,000 is in Economic Support Fund, Foreign Military
Financing, and regional accounts for Eastern Europe and the
Baltic States and the Former Soviet Union.
Foreign Operations funding for HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria, fiscal year
2004
Child Survival and Health Programs Fund (CSH).............1,101,500,000
HIV/AIDS................................................(516,500,000)
Other Infectious Diseases (TB + malaria)................(185,000,000)
Global ATM Fund.........................................(400,000,000)
Global HIV/AIDS Initiative..................................491,000,000
Other bilateral accounts, HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria..............53,500,000
________________
Total, HIB/AIDS, TB, malaria..........................1,646,000,000
The managers recognize that these three pandemics,
especially HIV/AIDS and TB, are closely related, and that the
response to them can not readily be separated. However, the
managers have estimated how this $1,646,000,000 could be
disaggregated by major infectious disease for tracking
purposes. The managers also note that funding for ``other
infectious disease'' should be allocated for activities
besides fighting tuberculosis and malaria, such as disease
surveillance. The TB and malaria estimates in this section
should not be construed to indicate that these activities
should not be undertaken.
The conference agreement provides not less than
$1,283,500,00 for programs for the prevention and treatment
of HIV/AIDS, and for care and support of those infected and
affected by the disease. $756,500,000 is funded through the
Child Survival and Health Programs Fund, including
$240,000,000 as a conservative estimate of the amount form
this Act that will be allocated for HIV/AIDS by the Global
ATM Fund. An additional $491,000,000 is included in the
Global HIV/AIDS Initiative account, and an estimated
$36,000,00 is provided through other accounts, such as the
Economic Support Fund, International Disaster Assistance,
Foreign Military Financing, and regional accounts for Eastern
Europe and the former Soviet Union. The estimate of
$1,283,500,000 for HIV/AIDS does not include the United
States share of HIV/AIDS assistance through the World Bank
Group.
The managers provide most HIV/AIDS funding in two accounts,
Child Survival and Health and a new account, the Global HIV/
AIDS Initiative, similar to the structure of the Senate bill
and the budget request. Instructions retained from the House
bill and relevant to the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative are
included under that heading. The managers intend that the
$516,500,00 allocated for HIV/AIDS in the Child Survival and
Health Programs Fund will be used to finance on-going
programs, and that the $491,000,000 in the Global HIV/AIDS
Initiative account will be used for new and expanded programs
in 15 focus countries.
The managers recognize that the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS
epidemic is moving from Africa and the Caribbean toward Asia,
Eastern
[[Page 31555]]
Europe, and the former Soviet Union. In order to help prevent
these epidemics from exploding, the managers once again
direct that funds form the Child Survival and Health Programs
Fund be made available for HIV/AIDS progarms in Eastern
Europe and the former Soviet Union. The conference report
also includes funds under several bilateral accounts
specifically to fight HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. The managers
also encourage USAID, working in coordination with the Global
AIDS Coordinator, to make make available funds from Child
Survival and Health Programs Fund for HIV/AIDS program in
``EST countries'' other than those for which funds are
specifically mandated in this Act.
The managers concur with the President's 2001 remarks at
the announcement of the initial United States contribution to
the proposed Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria that a successful approach to fighting these diseases
must incorporate bilateral and multilateral programs and
approaches, and that the Global ATM Fund has a crucial role
to play in marshalling and distributing international
resources.
The conference agreement includes $400,000,000 for a
contribution to the Global ATM Fund, as proposed by the
House, rather than $250,000,000 as in the Senate bill or
$100,000,000 as contained in the budget request. The managers
note that, of the awards pledged thus far by the Global ATM
Fund to recipient countries, approximately 60 percent are for
HIV/AIDS interventions, 23 percent are for malaria
interventions, and 17 percent are for TB or combined TB/AIDS
interventions. The managers have used these percentages to
estimate the portion of the United States contributions to
the Global ATM Fund that is likely be attributed for each
disease.
The managers intend that the United States contributions to
the Global ATM Fund be used to leverage other donors'
contributions. These conference agreement does not include a
provision contained in the House bill limiting the United
States contribution to the Global ATM Fund to not more than
one-half of all contributions from other sources because a
provision addressing the same matter is contained in section
202 of Public Law 108-25, the ``United States Leadership
Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003''.
The managers expect that the Global AIDS Coordinator will use
the funds provided for a United States contribution to the
Global ATM Fund to maximally leverage resources from other
donors.
However, the managers also recognize that funding cycles
for donors vary, and that the application of the above
provision may cause a portion of funds allocated for a United
States contribution to the Global ATM Fund to remain unspent.
Therefore, the conference report also includes a ``kick-out''
clause, as proposed by both the House and the Senate, which
would ensure that funds are used for bilateral HIV/AIDS
programs if other donors are unable to fully match the
intended United States contribution to the Global ATM Fund.
This provision is addressed in section 595. The managers
expect that the Global AIDS Coordinator will bear in mind the
managers' support for the Global ATM Fund and will
judiciously use the flexibility provided by this ``kick-out''
clause to ensure that funds are allocated to the most
effective uses.
The conference agreement does not include a Senate
provision regarding the percentage of the budget for
prevention and treatment programs of the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria that is made available to
support technical assistance to ensure the quality of such
programs. However, the managers recognize the importance of
technical assistance and note the extensive resources and
experience of the United States Government in providing such
assistance. The managers urge the Global AIDS Coordinator to
seek to ensure that an appropriate percentage of resources
are utilized for this purpose.
When funding through bilateral programs administered by
USAID is considered in combination with the United States
contribution to the Global ATM Fund, the conference agreement
provides a total of $169,000,000 for TB assistance. Of this
amount, $92,500,000 is funded through the ``other infectious
diseases'' allocation in this amount, an estimated $8,500,000
from other bilateral accounts, and $68,000,000 through the
contribution to the Global ATM Fund.
For malaria, the conference agreement provides a total of
$193,500,000. Of this amount, it is expected that $92,000,000
of the contribution to the Global ATM Fund will fund malaria
programs, $92,500,000 is funded through the ``other
infectious diseases'' allocation in this amount, and an
estimated $9,000,000 is provided from other bilateral
accounts.
The managers expect USAID to allocate up to 10 percent of
its funding for malaria programs to medicines and vaccine
research and development, including $3,000,000 for the
Medicines for Malaria Venture, and the same amount for the
Malaria Vaccine Initiative.
The conference agreement includes bill language, proposed
by the Senate, regarding the development of microbicides as a
means of combating HIV/AIDS.
The conference agreement does not include up to
$150,000,000 for mother and child HIV prevention as contained
in the Senate bill. However, the managers expect that funds
will be made available from the HIV/AIDS allocation in this
account and from funds provided in the Global HIV/AIDS
Initiative account.
The conference account provides not less than $26,000,000
for research on and testing of HIV/AIDS vaccines. These funds
should be allocated by the Global AIDS Coordinator at the
Department of State to the International AIDS Vaccine
Initiative. The managers expect that $10,000,000 will be used
for cooperative projects coordinated with the European
Union's new 5-year program, the ``AIDS Vaccine Integrated
Project,'' and in cooperation with the Partnership for AIDS
Vaccine Evaluation (PAVE) operating under the aegis of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
The conference agreement also provides that not less than
$26,000,000 should be made available as a United States
contribution to UNAIDS, instead of $28,000,000 as proposed by
the Senate. The House did not address this matter. The
managers note the central role that UNAIDS plays in
coordinating the work of eight U.N. agencies and the Global
ATM Fund, and in providing technical support to countries as
funding to combat HIV/AIDS rapidly increases.
The managers urge USAID to implement programs that address
the combination of the HIV/AIDS and hunger, including
programs to enhance nutrition among HIV/AIDS-affected
households and communities and that strengthen the ability of
HIV/AIDS-affected individuals and households to meet current
and future needs. Particular attention needs to be given to
dealing with orphans and other vulnerable children and to
promoting overall agriculture development and food
production, including through school and hospital gardens as
appropriate.
The managers are aware of the efforts of Voices for
Humanity and the other organizations cited on page 9 of
Senate Report 108-106 and page 15 of House Report 108-222 to
convey HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, treatment and medical
training among non-literate and oral communicating
populations in developing countries. The managers expect that
USAID and the Global AIDS Coordinator consider and, where
feasible, fund pilot projects and other proposals submitted
by such organizations.
The conference agreement does not include a Senate
provision that funds shall be made available to the HIV/AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria Cluster of the World Health
Organization (WHO). However, the managers recognize the
central role WHO plays in fighting HIV/AIDS and other
infectious diseases, and expect that funds will be made
available to support this new initiative.
For health in West Africa, the conference agreement does
not include section 699D of the Senate amendment providing
$5,000,000 for the Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication
Program. The managers note that the Carter Center recently
released an action plan for guinea worm eradiction that
target Ghana, Nigeria, and Sudan. The managers strongly
support this program and expect that $5,000,000 will be a
made available for this purpose. The managers also endorse
the House report language on the West African Health
Organization and on obstetric fistula and urge USAID to
initiate programs in heavily effected areas, and to expand
the programs of the International Medical Corps in Sierra
Leone that address this problem.
The conference agreement allocates $375,500,000 for family
planning/reproductive health within the Child Survival and
Health Programs Fund, as proposed by the Senate, instead of
$368,500,000 as proposed by the House.
The managers also direct USAID to continue to provide the
Committees with a detailed annual report not later than March
31, 2004, on the programs, projects, and activities
undertaken by the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund
during fiscal year 2003.
Funds appropriated for the Child Survival and Health
Programs Fund are appropriated for programs, projects and
activities. Funds for administrative expenses to manage Fund
activities are provided in a separate United States Agency
for International Development Operating Expenses account,
with three exceptions included in the conference agreement:
authority for USAID's central and regional bureaus to use up
to $250,000 from program funds for Operating Expense-funded
personnel to better monitor and provide oversight of the
Fund; in section 522, authority to use up to $13,500,000 to
reimburse other government agencies and private institutions
for professional services; and in section 525, authority to
hire overseas personnel on a limited term basis.
Any proposed obligations for Global Development Alliance
programs, projects or activities shall be subject to the
regular notification procedures of the Committees on
Appropriations, as shall any proposed transfers of Child
Survival and Health Programs funds to any other agency,
program, or account.
Development Assistance
The conference agreement appropriates $1,385,000,000 for
``Development Assistance''
[[Page 31556]]
instead of $1,317,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$1,423,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The managers have agreed to provide $235,000,000 for basic
education, including adult literacy programs, under the
development assistance account, instead of $250,000,000 as
proposed by the House bill or $220,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate amendment.
The conference agreement includes Senate language that
provides $100,000,000 shall be made available for drinking
water supply projects and related activities. The managers
expect USAID to report no later than 90 days after enactment
of this Act on funding and implementation of its water
projects, including the number and location of wells drilled,
and the cost per well.
The managers endorse language in Senate Report 108-106
regarding Water Conservation and, in particular, the
recommendation for $1,500,000 for Water Missions
International (WMI). The managers intend that this funding to
WMI for hospitals in Honduras be in addition to water project
funding previously planned for allocation in that country.
The managers are aware of the efforts of the Millennium
Water Alliance to provide potable water to African
communities that lack access to clean water, and recognize
the importance of the Alliance's work. The managers recommend
that, upon submission of suitable proposals to USAID, a
significant part of the funds for potable water be provided
to members of the Alliance to increase access to clean water
and reduce rates of water-borne diseases and infant mortality
in Africa.
The managers encourage USAID to allocate increased funding
for agricultural development activities, and recommend that
USAID allocate funding for these activities in sub-Saharan
Africa more at the village level to include projects in
small-scale irrigation, water and drainage, post-harvest
storage, crop intensification, crop and livestock
diversification, and rural infrastructure, such as the
Special Programme for Food Security of the U.N. Food and
Agriculture Organization.
The managers continue to support the work of private
voluntary organizations in the economic growth sector,
especially the Financial Services Volunteer Corps and the
International Executive Service Corps. The managers direct
USAID to provide such organizations with sufficient core
funding and fair opportunity to compete for relevant
contracts and awards in the economic growth sector.
The conference agreement includes language, similar to a
Senate provision, which provides that not less than
$10,000,000 should be made available for programs and
activities in rural Mexico to promote microfinance, small
business development, private property ownership in rural
communities, energy and environmental conservation, and to
support small farmers who have been affected by adverse
economic conditions, subject to the regular notification
procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. The managers
remain concerned with reports of corruption of the legal
process in connection with a property dispute involving
American citizens in Oaxaca and the University of the
Americas, and the wrongful issuance of arrest warrants and
imprisonment of these individuals. While the managers are
aware that the criminal charges have been dismissed, the
arrest warrants remain outstanding and the property dispute
is unresolved. The managers intend to follow this matter
until it is resolved satisfactorily.
The managers are greatly concerned by continued reports of
violence against women in Cuidad Juarez and Chihuahua,
Mexico. The managers consider this a bi-national issue, as
U.S. citizens are among the victims and among those accused
of committing these acts. The managers urge the State
Department to work with the Mexican government to set up a
DNA database, under international auspices, which would
enable the positive identification of the victims by
collecting DNA samples from the victims and from the families
of the disappeared women.
The managers support projects in Central America that
provide safe, nutritious, and affordable food to pre-school
and school aged populations. The managers are aware of a
nutritional drink that has achieved results in reducing
malnutrition among Guatemalan pre-school children, and
encourage USAID to determine the feasibility of establishing
a long-term child nutrition program targeted toward reducing
severe malnutrition rates among Central American children.
The managers endorse the House language on the Cooperative
Association of States for Scholarships, which calls upon
USAID to fully implement and fund its new agreement with the
Association.
The managers endorse the House language on the Women in
Development office urging that the office be funded at
$11,000,000, and direct that USAID report no later than 90
days after the enactment of this Act on activities planned
for the office and measures to increase staffing in order to
expand its relevance to USAID-wide operations.
With respect to Afghanistan, section 523 includes language
similar to a Senate proposal, providing that not less then
$2,000,000 should be made available for assistance for
Afghans who suffer losses as a result of the military
operations. The managers are aware that assistance for these
victims has begun to be provided by USAID and the Department
of Defense, in consultation with local Afghan communities,
with funds previously appropriated. The managers believe that
the capabilities of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams,
which have access to remote, non-permissive areas, should be
utilized. The managers intend these funds to be used for
medical and rehabilitation assistance, shelter and other
infrastructure, and other appropriate assistance from this
account.
Although the conference agreement does not contain Economic
Support Fund assistance for Pakistan, it does contain funding
for education and health programs in the Development
Assistance account and Child Survival and Health programs
Fund. Given the enormous challenges that face Pakistan in the
education and health sectors, the managers strongly urge the
Administration to structure its proposed 5-year USAID package
to address those needs. The managers expect not less than
$2,000,000 should be made available for programs and
activities of the Pakistan Human Development Fund and not
less than $1,000,000 for Amanut Society. The Senate included
funding for these organizations under the heading ``Economic
Support Fund'', but no funds are made available for Pakistan
under that heading in this Act as $200,000,000 was
appropriated in Public Law 108-106.
The managers direct that, of the funds for agriculture and
rural development programs $25,000,000 be provided for
USAID's Collaborative Research Support Programs (CRSPs), of
which $2,000,000 should be used to establish a CRSP that is
focused on water security.
The managers support the language of the House report
directing that USAID fund dairy development programs at not
less than $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2004. Of this amount at
least $7,500,000 should be made available for new projects at
missions supplementing their existing rural development
programs with a dairy component. The new programs should
focus primarily on dairy development, rather than as a
component of other cultural programs. The managers have
included this directive in fiscal year 2004 in part because
of USAID's failure to meet directives of previous years.
The conference report includes language similar to a Senate
provision which provides $155,000,000 for programs which
directly protect biodiversity, including forests. The
managers endorse language under the heading ``Environment
Programs'' on page 17 in Senate Report 108-106 on these
issues, including the importance of developing a regional
strategy for biodiversity conservation in the Amazon Basin,
amounts of assistance for Brazil in fiscal year 2004, and
support for the Amazon Conservation Team. The conference
agreement does not include Senate language relating to the
use of Child Survival and Health and Development Assistance
funds for integrated population-health-environment programs.
However, the managers expect Child Survival and Health funds
to be used to fund child survival, health, and family
planning activities of integrated population-health-
environment programs, including in areas where biodiversity
and endangered species are threatened and Development
Assistance funds should be used to fund environment,
conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable
agriculture activities in such integrated programs.
The managers support programs that conserve energy and
promote efficient energy production and distribution in
developing countries. The conference agreement provides in
section 555 that $180,000,000 should be made available for
these programs. The managers urge that energy technology
program offices at USAID, the Export-Import Bank, the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Trade and
Development Agency and other federal agencies involved in
foreign assistance and export promotion activities that
participate in the Clean Energy Technology Exports
Initiative, contribute to this nine-agency effort.
The managers endorse language on page 15 of Senate Report
108-106 regarding, among other things, the importance of
preserving the viability of leading micro-finance NGO
networks so these organizations may increase the number of
people they serve.
The managers direct that not less than $1,000,000 be made
available for the United States Telecommunications Training
Institute, a long-standing and successful program that
provides communications and broadcasting training to
professionals around the world. The Senate amendment included
bill language mandating that such funds be made available for
this purpose. The House bill did not address this matter.
The conference agreement provides that $19,000,000 should
be made available for the American Schools and Hospitals
Abroad program. The Senate amendment included bill language
stating that $20,000,000 should be made available for this
purpose.
The managers strongly support the fertilizer-related
research and development being conducted by the International
Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and urge USAID to make
at least $4,000,000 available to IFDC, including not less
than $2,300,000 for its core grant, as provided under the
Senate amendment.
[[Page 31557]]
The conference agreement does not include language, as
proposed by the Senate, providing up to $3,000,000 for the
International Real Property Foundation. The managers direct
USAID to provide funding to this organization.
The managers support the budget request for programs and
activities conducted by USAID's Bureau of Democracy, Conflict
and Humanitarian Assistance. The managers expect sufficient
funding to be provided for democracy building activities
that, if properly implemented, can serve as a bulwark against
terrorism.
The managers endorse language in Senate Report 108-106
regarding Faith Based Organizations.
The managers note that a proposal by the University of
South Dakota to develop international mental health programs
was inadvertently omitted from the list of university
proposals on pages 20 to 23 of the Senate report.
The managers continue to be supportive of efforts to form
public-private partnerships, through the Global Development
Alliance or other appropriate USAID mechanisms, to build and
support schools and other educational institutions, which
promote tolerant, secular educational curricula.
The conference agreement includes a general provision
(section 586), similar to Senate language, which provides
that not less than $35,000,000 in ``Development Assistance''
funds should be made available for Nicaragua, which is
$4,000,000 above the amount requested. The managers commend
President Bolanos for his efforts to combat the endemic
corruption that has impeded Nicaragua's development. The
managers recommend that these additional funds be used to
assist subsistence farmers and to support judicial reform
efforts.
The managers support the request for Development Assistance
for Nepal, but are aware of the deteriorating climate for
security and private investment. In particular, the
Department of State is asked to continue to work with the
Government of Nepal to promote broad-based economic
development and to secure property rights for Nepalese and
foreign-owned infrastructure, including private power
generation facilities.
International Disaster and Famine Assistance
The conference agreement appropriates $255,500,000 for
``International Disaster and Famine Assistance'', instead of
$315,500,000 as proposed by the House and $235,500,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Of this amount, $20,000,000 is made available specifically
for assistance for famine prevention and relief, instead of
$80,000,000 as proposed by the House and $100,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate under a separate heading, ``Famine
Fund''. The conference agreement requires consultation with
the Committees on Appropriations prior to the commitment or
obligation of these funds.
The remaining $235,500,000 is appropriated to USAID for
traditional international disaster relief, rehabilitation,
and reconstruction assistance, especially to mitigate the
impact of unforeseen natural disasters.
Development Credit Authority
(including transfer of funds)
The conference agreement includes authority for USAID to
use funds made available by this Act for the cost of
modifying loans guaranteed under this or prior Acts, as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill did not address this
matter. The conference agreement requires that the
appropriate Committees be notified prior to the use of funds
for loan restructuring.
Operating Expenses of the United States Agency for International
Development
Out of the $604,100,000 appropriated for Operating Expenses
of the United States Agency for International Development,
the conference agreement provided $25,000,000 to be available
until September 30, 2005 instead of $30,000,000 as proposed
by the House. In addition, contracts or agreements entered
into with funds made available under this heading may entail
commitments for the expenditure of such funds through
September 30, 2005.
The managers have also included a new provision prohibiting
the use of funds to open a new USAID overseas mission without
prior written notification. In addition, several other
provisions give the Agency greater flexibility in hiring
personnel to meet expanding or unanticipated missions. The
managers also support the intent of the language regarding
USAIDLINK on page 30 of House Report 107-683, and expect that
this activity will be carried out over the next two years.
The conference agreement includes language that would
prohibit reducing the number of foreign service employees at
each mission in Latin America expect as provided through
notification to the Committees on Appropriations. The
managers understand that the assistance and staffing levels
for all Central American missions have been under pressure
due to demands elsewhere in the world, but Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua are slated for substantial staffing
reductions relative to other countries in this hemisphere.
The managers do not believe that this strategy reflects the
priorities of United States economic, trade, humanitarian and
immigration policies with these countries. Guatemala
specifically is struggling in a state of post-conflict
polarization, and with the new January 2004 government, the
managers strongly believe that reducing assistance and
staffing would limit the ability of the United States to be
responsive at this critical juncture in Guatemala's history.
Capital Investment Fund
The conference agreement appropriates $82,200,000 for
USAID's Capital Investment Fund, instead of $49,300,000 as
proposed by the House or $100,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes House language that
authorizes the Administrator of USAID to assess fair and
reasonable rental payments for the use of space by employees
of other government agencies; provides that the rental
payments shall be deposited into this account as offsetting
collections; requires notification for the use of such
offsetting collections, as well as for funds appropriated
under this heading; and provides that the assignment of
United States Government employees and contractors to space
in buildings shall be subject to the concurrence of the
Administrator of USAID.
The conference agreement includes $62,200,000 for new USAID
buildings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Kampala, Uganda, and
Conakry, Guinea or Bamako, Mali, as requested by the
President. The managers note that in the past USAID has
abruptly modified its prioritization of major overseas
building projects and, therefore, request to be consulted
immediately should this occur again. The managers strongly
support the provisions of funds, when available, for a new
USAID building in Yerevan, Armenia.
Other Bilateral Economic Assistance
economic support fund
(including transfer of funds)
The conference agreement appropriates $2,132,500,000 for
the Economic Support Fund instead of $2,240,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $2,415,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Funds in this account are allocated in the following table
and, as stipulated in bill language, any change to these
allocations is subject to the regular reprogramming
procedures of the Committees on Appropriations
Economic Support Fund
[Budget authority in thousands of dollars]
Conference agreement
Africa:
Africa Regional...............................................$12,000
Angola..........................................................3,500
Burundi.........................................................3,500
Democratic Republic of Congo....................................5,000
Ethiopia........................................................5,000
Kenya...........................................................8,000
Nigeria.........................................................5,000
Regional Organizations..........................................3,000
Safe Skies......................................................5,000
Sierra Leone....................................................5,000
South Africa....................................................2,000
Sudan..........................................................10,000
Zimbabwe........................................................3,000
Kimberley Process...............................................1,500
NED democracy program...........................................3,000
________________
Subtotal--Africa.............................................74,500
================
East Asia and the Pacific:
ASEAN Regional..................................................1,000
Burma..........................................................13,000
Cambodia.......................................................17,000
NED democracy programs..........................................3,000
Tibet...........................................................4,000
East Timor.....................................................22,500
Indonesia......................................................50,000
Mongolia.......................................................10,000
Philippines....................................................17,750
Environmental Programs..........................................1,750
Regional Women's Issues.........................................2,000
South Pacific Fisheries........................................18,000
________________
Subtotal--East Asia and Pacific.............................160,000
================
Europe:
Cyprus.........................................................13,500
Irish Visa Program..............................................3,500
Turkey........................................................100,000
________________
Subtotal--Europe............................................117,000
================
Near East:
Egypt.........................................................575,000
Israel........................................................480,000
Jordan........................................................250,000
Lebanon........................................................35,000
Middle East Partnership Initiative.............................90,000
Middle East Regional Cooperation................................5,500
West Bank/Gaza.................................................75,000
Yemen..........................................................11,500
NED Muslim democracy programs...................................3,500
________________
Subtotal--Near East.......................................1,525,500
================
South Asia:
Afghanistan....................................................75,000
Bangladesh......................................................5,000
India..........................................................15,000
Nepal...........................................................5,000
[[Page 31558]]
South Asia Regional.............................................2,000
Sri Lanka......................................................12,000
________________
Subtotal--South Asia........................................114,000
================
Western Hemisphere:
Administration of Justice/ICITAP................................5,000
Bolivia.........................................................8,000
Cuba............................................................7,000
Dominican Republic..............................................3,000
Ecuador........................................................13,000
Guatemala.......................................................5,000
Mexico.........................................................11,500
Panama..........................................................3,000
Paraguay........................................................3,000
Peru............................................................8,000
Peru/Ecuador Peace..............................................4,000
Third Border Initiative.........................................4,000
Venezuela.........................................................500
Hemisphere Cooperation Program.................................10,000
________________
Subtotal--Western Hemisphere.................................85,000
================
Global:
Human Rights and Democracy Fund................................34,500
OES Initiatives.................................................4,000
Partnerships to Eliminate Sweatshops............................2,000
Wheelchairs.....................................................5,000
Reconciliation Programs.........................................8,000
Security and Sustainability Programs............................3,000
________________
Subtotal--Global.............................................56,500
================
Total, ESF................................................2,132,500
The conference agreement provides $480,000,000 for Israel
and language requiring disbursement of funds within 30 days
of enactment of this Act. The conference agreement provides
not less than $575,000,000 for Egypt as proposed by both the
House and Senate, of which not less than $200,000,000 is for
the Commodity Import Program assistance as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement also includes language that
provides that not less than $250,000,000 should be made
available for assistance for Jordan, as proposed by the
House. The Senate language would have mandated this level of
support.
The managers endorse the House report language regarding
support for the International Arid Lands Consortium. The
managers also direct that not less than $1,000,000 be made
available from ESF funds or from ``Development Assistance''
for the Blaustein Institute for Desert Research to
investigate the flow and transport of pollutants in
groundwater.
The conference agreement provides that up to $1,000,000 of
funds should be used to further legal reforms in the West
Bank and Gaza, including judicial training on commercial
disputes and ethics.
The conference agreement does not include funds for
Pakistan under this heading. The Senate provided $200,000,000
for Pakistan, as requested by the President. The House
included $67,000,000 for Pakistan, specifically for debt
relief for Pakistan. The Senate did not address the matter of
debt relief. Congress provides $200,000,000 in subsidy
appropriations for Pakistan in P.L. 108-106, the Fiscal Year
2004 Emergency Supplemental for Defense and Reconstruction of
Iraq and Afghanistan.
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
proposed by the Senate providing that not less than
$13,500,000 shall be available for assistance for Cyprus. The
House bill provided that $12,000,000 should be made
available, and the Senator bill provided $15,000,000 for
Cyprus.
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
in the Senate amendment that provides not less than
$35,000,000 for assistance for Lebanon. In addition, funding
provided in this account for the Central Government of
Lebanon is subject to Congressional notification. The
managers permit that $4,000,000 should be made available for
American educational institutions in Lebanon from the
bilateral assistance program.
The conference agreement does not include a Senate
provision concerning the abduction of American children in
Lebanon. However, the managers note that Lebanese officials
have failed to enforce the custody and international pickup
orders of Lebanon's civil courts despite repeated assurances.
The managers condemn the Lebanese and Syrian authorities who
have failed to uphold their laws and execute arrest warrants
against parents who have abducted American children.
The conference agreement includes a general provision,
similar to a Senate provision, which provides $8,000,000 for
reconciliation programs and activities that bring together
individuals of different ethnic, religious, and political
backgrounds from areas of civil conflict and war. The
managers note the bipartisan support for such activities that
promote understanding and reconciliation particularly in the
Middle East, and expect the State Department and USAID to
establish an efficient and effective mechanism for evaluating
and funding proposals for the use of these funds. The
managers believe that the following organizations are among
those deserving consideration and support: Seeds of Peace;
the Jerusalem International YMCA, the Arava Institute for
Environmental Studies, the International Crisis Group, the
Middle East Children's Association, Partners for Democratic
Change, and Interns for Peace.
The conference agreement provides $22,500,000 in ``Economic
Support Fund'' assistance for East Timor (Timor-Leste)
instead of $25,000,000 as proposed by the Senate and
$13,500,000 (and $4,000,000 in Development Assistance) as
proposed in the House. The managers recommend that funds be
made available to, among other things, enhance economic
programs to revitalize and for educational and vocational
training especially for unemployed youth, promote good
governance, meet basic human needs, and improve physical
infrastructure. The conference agreement provides that of the
funds for East Timor, $1,000,000 may be available for
administrative expenses of the United States Agency for
International Development.
The managers have included language, similar to the Senate
bill, which provides $1,500,000 for technical assistance to
implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. The
managers endorse the Senate report language on this issue and
urge the Administration to request funds for this purpose in
fiscal year 2005.
The managers have included a provision, similar to Senate
language, regarding programs to develop justice and
reconciliation mechanisms in Central Africa and expect the
Administration to provide the amount of funding requested for
these programs. The managers are concerned about human rights
abuses in Central Africa, including rape committed on a
massive scale in the eastern region of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo. The managers urge the Administration
to initiate programs aimed at ending the impunity that
prevails in the region, preventing future abuses, and
providing medical and counseling services to victims.
The conference agreement includes language in section 558
similar to a Senate provision which earmarks not less than
$4,000,000 in ``Economic Support Fund'' assistance for Tibet
through nongovernmental organizations located outside the
People's Republic of China to support activities that
preserve cultural traditions and promote sustainable
development and environmental conservation in Tibetan
communities in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and in Tibetan
communities in China. The managers are aware that the
migration of Han Chinese into these areas threatens the
survival of Tibetan culture and that nongovernmental
organizations are involved in small scale projects to empower
Tibetan communities and preserve Tibetan culture, and address
basic human needs. The managers support the unique role of
The Bridge Fund, and expect not less than $1,700,000 to be
provided for the Bridge Fund in fiscal year 2003 funds, and
not less than $2,000,000 to be provided for The Bridge Fund
in fiscal year 2004 funds. The managers intend that the
balance of the funds will be made available on a fully
competitive basis to organizations with a history of working
with Tibetan communities.
The managers endorse language similar to that contained in
the House report, that recommends $250,000 be made available
through a nongovernmental organization, such as the National
Endowment for Democracy, for the purpose of providing
training and education of Tibetans in democracy activities,
and monitoring the human rights situation in Tibet. The
managers intend these funds to be made available through
section 526(d) of this Act.
The conference agreement does not include a Senate
provision earmarking $250,000 for the Commission to
Investigate Illegal Groups and Clandestine Security Apparatus
in Guatemala. However, the managers strongly support this
effort to investigate those responsible for the political
violence and organized criminal activity that continues to
hamper Guatemala's development, and recommend that at least
$250,000 be provided to the Commission in fiscal year 2004.
The managers are concerned with reports that the Government
of Ecuador has failed to adequately safeguard foreign
investments in that country. The managers direct the
Secretary of State to report to the Committees on the extent
of United States investments in Ecuador, and an analysis of
the political, legal and economic challenges posed to such
investments. The managers request the report to include
recommendations for addressing and resolving these
challenges.
The conference agreement provides that Economic Support
Fund resources shall be made available for administrative
costs of the United States Agency for International
Development to implement regional programs in Asia and the
Near East, including the Middle East Partnership Initiative,
in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes.
The conference agreement provides that funds appropriated
under the Economic Support Fund for a Middle East Financing
Facility, Middle East Enterprise Fund, or any other similar
entity in the Middle East shall be subject to the regular
notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations.
The conference agreement provides not less than $1,750,000
should be made available
[[Page 31559]]
for East Asia and Pacific Environment Initiatives. The Senate
bill provided $3,500,000 for this program and the House bill
did not address this issue. The conferees have included
$18,000,000 for the Treaty on Fisheries between the United
States and the governments of certain Pacific Island states,
popularly known as the south Pacific Regional Fisheries
Treaty. The conferees endorse the discussion of this issue in
the House report.
The managers provide $3,000,000 for the Foundation for
Security and Sustainability.
Of the $4,000,000 included in the conference agreement for
the initiatives of the State Department Bureau of Oceans and
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs,
$2,000,000 is for supporting a bilateral science and
technology agreement with Pakistan for which Development
Assistance funds were denied in fiscal year 2003.
The conference agreement provides language not in either
the House or the Senate bill that allows transfers to the
Economic Support Fund from funds appropriated in P.L. 108-106
for the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund. The conferees
have included language that allows up to $100,000,000 for
transfer to support programs for Turkey, and $30,000,000 for
transfer to support the Middle East Partnership Initiative.
International Fund for Ireland
The conference agreement appropriates $18,500,000 instead
of $19,600,000 as proposed by the House. The Senate did not
address this matter.
The conferees encourage the International Fund for Ireland
to continue progress for direct reconciliation assistance and
programs, particularly in helping to develop a fully
supported, accountable and modern police service that serves
all communities.
Global HIV/AIDS Initiative
The conference report includes $491,000,000 for the Global
HIV/AIDS Initiative instead of $989,000,000 as proposed by
the Senate or $450,000,000 as contained in the budget
request. The House addressed this matter within the Child
Survival and Health Programs fund and did not include funding
for initiatives in a limited number of focus countries in a
separate appropriations account.
The managers welcome the creation at the State Department
of the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, and anticipate
that the powers and responsibilities delegated to the
Coordinator by this Act and Public Law 108-25 will enable the
Coordinator to finally coalesce the HIV/AIDS programs run by
disparate agencies into an effective, coordinated approach.
The managers have not include language included by the Senate
that would have allowed the Coordinator authority to reach
into other appropriations accounts and transfer funds into
this account. The transfer authorities in section 509 of the
conference agreement enable the Coordinator to fulfill his
mandate. Any reprogramming or transfers of funds into or out
of the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative account is subject to the
regular notification procedures of the Committees on
Appropriations and section 634A of the Foreign Assistance
Act.
The conference report does not include language contained
in the House bill limiting the value of grants and contracts
that may be let directly from the Coordinator's office at
$50,000,000. The Coordinator has informed the Committees that
his office will rely primarily upon the procurement and
contracting capacity existent in United States agencies. The
managers expect the Coordinator to consult with the
Committees on Appropriations prior to exercising his
contracting and grant-making authority to directly implement
overseas programs.
The managers have included $8,000,000, as proposed by the
Senate, for the administrative expenses of the Office of the
Global AIDS Coordinator. The managers request the Global AIDS
Coordinator, not later than 90 days following enactment of
this Act, to submit to the Committees on Appropriations a
report which details by object class the proposed uses of the
Office's administrative expense allowance.
The conference agreement includes language, similar to
Senate provisions, which provides up to $75,000,000 should be
provided for the safe and appropriate use of injections and
other forms of infection control and prevention, and for
blood safety programs. With respect to the safe and
appropriate use of injections and other forms of infection
control and prevention, the managers intend these funds to be
used for programs and activities including national
assessments and planning; the provision of syringes with the
re-use prevention and safety feature(s) that will effectively
reduce exposure to contaminated syringes and needles, and
safety disposal boxes; gloves, masks, and other supplies
required to implement universal precautions; logistical
support to ensure a reliable supply of and proper use of
these items; public education on the safe and appropriate use
of injections; training of health providers; post exposure
prophylaxis programs for health and laboratory workers; and
waste management.
With respect to blood safety programs, the managers intend
these funds to be used for programs and activities including
the establishment and support of national blood services;
formulation/reform of national transfusion protocols to
reduce the number of low priority transfusions; the provision
of rapid HIV test kits; screening for other transfusion-
transmitted infections; staff training, including in the
appropriate clinical use of blood; the recruitment of
voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors; and quality
assurance programs.
The managers note that the United States Global Leadership
Against HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-25)
provides that in fiscal year 2004 it is the ``sense of
Congress'' that 55 percent of all global HIV/AIDS funds
should go for treatment, 20 percent for prevention, of which
no less than 33 percent be reserved for ``abstinence until
marriage'' programs, 15 percent for palliative care, and 10
percent for orphans and vulnerable children.
The managers continue to request a satisfactory explanation
of how the Administration selected its Global HIV/AIDS
Initiative focus countries, including selection criteria that
takes into account the need to preemptively stem the tide of
the disease in other parts of the world at high risk of
developing full-blown pandemics. The conference agreement
includes language urging the Global AIDS Coordinator to
select one additional focus country not in Africa or the
Caribbean region. The managers understand that the Global
AIDS Coordinator will consult with the Committees as he
selects this fifteenth country, and will keep them informed
on the selection criteria as they are developed.
The leading indicator of success for the Global AIDS
Initiative is treating 2 million people living with HIV/AIDS,
preventing 7 million new infections, and providing care and
support to 10 million of those infected and otherwise
affected by the disease. One of the responsibilities of the
Global AIDS Coordinator is to determine the proper allocation
categories for programs and projects under his oversight in
order to meet these objectives, but categorization may be
difficult for some activities. The costs of mother and child
transmission programs, for instance, are substantial. If
these costs are included within the 20 percent target for
prevention programs, funding for crucial behavioral change
prevention programs may well be crowded out. The costs of
mother and child transmission might also be considered part
of the 55 percent target for treatment programs, since
breaking the cycle of mother-to-child transmission often
relies on the use of drug treatments.
The managers support the goals for HIV/AIDS antiretroviral
treatment established through section 402 of Public Law 108-
25, including that by the end of fiscal year 2004 at least
500,000 individuals with HIV/AIDS will be receiving
antiretroviral treatment through United States assistance
programs. The managers encourage the Global AIDS Coordinator
to solicit and fund proposals for the delivery of
antirretroviral treatment in targeted countries in an
expeditious manner.
The managers recognize that United States funding in the
fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria will not,
in itself, roll back these pandemics. Sustaining the advances
made by the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative and other programs
will be a growing challenge as more people begin drug
therapy. The managers encourage the Global AIDS Coordinator
to consider pilot programs and innovative approaches,
including public-private partnerships and faith based
organizations, aimed at increasing sustainability and access
to high-quality, affordable drugs while respecting
intellectual property rights.
The managers request the Global AIDS Coordinator to submit
a report to the Committees on Appropriations, the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations, and the House Committee on
International Relations not later than 60 days after
enactment describing (1) the estimated proportion of all
global HIV/AIDS funding in fiscal year 2004 that will be
spent on prevention activities, and the estimated amount in
dollars; (2) the amount estimated to be spent on ``abstinence
until marriage'' programs in fiscal year 2004; and (3) a
description of the criteria for determining which programs
are included under treatment; prevention, with the criteria
for ``abstinence until marriage'' programs specifically
outlined; palliative care; and orphans and vulnerable
children.
The managers also request the Global AIDS Coordinator to
submit brief reports to the Committees on Appropriations, the
House Committee on International Relations, and the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations not later than 90 days
following the enactment of this Act and updated every 90 days
thereafter, describing the obligation and transfers between
accounts during the previous quarter of all funds overseen by
the Global AIDS Coordinator. The managers note the reports
mandated by P.L. 108-25, and direct the Global AIDS
Coordinator to also submit these reports to the Committees on
Appropriations.
Assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States
The conference agreement appropriates $445,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate, instead of $452,000,000 as proposed
by the House.
Funds in this account are allocated in the following table
and, as stipulated in bill language any change to these
allocations is subject to the regular reprogramming
procedures of the Committees on Appropriations:
[[Page 31560]]
Assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States
[Budget authority in thousands of dollars]
Conference agreement
Albania.........................................................$28,000
Bosnia-Herzegovina...............................................45,000
Bulgaria.........................................................28,000
Croatia..........................................................25,000
Kosovo...........................................................79,000
Macedonia........................................................39,000
Romania..........................................................28,000
Serbia..........................................................100,000
Montenegro.......................................................35,000
________________
Total AEEB..................................................445,000
The conference agreement contains language that provides
that $2,000,000 should be made available to enhance safety at
nuclear power plants. It is intended that this nuclear safety
program will include the provision of full scope simulators.
The managers have provided $35,000,000 for assistance
programs in Montenegro as recommended in the House report.
The conference agreement includes language providing that not
less than $12,000,000 of this amount shall be for economic
development and environmental programs in Montenegro's
coastal region. This language was not included in either the
House or Senate bills, but is similar to direction contained
in the House report.
The conference agreement includes Senate language providing
not less than $1,000,000 should be made available for a
program to promote greater understanding and interaction
among youth in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Macedonia
under this heading, and not ``Economic Support Fund, as
proposed by the Senate. This program also was discussed in
the House report under the Assistance for Eastern Europe and
Baltic States account. The managers expect the National
Albanian American Council to conduct this program.
The managers strongly recommend that the Russian, Eurasian,
and East European Research and Training Program (Title VIII)
be funded at the 2003 level. The managers endorse the House
report language on the East Central European Scholarship
Program (ECESP) and recognize the Administration's continued
support for the program. The managers further recognize that
expansion of this program into Central Asia would benefit the
people of this region.
The conference agreement includes not less than $53,500,000
for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria from this heading,
Assistance for the Independent States of the Former Soviet
Union, Economic Support Fund, and Foreign Military Financing,
instead of $50,000,000 from these accounts, (except Foreign
Military Financing) as contained in the Senate amendment. The
managers are increasingly concerned about the increase of
HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, especially multi-drug resistant
tuberculosis, in Eastern Europe, central Asia, and Russia.
Assistance for the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union
The conference agreement appropriates $587,000,000, instead
of $576,000,000 as proposed by the House and $596,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes not less than $57,000,000
for child survival, environmental and other health
activities, and programs to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases, including not
less than $15,000,000 for reproductive health/family
planning.
The managers reiterate language in the Statement of the
Managers from prior years with regard to other limitations on
assistance, ``that assistance to combat infectious diseases,
. . . support for regional and municipal governments, and
partnerships between United States hospitals, universities,
judicial training institutions and environmental
organizations and counterparts in Russia should not be
affected by this section.''
The conference agreement provides not less than $19,000,000
should be made available for nuclear reactor safety
initiatives in Ukraine. The managers expect that of this
amount, $14,000,000 shall be provided for simulator-related
projects. The conference agreement also includes language
similar to that proposed by the Senate providing not less
than $1,500,000 for coal mine safety programs.
The conference agreement provides that $94,000,000 shall be
made available for assistance for Russia, including
$4,000,000, as proposed by the Senate, to promote freedom of
the media and independent media in that country. This amount
is $21,000,000 above the budget request.
The managers remain gravely concerned with the
deterioration and systematic dismantling of democracy and the
rule of law in the Russian Federation. The managers condemn
the Russian Government's crackdown on the media and political
opposition groups and individuals, and call upon senior
Russian officials to immediately cease the harassment of
American citizens involved in foreign assistance programs in
Russia by that country's security services.
The managers expect the State Department to proactively and
publicly engage the Russian Government to immediately
terminate forced returns of displaced Chechens to Chechnya,
provide additional assistance to those Chechens impacted by
Russian efforts to force or coerce returns, and secure
accountability for gross human rights violations committed by
Russian forces against Chechen civilians. The managers
request the State Department to consult with the Committees
on this matter.
The managers expect a significant portion of these funds to
be used to support democracy and rule of law programs in
Russia.
The managers support the Russian American Judicial
Partnership, the Russian American Rule of Law Consortium, and
the American Bar Association's Central and East European Law
Initiative, which are involved in activities to strengthen
the rule of law and protect civil liberties, which are
essential to democratic and economic development in Russia.
The mangers also support efforts, such as those of the
Institute for Sustainable Communities, to mitigate the
effects of environmental pollution on human health in the
Central Asian region.
The conference agreement includes language providing not
less than $17,500,000 for the Russian Far East, instead of
$20,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The managers endorse
language in Senate Report 108-106 regarding the Russia Far
East.
The managers endorse Senate Report 108-106 language
regarding orphans, and strongly support the work of Kidsave
International and other organizations working in the Former
Soviet Union.
The conference agreement provides $75,000,000 under the
heading Assistance for the Independent States of the Former
Soviet Union for assistance for Armenia, as proposed by the
Senate. This amount is $25,500,000 above the budget request.
The managers direct that $2,500,000 in Foreign Military
Financing and not less than $900,000 in International
Military Education and Training funds be provided to Armenia,
as contained in the budget request. The managers support
Senate report language on the use of military assistance to
enhance communication capabilities.
The managers support the provision of assistance to the
American University of Armenia (AUA), and recognize the
important contribution of AUA to the development of Armenia's
future leaders.
The managers endorse House report language regarding
proposals to establish and develop in Armenia a central
diagnostic laboratory for the Caucasus region to address
health and food safety.
The managers continue to follow political developments in
the region, particularly efforts to secure a peaceful
resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The managers
endorse confidence-building measures among all parties to the
conflict.
The managers have not included a specific amount for
Georgia in the conference agreement, but continue to closely
follow political developments in Georgia. The managers are
troubled by recent events, including political turmoil
following flawed elections earlier this month. The managers
condemn all acts of violence and intimidation against the
opposition and encourage all parties to engage in dialogue to
resolve the current political crisis.
The managers note that corruption and the absence of
political will to implement much needed reforms hinder the
political, economic, and legal development of Georgia. The
managers expect the State Department to continue to press the
Government of Georgia to be far more transparent and
accountable.
The managers appreciate the threats to Georgia and the
region from terrorists in the Pankisi Gorge, and encourage
the State Department to continue to fund those programs and
activities that further the national security interests of
both the United States and Georgia.
The managers expect to be consulted by the Department of
State prior to any obligation of funds, should that country's
political situation continue to deteriorate and funding
priorities change.
The conference agreement does not include Senate language
expressing concern with the flawed October presidential
elections in Azerbaijan but retains language in section 592
requiring the Secretary of State to report to Congress on the
ongoing investigation into the murder of United States
democracy worker John Alvis.
The managers condemn the manipulation of the electoral
process by Azeri officials and deplore the post-election
crackdown on demonstrators that killed at least one
individual and injured more than 300. The managers note that
Azerbaijan has yet to hold national polls that meet
internationally recognized standards of free and fair
elections.
The managers expect the State Department, the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the Azeri Government to
reinvigorate efforts to investigate and prosecute those
responsible for the murder of John Alvis in December, 2000.
The managers are concerned with reports that the Government
of Moldova has failed to adequately safeguard foreign
investments in that country. The managers request the
Secretary of State to report to the Committees not later than
180 days after enactment of this Act on the extent and status
of United States direct foreign investment in Moldova, and an
analysis of the political,
[[Page 31561]]
legal and economic challenges to such investments,
particularly with regard to a cognac factory.
Independent Agencies
inter-american foundation
The conference agreement appropriates $16,334,000 as
proposed by the Senate, instead of $15,185,000 as proposed by
the House.
African Development Foundation
The conference agreement appropriates $18,689,000 as
proposed by the Senate, instead of $17,689,000 as proposed by
the House.
peace corps
The conference agreement provides $310,000,000 as proposed
by the Senate instead of $314,000,000 as proposed by the
House. Under the heading Global HIV/AIDS Initiative, the
conference agreement provides a permissive transfer of
$15,000,000 to the Peace Corps for HIV/AIDS activities,
instead of $20,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House
did not address this matter.
The managers have included House language permanently
waiving the so-called ``five-year rule'' of employment in the
case of employees whose appointment involves the safety of
Peace Corps volunteers, such as regional safety security
officers and employees within the Office of Inspector
General.
The managers continue to support expansion of the Peace
Corps, however, the managers are concerned about recent
attacks on volunteers, especially on female volunteers. The
managers recommend that the Peace Corps continue consulting
with the Committees on Appropriations to examine the current
security issues to ensure that increasing the number of
volunteers occurs simultaneously with better security and
emergency procedures.
millennium challenge corporation
The conference agreement includes $650,000,000 for the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) instead of
$800,000,000 as proposed by the House and 1,000,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The managers strongly support this initiative and provide
the maximum level of funding possible to the MCC within the
constraints of the budget allocation, which is $1,653,729,000
below the President's request.
The managers believe that additional assistance is critical
to support development on a global basis. Title VI, the
Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 is included to provide such
assistance in a manner that promotes economic growth and the
elimination of extreme poverty and strengthens good
governance, economic freedom, and investments in people.
The managers reserve the right to amend this language in
the fiscal year 2005 Act.
The managers appreciate the input and efforts of the House
International Relations Committee and the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee in drafting the authorizing language
contained in this Act.
The managers note that funding provided for the MCC in
title II is subject to section 515, ``Notification
Requirements''. The managers direct the Corporation to
consult within 30 days on the modalities for implementing
section 515 in a manner acceptable to the Committees on
Appropriations.
Department of State
international narcotics control and law enforcement
The conference agreement appropriates $241,700,000 for
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement as
proposed by the House, instead of $284,550,000 as proposed by
the Senate. The managers note that the conference report does
not include funding for Afghanistan since $50,000,000 was
provided above the request in P.L. 108-106 for Afghanistan.
The managers note that the following amounts were provided
specifically for counternarcotics and law enforcement in
Afghanistan: $243,000,000 in the 2004 emergency supplemental
(includes $73,000,000 for the Department of Defense);
$25,000,000 in the 2003 emergency supplemental; and
$80,000,000 in the 2002 emergency supplemental. Even given
these significant levels of funding, the United Nations
reports that Afghan farmers are replanting poppy at greater
rates each year since the fall of the Taliban. The managers
strongly support the United States participation in attacking
the Afghan drug problem, which generates funds for terrorists
and extremists not only in Afghanistan but also throughout
the region. Concurrently, the mangers are concerned that
while 90 percent of the heroin exported from Afghanistan is
destined for Europe, the majority of funds to counter this
crop are from the United States. Therefore, the managers
direct the Department of State to provide a report to the
Committees on Appropriations not later than 45 days after
enactment of this Act that outlines the objectives of this
program, including participation by the Department of
Defense; a detailed analysis of the purposes for which fiscal
year 2004 appropriated funds are to be used and a detailed
accounting of how fiscal year 2002 and 2003 appropriated
funds have been used; and the levels of actual or estimated
funding over the 2001-2004 period by other donors listed by
amount and by country.
The conference agreement provides that $12,000,000 should
be made available for anti-trafficking in persons programs.
The Senate amendment provided $20,000,000 for this purpose,
and the House did not address this matter.
The conference agreement provides that $7,105,000 should be
made available for the International Law Enforcement Academy
in Roswell, New Mexico, of which $2,105,000 should be made
available for the construction and completion of a new
facility. The managers note this one-time language is
intended to fully resolve this outstanding matter. The House
did not address this matter.
The conference report does not include Senate language that
provides $5,000,000 to combat piracy of United States
intellectual property. However, the managers support this
initiative and expect the State Department to provide
$2,500,000 for this purpose. The State Department, in close
consultation with the United States Trade Representative, the
Department of Commerce, and the Committees on Appropriations,
should formulate a detailed strategy for the use of these
funds before they are obligated. The managers also urge the
State Department to utilize the expertise of other agencies
of the federal government when implementing these programs.
The conference agreement makes available $26,117,000 for
administrative expenses instead of $24,180,000 as proposed by
the House and $25,117,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
managers have provided $1,000,000 in additional
administrative expenses to allow and encourage the Department
of State to provide office space to the Bureau of
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement in the
Harry S. Truman Building (Main State) to bring together all
of the Bureau's program offices.
Andean Counterdrug Initiative
The conference agreement appropriates $ 731,000,000 for the
Andean Counterdrug Initiative as proposed by the House
instead of $660,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
managers emphasize that there are other funds for Andean
nations in this Act.
The conference agreement provides that not less than
$257,000,000 shall be made available for alternative
development and institution building activities by USAID, the
Department of Justice, and the Department of State and that
$229,500,000 shall be directly apportioned to USAID. The
managers note that funds for the Bureau of Population,
Refugee, and Migration are included in the $257,000,000
earmark and expect the entire amount requested be provided
for programs to assist refugees and displaced persons.
Again in fiscal year 2004, the managers have extended the
availability of funds provided for assistance for Colombia to
support a unified campaign against narcotics trafficking,
against activities by organizations designated as terrorist
organizations, and to take actions to protect health and
human welfare. This provision is identical to that in the
House bill and Senate amendment. The managers are supportive
of the Colombian Government in its attempts to provide
security for the Colombian people and have continued these
expanded authorities in recognition that the narcotics
industry is linked to the terrorist groups, including the
paramilitary organizations, in Colombia. The managers expect
counternarcotics, alternative development, and judicial
reform to remain the principal focus of United States policy
in Colombia. The managers reiterate that the expanded
authority is not a signal from the managers for the United
States to become more deeply involved in assisting the
Colombian Armed Forces in fighting the terrorist groups,
especially not at the expense of the counternarcotics
programs, but to provide the means for more effective
intelligence gathering and fusion, and to provide the
flexibility to the Department of State when the distinction
between counternarcotics and counterterrorism are not clear
cut.
The conference report does not include certain earmarks for
organizations and programs that protect human rights in
Colombia, as proposed by the Senate. However, the conference
agreement provides that not less than $13,000,000 should be
made available for such organizations and programs. The
managers intend these funds to be allocated as follows: not
less than $2,500,000 for protecting human rights defenders in
Colombia; not less than $2,500,000 for the United Nations
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia;
not less than $6,500,000 for the Colombian Attorney General's
Human Rights Unit; and not less than $1,500,000 for the human
rights unit of the Colombian Procuraduria.
The managers remain concerned about the annual cost to the
United States of operating and maintaining the fleet of
helicopters used by the Colombian military for
counternarcotics and counterterrorism purposes. While these
helicopters are a key tool in the fight against coca and
poppy, the managers believe the Department of State should
begin to turn over the maintenance costs to the Colombian
government. In fiscal year 2004, over one-quarter of all
assistance to Colombia is devoted to these costs, and the
managers believe that other important programs in Colombia
need to be prioritized through the allocation of United
States assistance. Therefore, the managers expect to see the
start of this transition reflected in the fiscal year 2005
budget request, and if it is not, the managers expect this
matter to be
[[Page 31562]]
addressed in the fiscal year 2005 appropriations process.
The conference agreement continues current caps on the
number of United States military personnel and United States
civilian contractors in Colombia, as well as the current
prohibition on participation by such persons in combat
operations in connection with assistance made available by
this Act.
The conference agreement again includes existing conditions
on the aerial spraying of herbicide, similar to the Senate
amendment, to ensure that any use of such chemicals is
consistent with the Colombian Environmental Management Plan,
with Environmental Protection Agency regulations, and to
ensure that chemicals used in the aerial fumigation of coca
do not pose unreasonable health or safety risks to humans or
the environment. Additionally, not more than 20 percent of
funds made available for the purchase of chemicals used in
aerial spraying are available for obligation until the
Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency, certifies to the
Committees on Appropriations that a number of conditions and
concerns regarding the safety of spraying are addressed. This
is similar to current law and the Senate amendment. The House
did not address this matter.
The conference agreement does not include a Senate
prohibition on aerial fumigation in Colombia's national
parks. The managers are concerned with reports that coca
growers are moving into Colombia's national parks and
reserves, cutting trees and causing other environmental
damage. The managers support efforts to address this problem,
but agree that aerial fumigation in the parks and reserves
should be used as a last resort. Other alternatives should be
pursued, including manual eradication, training and equipping
police to protect the parks, and relocating families that
have moved into these areas. Accordingly, the conference
agreement includes language that before aerial fumigation is
conducted, the Secretary of State must determine that it is
in accordance with Colombian law and that there are no
practicable alternatives to reduce drug cultivation in these
areas. The managers request to be consulted prior to any such
determination.
The conference agreement provides that not less than
$2,500,000 should be made available for continued assistance
for the Colombian National Park Service. This language is
identical to the provision in the Senate amendment. The House
did not address this matter.
The managers endorse the House report language on the Naval
Postgraduate School and United States contractors in
Colombia.
The conference agreement includes the House language
prohibiting funds for the resumption of flights in support of
a Peruvian air interdiction program until a system of
enhanced safeguards are in place. The Senate did not address
this matter.
The conference agreement includes language similar to a
Senate provision, which provides that assistance should be
made available to the Bolivian military and police subject to
a determination and report by the Secretary of State that the
Bolivian military and police are respecting human rights and
cooperating with investigations and prosecutions of alleged
violations of human rights. The managers note that despite
repeated assurances by successive Bolivian governments that
human rights cases would be properly investigated and the
individuals responsible appropriately punished, little has
been done and impunity remains the norm for members of
Bolivian security forces who commit violations. The managers
urge the Secretary to give higher priority to these justice
issues.
The conference report includes changes to two reports for
Plan Colombia from the fiscal year 2000 emergency
supplemental. This issue is addressed in the general
provisions.
The conference agreement makes available $16,285,000 for
administrative expenses of the Department of State as
proposed by the Senate instead of $15,680,000 as proposed by
the House.
Migration and Refugee Assistance
The conference agreement makes available $21,000,000, for
administrative expenses as proposed by the Senate instead of
$18,500,000 as proposed by the House. The managers expect the
additional administrative funds to be used for refugee
admissions and emergency situations.
The conference agreement also includes Senate language
providing not less than $50,000,000 for refugees from the
former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and other refugees
resettling in Israel. The House addressed this matter in its
report.
The conference agreement does not include Senate language
providing that funds be made available for international
organizations for assistance for refugees from North Korea.
The managers strongly support the provision of funds for such
purposes, and expect the State Department to provide
sufficient assistance to safeguard the human rights and
dignity of North Korean refugees.
The conference agreement does not include Senate language
providing that funds should be made available for assistance
for persons in Thailand from Burma. The managers remain
deeply concerned with the plight of these individuals and are
troubled by reports that Thai authorities are harassing
Burmese in Thailand and hindering the provision of assistance
to such needy persons. The managers address this issue in the
general provisions of this Act.
The conference agreement does not include Senate language
that limits assistance to the central Government of Nepal
until the Secretary of State certifies that the Nepalese
authorities are cooperating with the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees and other international
organizations on issues concerning the protection of refugees
from Tibet. The managers endorse language in Senate Report
108-106 on this issue, and expect the Government of Nepal to
cease this deplorable behavior and to cooperate fully with
international organizations to ensure the safety of Tibetan
refugees. If the Government of Nepal continues to forcibly
repatriate Tibetan refugees, the managers will consider an
appropriate response.
The managers note that recent GAO findings show the State
Department has taken actions to implement Section 301(c) of
the Foreign Assistance Act to improve monitoring of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) by requiring
that they take all possible measures to assure that U.S.
funds do not benefit terrorists and those receiving military
training from guerilla groups. However, UNRWA's
implementation of these procedures is constrained by many
factors including safety of its staff and legitimate and
necessary Israeli securtiy procedures.
The managers urge UNRWA to implement the State Department's
recommendations to:
Issue explicit guidelines to staff to report compromises of
UNRWA staff or facilities;
Sever connections with Gaza Youth Activity Centers because
of ties to Palestinian radicals
Make the Operations Support Officer program a permanent
part of UNRWA's monitoring program by including it in the
regular budget, and
Continue to make all efforts to meet Israeli authorities.
The managers strongly urge the State Department to provide
necessary funding to enable UNRWA to make the Operations
Support Officer Program permanent.
The managers direct the Secretary of State to submit a
report to the Committees on Appropriations by no later than
June 20, 2004 describing steps taken to ensure the
implementation of these recommendations.
Language included in the House bill regarding organizations
adopting the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Code of Conduct is
addressed in section 594. The Senate addressed this matter in
the general provisions.
United States Emergency Migration and Refugee Assistance Fund
The conference agreement appropriates $30,000,000 for the
United States Emergency Migration and Refugee Assistance Fund
(ERMA), instead of $15,831,000 as proposed by the House and
$40,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes language from the Senate
amendment that provides the funds notwithstanding section
2(c)(2) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962.
Section 2(c)(2) would limit appropriated funds to this fund
if, when added, would cause the balance of the fund to exceed
$100,000,000.
Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs
The conference agreement appropriates $353,500,000 for
Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related
Programs, instead of $385,200,000 as proposed by the Senate
and $335,200,000 as proposed by the House.
Funds in this account are allocated in the following table
and, as stipulated in bill language any change to these
allocations is subject to the regular reprogramming
procedures of the Committees on Appropriations:
NonProliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and Related Programs
[Budget authority in thousands of dollars]
Conference Agreement
Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund...........................$30,000
Export Control and Border Security assistance....................36,000
Science Centers..................................................50,500
International Atomic Energy Agency--Voluntary Contribution.......53,000
CTBT/International Monitoring System.............................19,000
Anti-terrorism Assistance........................................97,000
Terrorist Interdiction Program....................................5,000
Humanitarian Demining............................................50,000
International Trust Fund for Demining............................10,000
Small Arms/Light Weapons Destruction..............................3,000
________________
NADR Total..................................................353,500
The conference agreement contains language similar to that
included in the Senate amendment that authorizes not to
exceed $250,000 for the support of public-private
partnerships for mine action by grant, cooperative agreement,
or contract. The managers direct that the State Department
provide a financial plan for the use of these funds to the
Committees on Appropriations
[[Page 31563]]
prior to the use of this authority. The House bill did not
address this matter.
The managers endorse the Senate report language regarding
demining and the House and Senate report language regarding
the Anti-terrorism Assistance program. With respect to Anti-
terrorism Assistance, the managers note that an additional
$10,400,000 was provided for this program in the Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense and the
Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan (P.L. 108-106). The
conferees strongly support the anti-terrorism program and the
conference level of $97,000,000 represents an increase of 48
percent above the level provided in fiscal year 2003.
The managers recognize the central role of financing in the
operation of terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda and
commend the Administration for initial actions taken in the
wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 to block
the flow of money to these organizations. Given the wide
range of formal and informal financial mechanisms to secure
funding and to move it around the globe, the managers
acknowledge the need for an increasingly forceful approach to
this problem.
The managers note the importance of an interagency effort
by the Terrorist Financial Working Group to curb the funding
to terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda. The effort by
the Departments of State, Treasury, and Justice, working with
other agencies, is a key element in the fight against
international terrorism.
The managers direct the Department of State, in
consultation with the Department of the Treasury, to provide
a report on the spending of funds provided for counter-
terrorist financing in fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003, and
a list of planned spending in 2004. In addition, the report
shall contain a list of countries the Administration
considers to be the major source and/or transit points for
terror financing, a list of the interagency priority
countries with which federal agencies are currently working
and the activities taking place in those countries, and a
list of other countries the interagency working group has
identified as needing such assistance in the future and the
types of activities that will be required in those countries.
The report shall be provided no later than 120 days after
enactment of this Act and the list of countries may be
classified if the Secretary of State determines that this is
necessary.
Department of the Treasury
International Affairs Technical Assistance
The conference agreement provides $19,000,000 for the
International Affairs Technical Assistance program of the
Department of the Treasury as proposed by the House instead
of $12,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The managers support the efforts of the Department of the
Treasury, International Affairs Technical Assistance, to
assist nations in their efforts to reduce financial crimes
and corruption by strengthening those governmental systems.
The Department of the Treasury has been providing technical
assistance for over a decade to nations facing economic
disruption due to systemic weaknesses, post conflict crises,
terrorist influences, or criminal practices. The managers
urge the Department of the Treasury to continue its current
technical assistance program and to strengthen its law
enforcement program with additional resident and intermittent
advisors. The managers further direct the Department of the
Treasury to manage its technical assistance program in
accordance with its own policies and to report to the
Committees on Appropriations on the status of its efforts.
The conference agreement provides an additional $5,000,000
above the President's request, and the managers direct the
additional funds be used for terrorist financing activities
and to expand programs providing economic advisors to assist
countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The managers endorse the language of the House report with
respect to the International Affairs Technical Assistance
program.
Debt Restructuring
The conference agreement provides $95,000,000 for Debt
Restructuring, the same level as proposed by the House bill
instead of $195,000,000 in the Senate amendment. The managers
expect the funds to be allocated as follows: $20,000,000 for
the Tropical Forest Conservation Act Programs and $75,000,000
for the first of two contributions to the Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries Trust Fund.
Prior to obligating any funds for the HIPC Trust fund, the
managers direct the Department of the Treasury to submit in
writing to the Committees on Appropriations: a list of donors
to the HIPC Trust Fund, each donor's pledge and actual
contribution, the date of contributions, detailed
disbursement data of the Fund including the level of funds
transferred to each financial institution and the date of
transfer, the current and expected future balance of the HIPC
Trust Fund, an explanation of the current HIPC Trust Fund
shortfall of funds, and an estimate of future United States
contributions to the HIPC Trust Fund beyond fiscal year 2005.
The conference report does not include funds for bilateral
debt relief for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DROC).
Given the greater humanitarian and emergency needs in the
DROC, the conference agreement has dedicated funding to the
Development Assistance, Child Survival and Health Programs
Fund, International Disaster Assistance, Office of Transition
Initiatives, and the Economic Support Fund in the expectation
that this assistance will address and benefit more
immediately the most pressing needs in DROC and Africa.
TITLE III--MILITARY ASSISTANCE
International Military Education and Training
The conference agreement provides $91,700,000 for the
International Military Education and Training program as
proposed by the Senate instead of $91,100,000 as proposed by
the House.
The conference agreement provides that funding for Algeria
and Cambodia shall be subject to the regular notification
procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. The House
bill did not include these nations, but both the House bill
and the Senate amendment provided that funding for Nigeria
and Guatemala is subject to notification.
As evidenced by the conference agreement, the managers
continue to strongly support the International Military
Education and Training (IMET) program.
The managers endorse the Senate report language concerning
performance evaluation procedures of the IMET program. The
managers believe that more needs to be done to improve output
measures for the IMET program. The managers believe that
simply counting the number of trainees is not sufficient to
measure the IMET program and its results. The managers expect
not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, that the
Secretary of State, after consultation with the Secretary of
Defense, shall report to the Committees on Appropriations on
other factors that will be used to measure and evaluate the
success of the IMET program.
The managers endorse Senate report language on the
Informational Program. In section 554, the managers have
agreed to the provision in the House bill that requires the
Secretaries of Defense and State to submit the annual foreign
military training report required by section 656 of the
Foreign Assistance Act to the Committees on Appropriations.
This provision eliminates the requirement for separate
reports to be prepared and transmitted to Congress.
Foreign Military Financing Program (including transfer of funds)
The conference agreement appropriates $4,294,000,000
instead of $4,314,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$4,384,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The managers have included language providing
$2,160,000,000 for Israel and $1,300,000,000 for Egypt as
proposed in both the House and Senate bills. The conference
agreement includes language similar to that proposed in the
Senate bill which provides that $206,000,000 should be made
available for assistance for Jordan.
The managers note that in a previous continuing resolution,
P.L. 108-84, the Congress authorized a $550,000,000 Foreign
Military Financing loan to the Czech Republic for the
acquisition, logistics and training support of U.S. F-16
aircraft. The Administration request stated that this action
would have no budgetary impact, but the Congressional Budget
Office did not concur and estimated the subsidy cost of this
assistance under section 502 of the Budget Act to be
$20,000,000. As this cost must be accommodated within the
budget allocation for this bill, the managers have made the
necessary reductions to absorb this credit subsidy within the
amounts provided under this heading.
The conference agreement includes $50,000,000 for FMF
assistance for Afghanistan. The conference agreement includes
$20,000,000 for the Philippines as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $2,000,000 in FMF
assistance for counter-terrorism efforts by Uganda as
proposed by the House.
The managers have not included the earmark of $27,000,000
for assistance to Poland as proposed by the Senate. The
managers strongly support expansion of United States foreign
military assistance to Poland, and increased assistance for
all nations that are contributing coalition forces in Iraq.
The managers expect the Administration to propose increased
FMF support for nations such as Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia and
Lithuania in the fiscal year 2005 budget request.
The managers note that in its efforts to obtain Article 98
agreements, the State Department inadvertently allowed the
signature of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as
simply ``Macedonia.'' In the future the Department should
adhere to current policy using the formal name for this
Balkan nation.
The managers have included language similar to that in the
Senate bill allowing transfer of $17,000,000 to the ``Andean
Counterdrug Initiative'' account for aircraft and related
assistance for the Colombian National Police. The managers
have included language proposed by the Senate that prohibits
the use of funds for activities relating to the clearance of
unexploded ordnance from United States Armed Forces testing
or training exercises, except on San Jose Island, Republic of
Panama, where such activities already are underway.
[[Page 31564]]
peacekeeping operations
The conference agreement appropriates $74,900,000 for
``Peacekeeping Operations'' (PKO) instead of $84,900,000 as
proposed by the Senate and $85,000,000 as proposed by the
House.
The managers have fully funded every program in this
account, except for a request for additional financial
support for the Afghan National Army. While recognizing the
importance of this initiative, the managers believe that this
request can be fulfilled by using PKO funds provided in prior
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Acts for Iraq and
Afghanistan (P.L. 108-106 and P.L. 108-11).
TITLE IV--MULTILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
International Financial Institutions
Global Environment Facility
The conference agreement appropriates $139,240,000 for the
Global Environment Facility (GEF) instead of $107,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $170,997,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The managers intend that $107,500,000 of this amount
is for the scheduled United States contribution to the third
replenishment of the GEF, and $31,740,000 for past payments
due.
Contribution to the International Development Association
The conference agreement appropriates $913,200,000 for the
International Development Association (IDA), the concessional
lending facility of the World Bank, instead of $850,000,000
as proposed by the House and $976,825,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The managers intend that the appropriation be made
available to fully provide for the first scheduled payment
under the United States commitment to the thirteenth
replenishment of IDA and to provide $63,200,000 of the
$100,000,000 incentive contribution.
The Secretary of the Treasury certified on April 12, 2003
that the World Bank had met the conditions, specifically the
setting up of performance benchmarks for World Bank programs,
which would have allowed for an additional contribution of
$100,000,000. However, the Committees on Appropriations were
not consulted regarding this commitment of an additional
$100,000,000 in appropriated funds. Therefore, the managers
have included language that would require an independent
audit to determine if the World Bank is meeting its
performance targets in the spring of 2004 before the
Secretary of the Treasury can further commit appropriated
funds to the IDA-13 agreement. If an independent audit is not
conducted, the managers do not plan to include any incentive
contribution in fiscal year 2005.
Contribution to the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
The conference agreement appropriates $1,124,000 for paid-
in capital for the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
(MIGA), the amount provided in the Senate amendment, instead
of $4,001,672 as proposed by the House bill. The managers
intend for the appropriation to be provided for past payments
due by the United States to MIGA. Approval for a subscription
to the appropriate amount of callable capital is also
included in the conference agreement.
Contribution to the Inter-American Investment Corporation
The conference agreement includes no appropriation for past
payments due to the Inter-American Investment Corporation, as
proposed by the House. The Senate proposed funding at a level
of $898,000.
The managers endorse House report language regarding the
Inter-American Development Bank.
Contribution to the Enterprise for the Americas Multilateral Investment
Fund
The conference agreement appropriates $25,000,000 for past
due payments by the United States to the Multilateral
Investment Fund as proposed by the House, instead of
$30,614,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Contribution to the Asian Development Fund
The conference agreement provides $144,421,000 for the
United States contribution to the Asian Development Fund,
instead of $151,921,405 as proposed by the House and
$136,921,000 as proposed by the Senate. The managers intend
that the appropriation be made available to fully provide for
the $103,000,000 scheduled payment under the United States
commitment to the seventh replenishment of the Asian
Development Fund and $41,421,000 for past payments due.
The managers endorse House report language regarding the
Asian Development Bank.
Contribution to the African Development Bank
The conference agreement appropriates $5,104,930 for the
African Development Bank as proposed by the House instead of
$5,105,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Contribution to the African Development Fund
The conference agreement appropriates $112,725,000 for the
African Development Fund instead of $107,370,856 as proposed
by the House and $118,081,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Contribution to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The conference agreement provides $35,431,111 for the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as proposed
by the House instead of $35,431,100 as proposed by the
Senate.
International Fund for Agricultural Development
The conference agreement includes $15,004,042 for a United
States contribution to the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), as provided by the House.
The Senate amendment provided $15,004,000. While IFAD is the
seventh largest multilateral contributor to the enhanced
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative (HIPC), it,
however, still does not have access to the core resources of
the companion HIPC Trust Fund. Currently, IFAD has to absorb
87 percent of the cost for participating in HIPC, while other
multilateral development banks with full access absorb much
smaller percentages. The managers urge the Administration to
work with other donors so IFAD will gain access to the core
resources of the HIPC Trust Fund.
International Organizations and Programs
The conference agreement provides $321,650,000 for
voluntary contributions to International Organizations and
Programs instead of $194,550,000 as proposed by the House and
$322,550,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement provides $120,000,000 for a contribution to UNICEF
under this heading, as proposed by the Senate. The House
provided these funds under the heading ``Child Survival and
Health Activities''.
The managers continue to support the work of the World Food
Program (WFP) and have provided $6,000,000 for a voluntary
contribution under section 534 of this Act similar to the
Senate amendment. The House included a $6,000,000
contribution to the WFP under this heading.
The managers have included $750,000 for a voluntary
contribution for the United Nations Human Settlements Program
(UNHABITAT), which works to improve the lives of slum
dwellers around the world. The managers note that in prior
fiscal years the Administration has supported the work of
UNHABITAT and reprogrammed funds to this organization. The
managers recognize the Administration's efforts on this issue
and urge that funds are requested for UNHABITAT in fiscal
year 2005.
The managers are concerned that in fiscal year 2003, the
Department of State disproportionately applied the 0.65
percent across-the-board cut mandated by P.L. 108-7 instead
of reducing every program in this account by the same amount.
As a result, certain organizations and programs under this
heading bore the brunt of the rescission while others were
not reduced. The conference agreement does not contain Senate
earmarks under this heading, but the managers intend that the
State Department will allocate funds according to the chart
below. Should any across the board rescission be mandated
that impacts this Act, such rescission is to be applied
equitably for each organization and program indicated in the
chart.
The managers have provided $2,500,000 for the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to support its
activities including human rights training for peacekeepers,
activities to address trafficking in persons, monitoring and
field activities.
Funds in this account are allocated in the following table
and, as stipulated in bill language any change to these
allocations is subject to the regular reprogramming
procedures of the Committees on Appropriations;
[$ in thousands]
UN High Commissioner, Human Rights...............................$2,500
UN Fund for Tech. Cooperation in Human Rights.....................1,500
UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture..........................5,500
OAS Fund for Strengthening Democracy..............................3,000
UNDP............................................................102,000
UNIFEM............................................................1,000
UNICEF..........................................................120,000
OAS Development Assistance........................................5,500
OAS Special Mission in Haiti......................................5,000
WTO...............................................................1,000
ICAO Aviation Programs............................................1,000
UNEP.............................................................11,000
World Food Program...................................................*0
Montreal Protocol................................................21,000
International Conservation Programs (CITES/ITTO/IUCN/Ramsar/CCD)..6,400
IPCC/UNFCCC.......................................................5,600
International Contributions for Scientific Educational & Cultural
Activities......................................................1,900
World Meteorological Organization.................................2,000
UN Center for Human Settlements.....................................750
Reserve to be allocated..........................................25,000
________________
Total.......................................................321,650
*$6,000,000 provided under section 534.
[[Page 31565]]
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
(NOTE: If House and Senate language is identical except for
a different section number or minor technical differences,
the section is not discussed in the Statement of Managers.)
Sec. 502. Private and Voluntary Organizations
The conference agreement includes language identical to
that included in the House bill that requires receiving
development assistance to obtain more than 20 percent of its
total annual funding from other sources. The section does not
include Senate language requiring that funds must be made
available to PVOs in title II at the level they were provided
in fiscal year 1995.
Sec. 506. Prohibition on Taxation of United States Assistance
The conference agreement contains a provision prohibiting
taxation of United States assistance that is a modification
of a similar provision contained in section 579 of the fiscal
year 2003 foreign operations appropriations Act. The managers
intend that section 579 be applied in accordance with the
changes made to that section by this Act. In addition, in
order not to create an undue reporting burden on contractors,
grantees and other entities implementing that section, and in
recognition that the reimbursement process is often not
completed by the time it is necessary to determine what
amounts are to be withheld, the managers agree that in
determining amounts to be withheld agencies may use estimates
and statistical sampling to determine the amount of assessed
taxes and the amount of reimbursements that will be paid over
a reasonable period of time. The Senate did not address this
matter.
Sec. 507. Prohibition Against Direct Funding for Certain
Countries
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
included in the House bill regarding prohibiting assistance
to certain countries, but does not include Senate language
adding Sudan to the list of countries.
The conference agreement includes language clarifying
terminology in P.L. 106-570 regarding Sudan as proposed by
the Senate, but it is included in section 534, ``Special
Authorities''. The House did not address this matter.
Sec. 509. Transfers
The conference report includes House language on this
matter. The new provisions of this section would prohibit
transfers to any department, agency, or instrumentality of
the United States unless specifically authorized in this Act,
except for certain transfers authorized by provisions of the
Foreign Assistance Act. The Senate did not address this
matter.
Sec. 515. Notification Requirements
The conference agreement reflects a technical change to
include ``Global HIV/AIDS Initiative'' and ``Millennium
Challenge Corporation'' to the list of accounts that are
subject to notification pursuant to this section. The House
bill had similar language, and the Senate did not address
these matters.
Sec. 517. Independent States of the Former Soviet Union
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
proposed in the House bill regarding Enterprise Funds. The
provision does not include Senate language regarding the
ability to deposit funds in an interest bearing account and
the spending of such interest. This language is in permanent
law and does not need to be included.
Sec. 520. Special Notification Requirements
The conference agreement adds ``Cambodia'' to the list of
countries subject to special notification procedures of this
section as proposed by the Senate but deletes ``Colombia'' as
proposed by the House. This section does not delete
``Serbia'' and ``Pakistan'' as recommended by the House.
Sec. 522. Child Survival and Health Activities
The conference agreement authorizes USAID to use up to
$13,500,000 from the ``Child Survival and Health Programs
Fund'' and $3,500,000 from ``Development Assistance'' for
technical experts from other government agencies,
universities, and other institutions.
The conference agreement includes language notwithstanding
any other provision of law, except for those provisions under
``Child Survival and Health Programs'' and P.L. 108-25 (the
``United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis,
and Malaria Act of 2003''), for funds appropriated by titles
II and III of this Act for bilateral child survival or
disease programs.
The conference agreement also deletes authority allowing
funds from titles II and III (in the House bill) or title III
(in the Senate bill) to be used for activities authorized
under section 301 of the Foreign Assistance Act. This
authority is no longer needed, since funding for UNICEF has
been moved to the International Organizations and Programs
section.
The conference agreement provides that not less than
$432,000,000 shall be made available for reproductive health/
family planning activities from funds appropriated by this
Act.
Sec. 523. Afghanistan
The conference agreement provides that not less than
$405,000,000 of the funds appropriated by titles II and III
shall be made available for humanitarian and reconstruction
assistance for Afghanistan. The House and Senate proposed a
level of not less than $600,000,000. With the enactment of
the fiscal year 2004 emergency supplemental (P.L. 108-106),
an additional $1,200,000,000 has been provided for
Afghanistan in fiscal year 2004.
The managers intend that funds provided under this section
be allocated as follows:
[$ in thousands]
Child Survival and Health Programs Fund.........................$21,000
Development Assistance..........................................150,000
International Disaster Assistance................................35,000
Economic Support Fund............................................75,000
Migration and Refugee Assistance.................................72,000
Foreign Military Financing.......................................50,000
Other.............................................................2,000
________________
Total.......................................................405,000
The managers intend that not less than $2,000,000 be
provided for a reforestation program in Afghanistan, not less
than $2,000,000 for the Afghan Judicial Reform Commission,
not less than $5,000,000 for the Afghan women's programs, and
not less than $2,000,000 for assistance for Afghans that
suffer losses from military operations.
The managers urge the Department of State and USAID in
Afghanistan to work together to ensure that United States and
international officials, contractors, and grantees are more
adequately protected from insurgent attacks as they manage
and implement reconstruction projects. In particular, the
Embassy is requested to use the authorities and funds made
available for Afghanistan in this Act and in P.L. 108-106 to
equitably allocate diplomatic security and contract security
so that USAID and other assistance managers can more safely
oversee and assess programs outside of Kabul.
The managers welcome the new mandate to expand the presence
of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) outside
Kabul. However, without additional resources and military
personnel, ISAF expansion may not effectively contribute to
creating a security environment for political development and
reconstruction in Afghanistan, particularly in the south and
southeast. The managers urge the Administration to provide
resources to support ISAF expansion and to seek additional
NATO partners in this effort.
The managers also urge the Administration to work with NATO
partners to reconcile ISAF expansion with any plans to create
additional Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). The
managers support the PRTs and believe their primary focus
should continue to be enhancing security throughout
Afghanistan.
The managers note that women in Afghanistan continue to
struggle to achieve the most basic rights despite the efforts
of the new government. The managers urge that women be
carefully integrated into activities related to development
and reconstruction, and also believe that there should be a
specific focus on strengthening women-led institutions and
organizations.
Therefore the managers provide $5,000,000 for programs
aimed at addressing the needs of Afghan women through
training and equipment to improve the capacity of women-led
Afghan nongovernmental organizations, and to support the
activities of such organizations. The managers urge USAID to
establish a contracting mechanism for the disbursal and
monitoring of small grants to women-led nongovernmental
organizations to accomplish this goal.
Sec. 525. USAID Overseas Program
The conference agreement includes language proposed by the
House that provides funds in this and subsequent
appropriations Acts to carry out Part I of the Foreign
Assistance Act may be used to employ individuals overseas on
a limited appointment basis, and limits the number of
employees hired under this provision to not more than 85. The
Senate did not address this matter.
Sec. 526. Democracy Programs
The conference agreement includes $13,500,000 for
democracy, human rights and rule of law programs in the
People's Republic of China and Hong Kong, instead of
$35,000,000 as proposed by the Senate, and provides that
funds appropriated under the heading ``Economic Support
Fund'' should be made available for assistance for Taiwan for
the purposes of furthering political and legal reforms,
subject to a matching requirement.
The conference agreement includes $11,500,000 for programs
and activities to foster democracy, human rights, civic
education, women's development, press freedom, and the rule
of law in countries with a significant Muslim population, and
where such programs and activities would be important to
United States efforts to respond to, deter, or prevent acts
of international terrorism. The Senate proposed $25,000,000
for these activities; the House did not address this matter.
The conference agreement provides $3,000,000 of such funds
shall be made available for programs and activities that
provide
[[Page 31566]]
professional training for journalists. The conference
agreement includes language similar to a Senate proposal,
which provides that ``Economic Support Fund'' assistance
shall be made available to support civil society
organizations working for democracy in Egypt. The managers
intend that not less than $1,000,000 be made available for
such organizations, including the Ibn Khaldun Center for
Development, and that these funds are to be in addition to
other amounts made available for Egypt in the Act.
The managers provide that not to exceed $1,500,000 of such
funds may be used for making grants to educational,
humanitarian and nongovernmental organizations and
individuals inside Iran to support the advancement of
democracy and human rights in Iran. The managers expect the
Bureau for Democracy and Human Rights to provide $1,000,000
for such activities, the National Endowment for Democracy to
provide $500,000, and to consult with the Committees on
Appropriations prior to obligating any funds for these
programs.
The conference agreement provides not less than $3,000,000
shall be made available for programs and activities of the
National Endowment for Democracy to foster democracy, human
rights, civic education, women's development, press freedom,
and the rule of law in countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The conference agreement provides a total of $17,500,000
for activities of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor, Department of State under this section, and not less
than $34,500,000 from funds made available by this Act. The
agreement provides a total of $9,500,000 for activities of
the National Endowment for Democracy under this section.
The managers expect that funds made available under this
section will be made available to the Alliance for Reform and
Democracy in Asia.
The managers endorse language in Senate Report 108-106
regarding democracy programs, and direct USAID to consult
with the Committees prior to making any changes in the
framework or operation of its Consortium for Elections
Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) funding mechanism.
The managers endorse the reporting requirement contained in
the Senate report on anticipated contributions to the CEPPS
funding mechanism from all accounts.
Sec. 528. Debt for Development
The conference agreement includes House language on this
matter. The Senate amendment would have authorized the use of
appropriated funds for endowments. The managers are concerned
about the desire of the Administration to create endowments
without the consent of the Committees on Appropriations,
therefore the managers expect that any endowments proposed by
the Administration in fiscal year 2005 will be proposed in
the President's budget request for fiscal year 2005.
The conference agreement does not include Senate language
expanding the authorities of the provision to allow non-
governmental organizations to deposit any funds made
available in this Act or in prior Acts into interest bearing
accounts. The House did not address this matter.
Sec. 531. Burma
The conference agreement includes a modified version of the
Senate's provision on the use of the Economic Support Fund in
Burma and along the Burma-Thailand border, and, in addition,
a House provision, similar to language in prior year Acts,
regarding independent media activities promoting democracy
inside Burma.
The managers continue to strongly support the struggle for
freedom in Burma, and call for the immediate and
unconditional release of Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi and all other prisoners of conscience. The
managers expect the State Department to use every opportunity
to press regional neighbors and the community of democracies
to support political reconciliation in Burma that includes
the full consultation and participation of the National
League for Democracy and ethnic nationalities.
The managers are concerned with reports of growing military
ties between Burma and North Korea, and the purchase of
weapons from North Korea through shipments of heroin. The
managers request that, not later than 90 days after enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State report to the Committees
on the nature and extent of military ties between these two
rogue nations.
The conference agreement provides $13,000,000 to support
democracy programs in Burma, along the Burma-Thailand border,
for activities of Burmese student groups and other
organizations located outside Burma, and for the purpose of
supporting the provision of humanitarian assistance to
displaced Burmese along Burma's borders. The agreement
provides that $5,000,000 shall be allocated to the United
States Agency for International Development for humanitarian
assistance for displaced Burmese and host communities in
Thailand, and that $500,000 should be made available to
support newspapers, publications, and other media activities
promoting democracy inside Burma. The managers request to be
consulted prior to the provision of any assistance to
Irrawaddy Publishing Group.
The managers again expect that $1,000,000 will be provided
to support efforts to combat HIV/AIDS inside of Burma, and
that not less than $1,000,000 will be provided to support
efforts to limit malaria and infectious diseases among
Burmese along the Burma-Thailand border. These funds are to
be made available under the heading Child Survival and Health
Programs Fund in this Act, and are in addition to the amounts
provided under this section.
The conference agreement includes a reporting requirement
by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the
Administrator of USAID, describing the estimated amount and
rate of disbursement of fiscal year 2002 and 2003 funding for
HIV/AIDS programs and activities in Burma, the amount of
funds expended by the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) on HIV/AIDS programs and activities in calendar years
2001, 2002, and 2003, and the extent to which international
nongovernmental organizations are able to conduct HIV/AIDS
programs throughout Burma, including the ability of
expatriate staff to freely travel through the country and to
conduct programmatic oversight independent of SPDC handling
and monitoring.
Sec. 534. Special Authorities
The conference agreement includes House language providing
certain authority for assistance for Lebanon and Montenegro
and Pakistan, assistance to victims of war, displaced
Burmese, and assistance to combat trafficking.
The managers have continued current authority for certain
bureaus and offices in USAID to hire personal service
contractors, expanded existing authority for USAID to provide
support for administrative costs of a program to provide
information regarding available donated space on commercial
ships to organizations shipping humanitarian assistance, and
provides for expanded authorities under section 660(b)(6) of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
The conference agreement includes Senate language giving
authority notwithstanding any other provision of law for the
National Endowment for Democracy as proposed by the House and
Senate.
The conference report also includes language that provides
$6,000,000 for the World Food Program from USAID's Bureau for
Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance as proposed
by the Senate. The House provided these funds under the
heading ``International Organizations and Programs''.
Sec. 539. Ceilings and Earmarks
The conference agreement includes House language that
allows for funds provided in this Act to be made available
notwithstanding earmarks in any other Act, similar to
language proposed in the Senate.
Sec. 544. Withholding of Assistance for Parking Fines Owed by
Foreign Countries
The conference agreement allows 110 percent of the total
amount of unpaid parking fines determined to be owed by
foreign countries to the District of Columbia and New York
City, New York, to be withheld from obligation for assistance
to such country, as proposed by the Senate. The language is
similar to that proposed by the House.
The managers are concerned that nations receiving foreign
assistance under this Act owe at least $16,600,000 to the
City of New York in unpaid parking tickets and penalties.
Noting the longstanding efforts of the City to work with the
State Department to collect these outstanding balances, the
managers have included language to enhance the penalties
associated with this provision. This is similar to Senate
language.
The managers urge the State Department to work
cooperatively with the City of New York and the District of
Columbia to find a workable solution to collect the unpaid
balances from 1997 to 2002 that satisfies all sides and
resolves the situation once and for all.
Sec. 546. War Crimes Tribunals Drawdown
The conference agreement includes House and Senate language
authorizing up to $30,000,000 in drawdowns of commodities or
services for war crimes tribunals. The conference agreement
includes Senate language adding the Special Court for Sierra
Leone to the list of tribunals exempted from notification.
The House did not address this matter.
Sec. 550. Restrictions on Voluntary Contributions to United
Nations Agencies
The conference agreement includes language in the House
bill prohibiting voluntary contributions to the United
Nations if the United Nations implements or imposes any
taxation on people in the United States. The Senate did not
address this matter.
Sec. 552. Limitation on Assistance to the Palestinian
Authority
The conference report includes language similar to the
House bill that prohibits funding to the Palestinian
Authority to carry our chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign
Assistance Act and includes a waiver if the President
certifies in writing to the Speaker of the House and the
President Pro Tempore of the Senate that waiving such a
provision is important to the national security interests of
the United States. The conference report includes Senate
language requiring a report on, among other issues, a
description of how
[[Page 31567]]
the funds will be spent and the accounting provisions used to
monitor their expenditure, should the waiver be exercised.
The House did not address this matter.
Sec. 554. Foreign Military Training Report
The conference agreement includes House language requiring
the Secretaries of Defense and State to submit the annual
foreign military training report required by section 656 of
the Foreign Assistance Act to the Committees on
Appropriations by the date specified in that section. The
Senate amendment would have continued the requirement of a
similar but separate report to the Committees on
Appropriations.
Sec. 555. Environment Programs
The conference report includes language similar to a Senate
provision for programs that protect biodiversity and energy
conservation, energy efficiency and clean energy programs, in
developing countries. This matter is addressed under the
heading ``Development Assistance''.
Sec. 556. Regional Programs for East Asia and the Pacific
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
proposed by the Senate requiring that funds appropriated
under the heading ``Economic Support Fund'' that are
requested for ``Regional Democracy'' assistance for the State
Department's Bureau of East Asia and the Pacific shall be
made available for the Human Rights and Democracy Fund of the
State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and
Labor.
Sec. 557. Zimbabwe
The conference agreement is the same as current law and is
identical to the Senate amendment. The House did not address
this matter.
Sec. 558. Tibet
The conference agreement includes language similar to a
Senate provision regarding Tibet, but the matter is addressed
under the heading ``Economic Support Fund''.
Sec. 559. Authorization Requirement
The conference agreement includes language that provides
that funds appropriated by this Act may be obligated and
expended notwithstanding section 10 of Public Law 91-672 and
section 15 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of
1956, similar to language provided in the Senate amendment.
Sec. 560. Nigeria
The conference agreement includes a provision identical to
current law and the Senate amendment that restricts the use
of IMET and FMF for Nigeria until a Presidential
certification regarding actions taken against whom there is
credible evidence of gross violations of human rights in
Benue State in October 2001, and the Government of Nigeria
and the Nigerian Armed Forces are taking effective measures
to bring such individuals to justice. The conference
agreement includes a Presidential waiver. The House did not
address this matter.
Sec. 561. Cambodia
The conference agreement includes language similar to the
Senate provision continuing restrictions on assistance to the
central Government of Cambodia, with a few exceptions, and
provides up to $4,000,000 for assistance for democracy
programs in that country. The managers endorse the budget
request for Cambodia, but recommend $17,000,000, instead of
$15,000,000, in assistance under the heading ``Economic
Support Fund''.
The managers permit IMET assistance to Cambodia should the
Secretary of State provide a list of those individuals
credibly alleged to be responsible for gross human rights
violations in Cambodia, including, among other tragic events,
the 1997 grenade attack against the Khmer Nation Party that
killed and injured scores of Cambodians and American
democracy worker Ron Abney. The managers expect a broad range
of official and nongovernmental organizations to be consulted
in creating this list. The managers also request the Federal
Bureau of Investigation to renew efforts to investigate this
act of terrorism.
The conference agreement prohibits the use of funds in this
Act to support any Khmer Rouge tribunal established by the
Government of Cambodia. The managers strongly support justice
for genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the Pol
Pot regime, but remain concerned that the proposed tribunal--
in its current formation--is open to manipulation and
interference by the Cambodian People's Party and falls short
of meeting international standards of justice. The managers
expect sufficient funding to be provided to the Documentation
Center of Cambodia.
The managers remain concerned with the political situation
in Cambodia, and commend the Alliance of Democrats for their
commitment to democracy and the rule of law. The managers
recommend that the State Department continue to publicly
support the legal rights of the Alliance to negotiate a new
Cambodian government and to press the Government of Cambodia
for justice for crimes and human rights abuses committed with
impunity, including the murder of former parliamentarian Om
Radsady earlier this year.
The managers recommend sufficient funding be provided to
Global Witness, the only effective watchdog organization on
Cambodia deforestation issues.
Section 562. Palestinian Statehood
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
proposed by the House that prohibits funding to support a
Palestinian state unless the Secretary of State makes certain
determinations. The Senate had similar language.
Section 563. Colombia
The conference agreement includes a modified version of the
Senate language on conditioning funds for Colombian Armed
Forces through a two-time human rights certification process.
Additionally, these funds are made available only upon
notification to the Committees on Appropriations, and the
conference report includes language requiring the Department
of State to consult with the human rights non-governmental
organizations every 90 days instead of prior to the
certification. The House addressed this matter but only
required a one-time certification.
Sec. 567. Contributions to United Nations Population Fund
The conference report provides $34,000,000 for the United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which is subject to the
``Kemp-Kasten'' provision. Of this amount, $25,000,000 is to
be made available from the ``International Organizations and
Programs'' account and the balance from the ``Child Survival
and Health Programs Fund''. The managers are aware that UNFPA
has stated its opposition to the Chinese Government's one
child policy and its social compensation fee. The managers
condemn all forms of coercion in China's family planning
policy and practice. The managers request the Department of
State to report to the Committees not later than July 15,
2004, on the steps it and UNFPA have taken to urge the
Government of China to end its birth limitation policy,
including the social compensation fee, and the results of
those efforts, nationally, and particularly in the counties
in which UNFPA operates.
Sec. 568. Central Asia
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
included in the Senate amendment that conditions the
assistance to the Governments of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The House did not address this matter.
Sec. 569. Discrimination Against Minority Religious Faiths in
the Russian Federation
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
in the Senate bill and the fiscal year 2002 Act that
withholds funds for the Government of the Russian Federation
until the President certifies that the Russian Central
Government is not acting to discriminate against minority
religious faiths. The House did not address this matter.
Sec. 572. Funding for Serbia
The conference agreement contains language similar to that
proposed by the Senate, except that the provisions of this
section affect assistance for Serbia after March 31, 2004. In
addition, language is included that specifies Radko Mladic as
an indictee whose surrender and transfer, if practicable,
would signify cooperation with the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The House bill included
current law only.
Sec. 573. Community-Based Police Assistance
The conference agreement includes language similar to the
House language authorizing use of certain USAID-administered
funds in title 11 of this Act for support for civilian police
in Jamaica and El Salvador, notwithstanding section 660 of
the Foreign Assistance Act, and any funds for this purpose
are subject to notification. The Senate bill included a
general, world-wide waiver of this authority.
Sec. 576. Disaster Surge Capacity
The conference report includes language proposed by the
House that allows funds in this Act to carry out part I of
the FAA to be used to pay for detailees to or employees of
USAID who carry out programs to address disasters, or
programs under the heading ``Transition Initiatives''.
Sec. 577. IFAD Authorization
The conference report includes language proposed by the
House that authorizes $45,000,000 without fiscal year
limitation for payment by Treasury for the International Fund
for Agricultural Development. The Senate did not address this
matter.
Sec. 578. Philippine Education and Health Infrastructure
The conference agreement includes language as proposed by
the House bill that requires that $600,000 of funds under the
heading ``Economic Support Fund'' provided in P.L. 108-11
shall be available only for upgrading education and health
infrastructure in the Sulu Archipelago.
Sec. 579. Basic Education
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
proposed by the House that provides not less than
$326,500,000 for basic education from title II and requires
the Secretary of State shall submit a report not less than
120 days after enactment of this Act laying out the strategy
for the use of
[[Page 31568]]
basic education funds. The Senate did not address this
matter.
Sec. 580. Participation in the Thirteenth Replenishment of
the Resources of the International Development
Association
The conference report includes language identical to that
proposed by the House that would authorize a further United
States contribution to IDA, including making the contribution
subject to prior appropriations. The Senate did not address
this matter.
Sec. 581. Administrative Provisions Related to the
Multilateral Development Institutions
The conference report includes language similar to section
578 of the House bill and section 679 of the Senate
amendment, regarding transparency and accountability at the
multilateral development institutions. The managers are
concerned that these institutions are not moving fast enough
to strengthen oversight of internal controls and procedures,
protect whistle blowers from retaliation, and broaden public
access to information about lending proposals, strategies and
policies. The conference agreement provides that the
Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the U.S. Executive
Director at each of these institutions to inform the
institution of a number of important policy goals, and to use
the voice and vote of the United States to achieve these
goals before June 30, 2005. The Secretary is to report on
progress not later than September 1, 2004, and six months
thereafter.
Sec. 582. Participation in the Seventh Replenishment of the
Resources of the Asian Development Fund
The conference report includes language identical to that
proposed by the House that would authorize a further United
States contribution to the Asian Development Fund, including
making the contribution subject to prior appropriations. The
Senate did not address this matter.
Sec. 583. Participation in the Ninth Replenishment of the
Resources of the African Development Fund
The conference report includes language identical to that
proposed by the House that would authorize a further United
States contribution to African Development Fund, including
making the contribution subject to prior appropriations. The
Senate did not address this matter.
Sec. 584. Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Export-
Import Bank Restrictions
The conference agreement includes a provision identical to
the Senate amendment and current law that prohibits the use
of funds by OPIC and the Export-Import Bank to finance
investments in connection with a project involving diamonds
in a country that is not implementing the requirements
developed by the Kimberley Process, or is not undertaking
other measures that the Secretary of State determines to
contribute to the elimination of the trade in conflict
diamonds.
Sec. 585. Reconciliation Programs
The conference agreement includes language similar to that
proposed by the Senate that would provide $8,000,000 from
within the Economic Support Fund account for conflict
resolution programs and activities. The House did not address
this matter.
Sec. 586. Nicaragua
The conference agreement includes a general provision,
similar to Senate language, which provides that not less than
$35,000,000 in Child Survival and ``Development Assistance''
funds should be made available for Nicaragua, which is
$4,000,000 above the amount requested. The House addressed
this matter in the report.
Sec. 587. Disability Access
The conference report includes language similar to the
Senate bill that requires the Administrator of USAID to
develop and implement standards for access for people with
disabilities for construction projects funded by USAID. The
House did not address this matter.
Sec. 588. Trade Capacity Building
The conference agreement includes language providing not
less than $503,000,000 for trade capacity building assistance
from the Trade and Development Agency, Development
Assistance, Transition Initiatives, ESF, International
Affairs Technical Assistance, and International Organizations
and Programs accounts. The House had similar language, and
the Senate did not address this matter.
Sec. 589. War Crimes in Africa
The conference agreement includes a modified Senate
provision that would make assistance available to the central
government of a country in which individuals indicted by the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the
Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) are credibly alleged to
be living, if the Secretary of State certifies that such
government is cooperating with ICTR and SCSL. The provision
contains a national security waiver. The managers believe
that peace and reconciliation efforts in West and Central
Africa will be severely undermined if those most responsible
for genocide in Rwanda and the atrocities in Sierra Leone are
not brought to justice.
The managers commend the democratically-elected Government
of Nigeria for reaching an agreement with the Government of
Liberia which helped to give the international community an
important opportunity to provide desperately needed relief to
that nation. Nigeria is a key ally in the region and the
managers have recognized its role in this provision. However,
the managers also note that efforts to address the
humanitarian crisis and rebuild Liberia, as well as other
parts of West Africa, will be severely limited if individuals
indicted by SCSL are not handed over to the Court. The
managers note that the United Nations Special Representative
for Liberia, senior members of the Nigerian military, and
important Nigerian civic organizations have called for the
transfer of indicted war criminals to SCSL.
The managers have also included language in this provision
to provide $5,000,000 to the SCSL from unobligated balances
of fiscal year 2003 ``Economic Support Fund'' (ESF)
assistance. This language is similar to a Senate provision
under the ESF heading, which would have provided $2,500,000
to the SCSL in fiscal year 2004. The managers have included
this provision because a Congressional directive in P.L. 108-
7 to provide these funds was ignored by the State Department.
The managers continue to strongly support SCSL. The managers
endorse the Senate report language on this issue.
The managers continue to be concerned with the situation in
Ivory Coast, where there are serious questions concerning the
peace process and the country is in danger of becoming
permanently divided between the rebel-controlled territory in
the north and the government-controlled south. The managers
note, however, that elections are currently expected to occur
in 2005, the number of armed combatants remains relatively
low, and damage to the economic infrastructure is light, and,
therefore, believe that the situation could turn around if
there is a breakthrough in the peace process. The managers
request the State Department to consult with the Committees
on the situation in Ivory Coast, concerning a range of issues
including the progress of the peace process, the possibility
of a United Nations peacekeeping mission, and section 508
sanctions.
Sec. 590. Report on Admission of Refugees
The conference agreement provides language similar to the
Senate bill that advises the Secretary of State to use
private voluntary organizations with the relevant expertise
in the processing, identification, and referral of refugees
and advises the Secretary of State to develop a system for
accepting referrals from local private, voluntary
organizations, and outlines categories of special
consideration for admission. The provision also mandates a
report, not later than 120 days after enactment, on the
progress made to implement this section. The House did not
address this matter.
Sec. 591. Post Differentials and Danger Pay Allowances
The conference report includes language that amends
sections 5925 (a) and 5928 of title 5, USC, to increase post
differentials and danger pay allowances for USAID employees,
subject to the provision of similar pay allowances to the
employees of the Department of State. The pay increase would
be available immediately for personnel deployed to
Afghanistan and Iraq. The House did not address this matter.
Sec. 592. Report on Azerbaijan
The conference report includes language similar to that
proposed by the Senate that requires the Secretary of State
to submit a report to the appropriate congressional
committees on the investigation of the murder of United
States democracy worker John Alvis. The House did not address
this matter.
Sec. 593. Designation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria under the International
Organizations Immunities Act
The conference agreement includes a provision that amends
the International Organizations Immunities Act by adding a
new section that extends the provisions of the Act to the
Global Fund the same as they are extended to a public
international organization in which the United States
participates pursuant to any treaty or under the authority of
any Act authorizing participation. This provision is
identical to the Senate bill, and the House did not address
this matter.
Sec. 594. Code of Conduct
The conference agreement includes a new section, ``Code of
Conduct'' that prohibits refugee and humanitarian assistance
funding under the headings ``Migration and Refugee
Assistance'' and ``Transition Initiatives'' to an
organization that has not adopted a code of conduct
consistent with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task
Force on Protection From Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in
Humanitarian Crises six core principles. Additionally the
provision advises the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of USAID to incorporate policies and programs
to identify the needs of, and threats to, women and children
at the various stages of a humanitarian emergency. The
provision is similar to the Senate bill. The House addressed
this matter under the heading ``Migration and Refugee
Assistance''.
Sec. 595. Assistance for HIV/AIDS
The conference agreement contains Senate language amending
Public Law 108-25, the
[[Page 31569]]
``U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
Act of 2003'' in order to set the baseline for calculating
contributions from other donors to the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global ATM Fund) at 2004,
for the purposes of calculating matching contributions, and
to allow funds withheld due to certain provisions of Public
Law 108-25 to be used for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria
programs.
The managers have exempted the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the World Health Organization, the
International AIDS Vaccine Fund, and United Nations agencies,
from section 301(f) of United States Leadership Against HIV/
AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003. The managers
intend that for purposes of this provision, the World Health
Organization includes its six regional offices: The Americas
(PAHO); South-East Asia (SEARO); Africa (AFRO); Eastern
Mediterranean (EMRO); Europe (Euro); and Western Pacific
(WPRO).
Sec. 596. Technical Correction Relating to the Enhanced HIPC
Initiative
The conference agreement includes a Senate provision that
makes a technical correction relating to the enhanced HIPC
initiative. The House did not address this matter.
Sec. 597. Indonesia
The conference agreement includes language, similar to a
Senate provision, which provides that International Military
Education and Training (IMET) assistance may be made
available for Indonesia if the Secretary of State determines
and reports that the Indonesian Government and Armed Forces
(TNI) are cooperating with the FBI's investigation of the
August 31, 2002, murders of two American citizens and one
Indonesian citizen in Timika, Indonesia. The managers are
aware that, in the past, the TNI has not adequately
cooperated with the FBI or with other investigations of this
crime. However, the managers note that, during President
Bush's trip to Indonesia in October 2003, the President and
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri jointly
``reaffirmed their shared commitment to find the murderers
and bring them to justice.'' The managers intend that, prior
to the Secretary making a determination, the TNI will have
unequivocally demonstrated its commitment to cooperate with
the FBI. The managers note that expanded IMET assistance is
already available for Indonesia without restriction, which
may include English language training.
The managers endorse language in Senate Report 108-106
regarding Indonesia.
The managers remain troubled by the situation in Aceh and
the ongoing conflict that has killed, injured and displaced
thousands of innocent civilians. The managers note that the
Indonesian Government has extended martial law for an
additional six months, but continue to believe that this
conflict will only be resolved through a political process.
The managers strongly support democracy and political party
building programs in Indonesia, and recognize that these
efforts are long-term endeavors. The managers expect
sufficient funding to be provided for democracy and political
party building activities, and request that USAID consult
with the Committees on the development of its 5-year strategy
document for that archipelago.
Sec. 598. Religious Freedom Report
The conference report includes language similar to that
proposed by the Senate providing that the assessment and
description of violations of religious freedom contained in
the report required by section 102(b)(1)(B) of the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412
(b)(1)(B)) shall include a description of persecution
targeted at religions, including acts of anti-Semitism, by
individuals or organizations designated as terrorist
organizations by the Secretary of State under section 219 of
the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. The House
did not address this matter.
Sec. 599A. Delivery of Assistance by Air
The conference report includes language similar to that
proposed by the Senate that the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of USAID are directed to provide charter air
service in regions where scheduled air service is grossly
inadequate. The House did not address this matter.
Sec. 599B. Modification on Reporting Requirements
The conference report includes a modification of reporting
requirements in existing law including: sections (f) of P.L.
106-246 (the Emergency Supplemental Act, 2000) to change the
monthly reporting requirement on Plan Colombia into a
quarterly report, and by specifying that this report should
be submitted to ``the appropriate congressional committees'',
not ``Congress''; section 3204(e) of P.L. 106-246 to specify
that this report should be submitted to ``the appropriate
congressional committees'', not ``Congress''; and deletes the
requirement for a report from GAO pursuant to subsection (a)
of section 803 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing,
and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2001, Appendix A of
Public Law 106-429 (as enacted by section 101(a) of such
Public Law). The House partly addressed this matter under the
heading ``Andean Counterdrug Initiative'', and the Senate
addressed it in a general provision.
Sec. 599C. CPA Detailees
The conference agreement includes a provision requiring the
Office of Personnel Management to provide a report of the
number of individuals detailed from each executive agency to
the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq on the date of
enactment of this Act no later than February 1, 2004. The
report shall identify by agency the number of non-
reimbursable and reimbursable detailees and shall be updated
on a quarterly basis until May, 2005.
PROVISIONS NOT ADOPTED BY THE MANAGERS
The conference report does not include section 555 of the
House bill regarding ``Korean Peninsula Energy Development
Organization''. The Senate did not include this provision.
The conference report does not include section 562 of the
House bill regarding ``Procurement and Financial Management
Reform''. The Senate did not include this provision.
The conference report does not include section 571 of the
House bill and section 680 of the Senate bill regarding
``Cuba''.
The conference report does not include section 572 of the
House bill regarding ``Competition in Contracting''. This
issue was addressed in P.L. 108-106, the Fiscal Year 2004
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense and for
the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senate
amendment did not address this matter.
The conference report does not include section 581 of the
House bill regarding ``Efforts by North Korea Relating to the
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons''. The Senate amendment did
not address this matter.
The conference report does not include section 582 of the
House bill regarding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act of 1978. The Senate amendment did not address this
matter.
The conference agreement does not include section 601 of
the Senate amendment regarding ``Obligations During the Last
Month of Availability.'' The House did not address this
matter.
The conference agreement does not include section 606 of
the Senate amendment regarding ``Prohibition on Financing
Nuclear Goods.'' The House did not address this matter.
Although no longer carried in the Act, the managers do not
expect any funds in this Act from being used to finance the
export of nuclear equipment, fuel or technology. If funds are
used for such purposes, the managers expect these funds to be
subject to the regular notification procedures of the
Committees on Appropriations.
The conference agreement does not include section 610 of
the Senate amendment regarding ``Deobligation/Reobligation
Authority.'' The House did not address this matter.
The conference report does not include section 662 of the
Senate amendment regarding ``Enterprise Funds in the Middle
East Region''. The House did not address this matter. The
managers include a proviso under the heading ``Economic
Support Fund'' requiring that a Middle East Financing
Facility or Enterprise Fund shall be subject to the regular
notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations.
The managers expect that, should such a Facility or Fund be
established, the Secretary of State shall certify and report
to the Committees on Appropriations prior to the obligation
of any funds that: (1) all appropriate steps have been taken
to ensure that assistance is not provided to any individual
or entity that the management of the Facility or Fund has
reason to believe advocates, plans, sponsors, or engages in,
or has engaged in, terrorist activities; (2) the Facility or
Fund furthers United States commercial interests in the
region; and (3) the Facility or Fund is managed in a fiscally
responsible manner.
The conference agreement does not include Senate section
683 regarding ``American Churchwomen and Other Citizens in El
Salvador and Guatemala'' relating to the December 2, 1980
murders of four American churchwomen in El Salvador, and the
May 5, 2001 murder of Sister Barbara Ann Ford and the murders
of other American citizens in Guatemala, listed in the Senate
report, since December 1999. The managers are aware that in a
memorandum dated April 4, 2003, the U.S. Attorney General
ordered the heads of all departments and agencies to report
in writing on whether such government entity possesses
information relevant to these murders, and, if so, to set
forth a written plan for expeditious review of the
information for possible release to the victims' families.
Each plan is to include an estimate of the date by which the
review and possible release of information is expected to be
completed. The managers direct the Attorney General to
provide to the Committees on Appropriations, not later than
60 days after enactment, copies of the written plans for each
such government entity and a description of progress made in
implementing such plans. The House did not address this
matter.
The conference agreement does not include Senate section
686 requiring the Secretary of State to report on the status
of the Administration's strategy to address the international
coffee crisis. The managers are troubled that this strategy
has been delayed
[[Page 31570]]
for several months and expect it to be released in the near
future. The managers note the serious impact that the coffee
crisis is having on many nations that receive U.S. foreign
assistance and endorse the Senate report language on this
issue. The House did not address this matter.
The conference agreement does not include Senate section
687 prohibiting assistance to the central Government of
Venezuela if the Secretary of State certifies that the
central Government of Venezuela is assisting, harboring or
providing sanctuary for Colombian terrorist organizations.
The managers request the Secretary of State to provide to the
Committees, in a classified form if necessary, not later than
90 days after the enactment of this Act, (1) a description of
specific actions taken by the Government of Venezuela to
cooperate with the Government of Colombia on counter drug
matters, and (2) a description of the extent to which, if
any, the Government of Venezuela has supported or assisted
groups designated as terrorist organizations in Colombia.
The conference agreement does not include section 689 of
the Senate amendment that provides that funds appropriated by
this Act that are available for the central Government of
Thailand may be made available if the Secretary of State
determines and reports to the Committees that, among other
actions, the Thai Government supports the advancement of
democracy in Burma and is not hampering the delivery of
humanitarian assistance to people in Thailand who have fled
Burma. The managers provide $5,000,000 to USAID to address
the plight of Burmese in Thailand. The managers remain
concerned by Thailand's continued engagement with the
repressive Burmese junta, including recent pledges to set
aside differences to promote economic cooperation. The
managers view such actions as contrary to furthering the
struggle of democracy inside Burma.
The conference agreement does not include Senate section
692 regarding ``Prohibition on Funding to Countries That
Trade in Certain Weapons with North Korea''. The House bill
did not address this matter.
The conference agreement does not include section 693 as
proposed by the Senate regarding religious tolerance in
Malaysia. However, the managers remain deeply concerned that
the inaccurate and anti-Semitic comments of the former
Malaysian Prime Minister may fuel religious intolerance
throughout the region and provide credibility to the hateful
messages of religious extremists in Malaysia, Indonesia and
elsewhere. The managers understand that the views of the
former Prime Minister, who retired on October 31, 2003 do not
reflect those of all Malaysians, including the country's new
leadership. The House bill did not address this matter.
The conference agreement does not include Senate section
699A regarding a ``Report on Sierra Leone''. The House did
not address this matter. The managers intend that the
Administrator of USAID submit a report to the Committees on
Appropriations, no later than 6 months after enactment, on
the feasibility of establishing a United States mission in
Sierra Leone.
The conference agreement does not include Senate section
699B regarding a ``Report on Somalia''. However, the managers
expect that not later than 6 months after enactment the
Secretary of State will submit a report to the Committees on
Appropriations, describing a strategy for engaging with
competent and responsible authorities and organizations
within Somalia, including those in Somaliland, to strengthen
local capacity and establish incentives for communities to
seek stability. The report is also to include a multi-year
strategy for: increasing access to basic education and health
care services; supporting efforts to establish systems for
effective regulation and monitoring of Somali hawala or
informal banking establishments; and supporting initiatives
to rehabilitate the livestock export sector in Somalia. The
House did not address this matter.
The conference agreement does not include Senate section
699D regarding a ``Guinea Worm Eradication Program''. This
matter is addressed under the heading ``Child Survival and
Health Programs Fund''. The House did not address this
matter.
While the conference agreement does not include Senate
section 699E expressing the sense of Congress on certain
issues relating to Iran, the managers support this language
and remain gravely concerned with the Government of Iran's
authoritarian and repressive rule, its development of nuclear
weapons and their delivery systems, and support for
terrorists and other undesirable elements that may undermine
reconstruction efforts in Iraq. The House did not address
this matter.
The conference agreement does not include Senate section
699G that earmarked $7,000,000 in ``Transition Initiatives''
funds for democracy-building efforts in Cuba. However, the
managers recommend $7,000,000 under ``Economic Support Fund''
for democracy-building efforts for Cuba supported by USAID
including through published and informational material,
assistance to victims of political repression and their
families, support for democratic and human rights groups in
Cuba, and support for independent international human rights
monitors in Cuba. The conferees expect that, to the maximum
extent possible, organizations implementing these programs
for Cuba will be selected on a competitive basis.
The conference report does not include Senate section 699H
concerning the development of justice and reconciliation
mechanisms in Central Africa. This issue is addressed under
the ``Economic Support Fund'' heading.
The conference agreement does not include section 699I of
the Senate amendment calling for the Global AIDS Coordinator
to make publicly available prices paid to purchase HIV/AIDS
pharmaceuticals, antiviral therapies, diagnostic and
monitoring tests, and other appropriate medicines, including
medicines to treat opportunistic infections, for the
treatment of people with HIV/AIDS and the prevention of
mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS in developing
countries, through the use of funds appropriated under this
Act and, to the extent available, by the World Health
Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis,
and Malaria. However, the managers direct the AIDS
Coordinator to make this information publicly available,
including through posting on Internet web sites maintained by
the Coordinator, beginning not later than 60 days after
enactment of the Act.
The conference agreement does not include section 699K of
the Senate amendment adding an additional $289,000,000 to the
Global AIDS Initiative account. Additional funding for HIV/
AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria is contained under the heading
``Child Survival and Health Programs Fund'' and ``Global HIV/
AIDS Initiative''.
The conference agreement does not include section 699L of
the Senate amendment regarding ``International Military
Training Assistance For Indonesia''. This matter is addressed
in section 597 of the conference report. The House did not
address this matter.
Conference Total--With Comparisons
The total new budget (obligational) authority for the
fiscal year 2004 recommended by the Committee of Conference,
with comparisons to the fiscal year 2003 amount, the 2004
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 2004
follow:
[In thousands of dollars]
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003.......$23,718,563
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year18,932,588
House bill, fiscal year 2004.................................17,163,255
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004................................18,425,859
Conference agreement, fiscal year 2004.......................17,258,859
Conference agreement compared with:
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003......-6,459,704
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal ye-1,673,729
House bill, fiscal year 2004..................................+95,604
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004..............................-1,167,000
DIVISION E--DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND
EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004
In implementing this agreement, the Departments and
agencies should be guided by the language and instructions
set forth in House Report 108-188 and Senate Report 108-81
accompanying the bill, H.R. 2660.
In the cases where the language and instructions in either
report specifically address the allocation of funds, each has
been reviewed by the conferees and those that are jointly
concurred in have been endorsed in this joint statement.
The conferees direct that the Departments and agencies
funded through this Division make a written request to the
chairmen of the Committees prior to the reprogramming of
funds in excess of 10 percent, or $500,000, whichever is
less, between programs, activities, or elements unless an
alternate amount for the agency in question is specified
elsewhere in Division E of this Statement. The conferees
further agree that a reprogramming request is required for
actions involving less than the above-mentioned amounts if
such actions would have the effect of changing an agency's
funding requirements in future years or if the action can be
construed to be the initiation of a new program.
The conferees reiterate that the Committees be notified
regarding reorganization of offices, programs, or activities
prior to the planned implementation of such reorganizations.
Finally, the conferees request that statements on the
effect of this appropriation Act be submitted to the
Committees within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004, put
in place by this resolution, incorporates the following
agreements of the managers:
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Training and Employment Services
The conference agreement includes $5,160,654,000 for
training and employment
[[Page 31571]]
services instead of $5,077,039,000 as proposed by the House
and $5,140,588,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of the amount
appropriated, $2,463,000,000 is an advance appropriation for
fiscal year 2004, as proposed by the House and the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $1,456,760,000 for the
Dislocated Worker program as proposed by the Senate instead
of $1,461,760,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees
override the formula that provides that 80 percent of the
funds provided will be used for State formula grants and 20
percent for National Emergency Grants, providing
$1,180,152,000 for the States and $276,608,000 for the
National Reserve.
The conference agreement includes bill language giving the
Secretary of Labor authority to use dislocated worker
national reserve funds to provide assistance to a State for
statewide or local use in order to address cases where there
have been worker dislocations across multiple sectors or
across multiple local areas. The conferees urge the
Secretary, when determining competitive awards under this
authority, to give favorable consideration to the
applications of assistance to States that have sustained
worker dislocation in such a manner and can demonstrate the
capacity to respond effectively in a coordinated fashion
across multiple sectors or local areas.
The conference agreement includes $55,000,000 for Native
Americans as proposed by the House instead of $55,636,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $77,330,000 for
activities authorized under Section 167 of the Workforce
Investment Act, reflected in two separate line items on the
table accompanying the Conference Report: `Migrant and
Seasonal Farmworkers' and `National Activities/Other'. Under
the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers line item, the agreement
provides $76,823,000. The conference agreement includes bill
language directing that $4,610,000 of this amount be used for
migrant and seasonal farmworker housing grants; the
conference agreement includes language further directing that
not less than 70 percent of this amount be used for permanent
housing grants.
Within the National Activities/Other line item, the
conference agreement includes $507,000 to be used for Section
167 training, technical assistance and related activities,
including continuing funding for migrant rest center
activities at the current level.
The conference agreement includes $1,546,216,000 for Job
Corps. Within the total, $1,416,000,000 is provided for
continuing operations of the program and $130,216,000 is for
renovation and construction of Job Corps centers.
The conferees recognize that New Hampshire is one of only
two States in the Nation without a Job Corps Center and that
it desires to open a center in the State. The conferees
intend to begin providing funding for at least one new Job
Corps Center in fiscal year 2005 and expect the Department of
Labor to give priority consideration to applications from
States currently without a Job Corps Center. Further, the
conferees direct the Department of Labor to provide technical
assistance to the State of New Hampshire to identify one or
more sites that would be suitable for consideration for
future expansion of Job Corps.
The conferees also note that the Job Corps network
currently includes at least 5 existing satellite centers. The
conferees are aware of entities in Iowa and other States
working with local Job Corps sites to replicate this model.
The conferees believe this is a low-cost option to expand the
existing network and urge the Secretary to assist in the
planning of new satellite centers. The Secretary shall issue
a report no later than August 31, 2004 identifying the
barriers experienced by the existing Centers and a
comprehensive plan for expanding the satellite concept.
The conferees commend Job Corps for its recent efforts to
increase opportunities for participants to earn a high school
diploma through the establishment of its High School Diploma
Initiative (HSDI). While Job Corps' success rate to date is
encouraging, significant obstacles at the State and local
levels make it extremely difficult for the program to ensure
that all participants, regardless of center location, have
access to the opportunity to obtain a high school diploma.
The conferees urge the Department of Labor, in consultation
with the Department of Education, States, and local
educational agencies to examine obstacles to Job Corps'
participants' ability to earn and receive high school
diplomas from a local educational agency.
As expressed in the 2003 statement of the managers, the
conferees remain concerned with the lack of information
provided regarding the performance and operation of the
Workforce Investment Act. Further, the conferees remain
concerned that States and local workforce investment areas
lack the technology to comply with the basic performance
reporting and operational requirements of WIA. Therefore, the
conferees recommend that the Secretary provide States and
local workforce investment areas funding to develop
technology and determine its benefit to the WIA system.
The conferees take note of the recent plant closure
announcements in Lorain, Ohio and direct the Secretary of
Labor to give favorable consideration to the application to
continue and expand support for job training, workforce and
economic development initiatives implemented and delivered by
Lorain County Community College at the same commitment level
established in the original agreement entered into in 2000.
The conferees are impressed with the Labor Department's
partnership with the Council for Adult and Experiential
Learning to creatively address the Nation's shortage of
nurses. The Employment and Training Administration pilot
program will allow CAEL and health care partners in five
cities to increase the number of Certified Nurses Aides,
Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses.
With respect to the projects listed below for pilots and
demonstrations, the conferees encourage the Department to
ensure that these projects are coordinated with local
Workforce Investment Boards. The conferees also encourage the
Department to ensure that project performance is adequately
documented and evaluated. The conference agreement includes
the following amounts for the following projects and
activities:
American Federation for the Blind for the Technology and Employment
Center in Huntington, West Virginia........................$1,000,000
American Indian Science and Engineering Society to provide the Rural
Computer Utilization Training Program to indigenous populations in
Hawaii.........................................................50,000
Antelope Valley Community College District, Lancaster, California, to
provide upgrade training for new hires, incumbent and dislocated
aerospace workers.............................................100,000
Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Waubonsee Community College,
Aurora, Illinois, for Core Four Business Planning course for business
training for existing business owners to expand and entrepreneurial
training for new businesses...................................175,000
Bay Area Community Health Partnership, Green Bay, WI for nurse training
programs......................................................350,000
Blackhawk Technical College, in Janesville, WI, to provide job training
and upgrade workers' manufacturing skills.....................300,000
Boro Park Jewish Community Council, Brooklyn, NY, to develop a
Comprehensive Employment Program..............................100,000
Building and Supporting Entrepreneurship of Southeast Lancaster,
Lancaster, PA (BASE, Inc.) to expand educational and employment
services training to out-of-school, adjudicated youth.........100,000
California State University, Chico, for plastic molding machines in the
Engineering School Plastics Laboratory in order to provide students
with technological training to prepare them for careers in Ca$500,000
Career Academy, Louisville, KY for youth education and workforce
development programming.......................................170,000
Central Alabama Community College, Alexander City, AL, Entrepreneurial
Center, to assist displaced workers by providing specialized training
and other needed resources to foster the growth of business...200,000
Central Iowa Employment & Training Consortium for a resource center for
disabled and disadvantaged individuals........................600,000
City of Jackson, TN, Disability Training Program................200,000
City of Jackson, MS, for Jackson Transition Job Project for the
Homeless......................................................120,000
City of Sacramento, CA, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency to
provide a summer youth employment program.....................100,000
City of Suffolk, Virginia, for a feasibility study of establishing
Suffolk Workforce Development Center..........................250,000
[[Page 31572]]
Closing The Gap, Lansing, MI, for technology enhancements.......105,000
Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development,
Philadelphia, PA, for workforce development and training......250,000
Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH, for the creation of an
Integrated Systems Technology training program................400,000
Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to
address unemployment and underemployment demands for heath care
professionals.................................................150,000
Covenant House Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA....................75,000
Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, Philadelphia, PA to perform
a pilot project that will provide job training for small
manufacturers and report its lessons for national implementati100,000
Delta Council, MS, Delta Center for Career and Workforce Educati500,000
Des Moines Area Community College, IA, to continue the establishment of
a Career Technology Center....................................200,000
Experience Works, Beaverton, Oregon, for the Rural Revitalization
Through Technology Initiative..................................25,000
Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, to update equipment,
staffing and to expand nationwide outreach for recruiting,
articulation and continuing education.........................300,000
Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, for the development of
a program to assist small businesses in competing for government
contracts...................................................1,550,000
Gadsden State Community College Gadsden, AL, for the Workforce
Development Program in Calhoun County.........................200,000
Gateway Technical College, Kenosha, WI..........................500,000
Hawaii Community Foundation for the Samoan/Asian Pacific Job Training
Program.......................................................500,000
Heartbeats to the City, Inc., Canton, OH, for urban youth trainin28,000
Hispanic/Latino Center Inc., Pittsburgh, PA to provide workplace
readiness and job skill training targeted to Hispanic workers, so
that they can access job opportunities in Southwestern Pennsylv50,000
House of Healing, Erie, PA to provide rehabilitation work training and
employment.....................................................25,000
Idaho Women Work!, to implement the Recruiting for the Information
Technology Age (RITA) initiative in Idaho.....................100,000
Institute for Cultural Partnerships, Harrisburg, PA to provide for a
``New Americans'' Regional Center, which will include employment and
legal assistance for immigrants................................25,000
Institute of Retraining of Dislocated Workers, Southwestern Oregon
Community College, Coos Bay, OR, to augment college programs in
providing training and retraining to the unemployed, but especially
older dislocated workers.......................................25,000
InterTribal Bison Cooperative in Rapid City, South Dakota for member
training......................................................100,000
Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge, IA, for vocational t250,000
Iowa Valley Community College District, Marshalltown, Iowa, for a
community outreach and training center........................100,000
Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA to develop and share the
best practices in health workforce recruitment, development, and
retention.....................................................100,000
Jobs for America's Graduates, Alexandria, VA for a school-to-career
program.....................................................1,000,000
La Casa de Esperanza, Inc, Waukesha, WI for weatherization train165,000
Lake County, IL for a summer youth employment program...........200,000
Lawrence County Economic Development Office, PA to provide for the
development of a vocational center to train employees for jobs in
high technology manufacturing industries.......................50,000
Lawson State Community College, Infrastructure and Technology
Enhancements IT Training and Placement Center to expand training
services for students and adult education applicants..........100,000
Life Steps Foundation, Inc., Arroyo Grande, CA, for establishment of
the Life Steps Foundation Rural Computer Utilization and Job Skills
Training Program..............................................250,000
Links to Individuals For Empowerment, Philadelphia, PA to assist ex-
offenders as they transition back into society with employment
training skills...............................................100,000
Louisiana National Guard Military Department, New Orleans, Louisiana,
for the Military Educational Training Enhancement Fund/Job Challenge
Program........................................................72,000
Maine Manufacturing Extention Project, Augusta, ME: For the Rapid
Mobilization of New England Manufacturing Supply Chain, to provide
training to the manufacturing workforce.......................400,000
Martha's Village and Kitchen, Indio, California, for operational
expenses......................................................250,000
Maui Community College for the Remote Rural Hawaii Job Program1,500,000
Maui Economic Development Board for the Maui High Technical program to
get women into the technology fields..........................300,000
Maui Economic Development Board for the Rural Computer Utilization
Training Program..............................................300,000
Medina Works, Medina, OH, for a Building Trades Initiative-Wayne
Ashland, Medina...............................................450,000
Medina Works, Medina, OH, for healthcare professionals workforce
development...................................................220,000
Metropolitan Career Center, Philadelphia, PA to provide job readiness
training for low-income and unemployed men and women...........50,000
Millinocket Area Growth and Investment Council (MAGIC), East
Millinocket, ME: Project would survey area alumni to determine
factors related to out-migration in rural areas throughout the state
of Maine......................................................200,000
Mississippi State University, for Robotics and Automated Systems for
Nursery Industry..............................................500,000
National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI.......400,000
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, for the
ProStart Institute Program....................................150,000
New Mexico Retail Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico to improve
opportunities for students and out of school youth to successfully
transition to postsecondary education and/or training careers.220,000
Northern Great Plains Incorporated for a workforce study and
coordination related to the Red River Valley Research Corridor.50,000
[[Page 31573]]
Northwest Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Erie, PA to develop
a skills standards-based assessment and certification system, which
will include workforce training and development, that meets the needs
of the Pennsylvania manufacturing community...................100,000
Nueva Esperanza CareerLink Center, Philadelphia, PA to provide
information on job training and literacy classes, assistance with
resume preparation, skill and aptitude assessment, and job vacancy
announcements.................................................100,000
Oklahoma Military Department, Oklahoma National Guard Youth Programs
Division for the Thunderbird Trades Academy...................100,000
Opportunities Industrialization Centers International, Philadelphia, PA
to provide technical assistance and resources to its national
affiliates to increase their capacity to provide training to
unemployed and underemployed in the hospitality sector........225,000
Opportunity, Inc., Highland Park, IL for the Handicapable employees
program.......................................................100,000
People's Emergency Center, Philadelphia, PA to provide workforce
preparation and training to homeless mothers to foster economic,
emotional, and family stability in their lives................100,000
Peoria NEXT initiative for training in bioscience and biotechnology
industries, IL................................................200,000
Philadelphia Area Immigration Resource Center, Philadelphia, PA to
provide employment and legal assistance for immigrants in
Southeastern Pennsylvania......................................75,000
Philadelphia Housing Authority to provide workforce training at the
Philadelphia Housing Authorities' Workforce Development Center to
prepare residents for careers in the building trades...........50,000
Philadelphia Industrial Development Center to support job training and
workforce development in the manufacturing sectors within
Philadelphia...................................................50,000
Potter County Educational Council, Coudersport, PA, for Opportunity
Knocks program to assist single parents, teen parents, and homemakers
in acquiring skills needed to enter the workforce.............100,000
Pride Industries, Rosedale, California, to create long-term jobs for
persons with disabilities and other barriers to employment....250,000
Private Industry Council of Westmoreland, Greensburg, PA, to use a
computer-based assessment system to assist job seekers, including
Welfare to Work clients........................................50,000
Project One, Louisville, KY, for employment program..............25,000
Reading-Berks Emergency Shelter, Reading, PA, to provide job readiness
skills to employ individuals...................................50,000
Reinvestment Fund, Philadelphia, PA, to expand its workforce pilot
program.......................................................250,000
Residential Care Consortium, Easton, PA, to help troubled teens
transition into society by providing housing, education and
counseling....................................................550,000
Riverside Center for Innovation, Pittsburgh, PA, for programs which are
helping small businesses and start-ups in Allegheny County....100,000
San Diego Workforce Partnership, San Diego, California, to enhance the
Workforce Partnership's English as a Second Language programs.125,000
Seattle STRIVE to provide job readiness skills to hard-to-employ
individuals...................................................100,000
Second Chance Employment Services, Washington, DC, for a demonstration
program to help at-risk women and victims of abuse obtain long term
jobs..........................................................150,000
Sephardic Bikur Holim Career and Employment Training in Brooklyn100,000
Shelton State Community College, Electronic and Technical Training, to
continue advanced training program and to provide for procurement of
software and curriculum development to meet growing industry needs in
Alabama.......................................................100,000
Southern Star Development Corporation, Louisville, KY............20,000
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, for
technical education and job training component of the SPARE pr100,000
The Joblinks program for continuation costs.....................500,000
Tides Center of Western Pennsylvania, for Keys2Work Program.....150,000
Tioga County Development Corporation, Wellsboro, PA, to assist
employers in certification training program for their workforce in a
variety of production and operations procedures...............150,000
Transit Technology Career Ladder Partnership, Silver Spring, MD, to
provide for a joint labor-management initiative developed by the
Community Transportation Development Center focusing on bus
mechanics, rail car mechanics, and underground power systems..100,000
Tri-State University in Angola, IN, for the Center for Technology and
On-Line Resources..............................................50,000
United Way of Dane County, Madison, WI, for computer training at the
Vera Court Neighborhood Center.................................35,000
University of Alabama in Huntsville to establish the necessary
infrastructure for a Southeast Automotive Transportation Lean
Manufacturing Initiative to support the expanding automotive industry
in Alabama....................................................200,000
Uuniversity of Dayton for the Shared Corporate University and
manufacturer's Business Utility programs for e-learning and e-
training packages.............................................300,000
University of Hawaii at Maui for training and education opportunities
for Hawaiians living in rural areas.........................1,800,000
University of Idaho to continue and expand the Alternative Careers for
Idaho Farmers (ACIF), to help those dislocated from agriculture to
make the difficult shift to an alternative career.............850,000
University of Northern Iowa Immigration Services for Iowa Commun259,000
University of the Pacific Stockton CA, for operating funds for a
Business Forecasting Center...................................500,000
University of Toledo for the Center for Capacity-Building in
Construction for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and Workers
program to increase the supply of historically disadvantaged segments
of the Northeast Ohio workforce...............................300,000
Vermont Child Care Industry and Careers Council for a Childcare
Apprenticeship Project........................................300,000
[[Page 31574]]
Vermont Technical College in Randolph, VT, to develop workforce
investment strategies that best fit the business needs of the 600,000
Washington Workforce Association for the In-Demand Scholars prog400,000
Wisconsin Network for Women and Work, Janesville, WI, for Information
Technology training...........................................100,000
Women Work--RITA (Recruiting for the Information Technology Age), PA
for workforce training and development for women in the information
technology sector..............................................50,000
Work, Achievement, Values, and Education, Washington, DC, to provide
workforce training programs for those that face a life of chronic
unemployment...................................................50,000
Workforce Investment Board for Aroostook and Washington Counties,
Caribou, ME, for career training via the Northern Maine Healthcare
Sector Group Training Project.................................250,000
Wrightco Technologies, Claysburg, PA, for programs in technical
training school...............................................200,000
YWCA of Bucks County, Trevose, Pennsylvania, to continue the Employment
Training Program..............................................100,000
YWCA of Madison, Inc., Madison, WI, for a Certified Nursing Assistant
training program for low-income individuals,...................30,000
Community Service Employment for Older Americans
The conference agreement appropriates $441,253,000 for
Community Service Employment for Older Americans, instead of
$440,200,000 as proposed by the House and $442,306,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Federal Unemployment and Benefits Allowances
The conference agreement includes a technical correction to
both House and Senate Trade Act language to clarify that
amounts needed to pay benefits under the Alternative Trade
Adjustment Assistance program are included in the
appropriation. The conference agreement includes $7,000,000
for the State of Alaska for training of displaced workers who
can no longer earn a living in industries adversely affected
by foreign trade.
State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Services Operations
The conference agreement appropriates $3,609,381,000 for
State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service
Operations, instead of $3,615,381,000 as proposed by the
House and $3,620,552,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees expect the Department of Labor to continue to
allocate fiscal year 2004 funds for the Workforce Information
Core Products and Services through formula grants to the
States.
The conferees urge the Department of Labor to study the
impact of using alternate criteria for the allotment of
grants to States for the administration of Federal and State
unemployment compensation laws. The criteria used in this
study shall include the relative proportion of unemployed
individuals in each State and the relative proportion of the
total civilian labor force in each State. The Department
shall be prepared to submit the results of this study to the
Congress at the fiscal year 2005 budget hearings. The
conferees are requesting this study in order to assess the
need for a new formula so that States are not penalized for
keeping administrative costs at a minimum through the use of
technology and other innovations.
Program Administration
The conference agreement appropriates $175,644,000 for
Program Administration, instead of $172,327,000 as proposed
by the House and $178,961,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
detailed table at the end of this joint statement reflects
the activity distribution agreed to by the conferees.
Employee Benefits Security Administration
The conference agreement appropriates $124,962,000 for the
Employee Benefits Security Administration, instead of
$128,605,000 as proposed by the House and $121,316,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The detailed table at the end of this
joint statement reflects the activity distribution agreed to
by the conferees.
Employment Standards Administration
salaries and expenses
The conference agreement appropriates $394,908,000 for the
Employment Standards Administration, salaries and expenses,
instead of $397,753,000 as proposed by the House and
$392,061,000 as proposed by the Senate. The detailed table at
the end of this joint statement reflects the activity
distribution agreed to by the conferees.
On October 3, 2003, the Department of Labor published a
final rule on union reporting and disclosure under the Labor
Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). The
conferees are concerned that the Department has not yet
produced the electronic LM-2 software that it will require
unions to use and has not yet produced to unions the software
necessary for unions to export data from their newly revised
accounting and record-keeping systems to the new electronic
LM-2 forms. The conferees therefore urge that the Department
make available this software as expeditiously as possible to
determine whether this software, together with union
accounting and record-keeping systems, will actually work as
is intended and designed.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
salaries and expenses
The conference agreement includes $460,786,000 for the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration instead of
$450,008,000 as proposed by the House bill and $463,324,000
as proposed by the Senate. The detailed table at the end of
this joint statement reflects the activity distribution
agreed to by the conferees.
Within the total, $3,200,000 is to be used to extend
funding for Institutional Competency training grants provided
that the grantee has demonstrated satisfactory performance.
Mine Safety and Health Administration
salaries and expenses
The conference agreement includes $270,826,000 for the Mine
Safety and Health Administration instead of $266,767,000 as
proposed by the House bill and $270,711,000 as proposed by
the Senate. The detailed table at the end of this joint
statement reflects the activity distribution agreed to by the
conferees.
Within the total, the conference agreement includes
$2,000,000 to be available for mine rescue and recovery
activities on a non-contingency basis as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees are concerned about recent GAO findings that
raise serious questions about the quality of enforcement of
the Mine Act by MSHA. Specifically, the conferees are
concerned that MSHA is experiencing staffing and
informational systems problems that hinder its ability to
fulfill its inspection and investigation obligations. The
conferees expect MSHA to develop an agency-wide human capital
plan to address current and future inspector shortages,
including recruiting and training needs. The conferees also
expect the agency to develop a comprehensive plan to address
information technology needs regarding injury rates, accident
investigations, and timely inspections, including the
collection of contractor data.
The conference agreement includes the following amounts for
the following projects and activities:
National Technology Transfer Center for a coal slurry impoundment pilot
project in Southern West Virginia..........................$1,000,000
Stolar Research Corporation to further develop and demonstrate
electromagnetic wave detection technology associated with drill
string radar to prevent mine flooding incidents...............100,000
Bureau of Labor Statistics
salaries and expenses
The conference agreement includes $522,198,000 for the
Bureau of Labor Statistics instead of $512,262,000 as
provided by the House bill and $520,223,000 by the Senate.
The detailed table at the end of this joint statement
reflects the activity distribution agreed to by the
conferees.
Within the total for the Employment and Unemployment
Statistics activity, $5,000,000 is for the Mass Layoff
Statistics program. Similar language was included in the
Senate bill.
Office of Disability Employment Policy
salaries and expenses
The conferees have included $2,500,000 within the Office of
Disability Employment Policy to continue the telework efforts
already initiated by ODEP. This can include expansion of
pilot programs already underway and/or initiation of new
telework pilots. ODEP should proceed in an expeditious manner
to create telework positions in cooperation with Federal and
State agencies. Priority should be given to strategies judged
likely to yield the largest numbers of telework positions for
people with disabilities.
The conferees have included sufficient funds to continue
the structured internship program for undergraduate college
students with disabilities.
Departmental Management
salaries and expenses
The conference agreement includes $352,830,000 for
Departmental Management, salaries and expenses, instead of
$253,018,000 as proposed by the House bill and $351,609,000
as proposed by the Senate. The detailed table at the end of
this joint statement reflects the activity distribution
agreed to by the conferees.
[[Page 31575]]
The conference agreement includes $110,650,000 for the
Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). Within the
total provided, $82,000,000 is to assist developing countries
with the elimination of child labor. Of this amount,
$45,000,000 is for the International Labor Organization's
International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labor.
In addition, $37,000,000 is provided for bilateral
assistance, made available through September 30, 2004, to
improve access to basic education in international areas with
a high rate of abusive and exploitative child labor. The
conference agreement further includes $2,500,000 for
bilateral and multilateral technical assistance, to be used
to promote the International Labor Organization's Declaration
of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Given the
increasing focus on the social impact of globalization, the
U.S. Government has an interest in assisting nations who want
to develop and/or implement core labor standards, including
the right of free association. The conference agreement
includes $5,000,000 for ILAB to build its own permanent
capacity to monitor and report regularly and in-depth to the
Congress on the extent to which foreign countries with trade
and investment agreements with the United States respect
internationally-recognized worker rights and effectively
promote core labor standards. The conference agreement also
includes $11,000,000 for Federal administration and other
ILAB programs.
The conference agreement includes $10,000,000 for the
purpose of assisting the International Labor Organization in
implementing a program to confront HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
The primary purpose of this program shall be to promote
workplace policies which combat HIV-related stigma and
discrimination, and promote prevention on the basis of
tripartite partnerships among workers, employers and
governments around the world. The conferees direct that the
Secretary shall designate a full-time coordinator to oversee
these efforts and coordinate with the various agencies
conducting international HIV/AIDS programs. The conferees
further direct that the Secretary submit a report to the
Committees by August 31, 2004 detailing the challenges faced
and progress made in implementing anti-discrimination
policies in each of the countries that are engaged by this
effort.
The conference agreement includes the following amount for
the following project:
International Center on Child Labor and Education..............$150,000
The conferees strongly support the Buy American Act, which
was enacted in 1933 to ensure that the Federal government
supports domestic companies and domestic workers by buying
American-made goods. The Act includes a number of waiver
provisions that allow Federal agencies to buy foreign goods
in some circumstances, but there is little disclosure or
accountability in the waiver process. The conferees,
therefore, direct the Secretary to issue a report not later
than 60 days after the last day of fiscal year 2004 on the
amount of acquisitions made by the Department during such
fiscal year of articles, materials, or supplies that were
manufactured outside the United States. Such report shall
separately indicate the dollar value of any articles,
materials, or supplies purchased by the department that were
manufactured outside the United States, an itemized list of
all waivers under the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a et
seq.) that were granted with respect to such articles,
materials, or supplies, and a summary of total procurement
funds spent on goods manufactured in the United States versus
funds spent on goods manufactured outside of the United
States.
Veterans Employment and Training
The detailed table at the end of this joint statement
reflects the activity distribution agreed to by the
conferees. Within the total, the conferees have provided
$162,415,000 for State administration as proposed by the
House instead of breaking this funding between Disabled
Veterans Outreach and Local Veterans Employment as proposed
by the Senate.
Working Capital Fund
The conference agreement includes $13,850,000 for the
Working Capital Fund, instead of $18,000,000 as proposed by
the House bill and $9,700,000 as proposed by the Senate.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Executive Order 13126
The conference agreement includes a provision proposed by
the Senate that none of the funds appropriated in this Act
shall be obligated or expended for the procurement of goods
produced by forced or indentured child labor. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
Denali Commission
The conference agreement includes a provision proposed by
the Senate that authorizes to be appropriated such sums as
may be necessary to the Denali Commission to conduct job
training where Denali Commission projects will be
constructed. The House bill contained no similar provision.
Welfare-to-Work
The conference agreement modifies a provision proposed by
the Senate that rescinds funds appropriated for fiscal year
1999 for the welfare-to-work program. The conference
agreement rescinds any amounts allotted to the States from
funds appropriated for fiscal year 1999 for the Welfare-to-
Work program that are unexpended as of the date of enactment
of the section, except for certain close out costs.
Unexpended funds would consist of funds allotted to the
States that are unobligated by the States, or obligated by
the States, but not expended. Only funds to pay for goods and
services that have already been provided as of the date of
enactment are generally considered expended. Grantees would
be required to terminate any agreements providing for the
provision of goods and services beginning after the date of
enactment unless alternative funding sources are identified.
Since this rescission would accelerate the termination of
the Welfare-to-Work grants to the States that are all due to
expire during fiscal year 2004, the provision does not
rescind funds that the Secretary of Labor determines are
necessary for the States to carry out administrative
activities relating to closeout. Such costs could include
such items as penalties for early termination of leases, and
personnel costs relating to the final reporting and closeout
of grant activities. Authority is also provided in this
provision for the Secretary of Labor to take necessary
actions to facilitate the orderly and equitable closeout of
the State grants, notwithstanding the programmatic
requirements of the Welfare-to-Work program.
The conferees expect the Employment and Training
Administration to assist States in establishing a transition
process to help the remaining welfare-to-work participants
easily and seamlessly assimilate into Workforce Investment
Act programs that allow them to continue to receive
assistance.
Overtime Regulation
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice language
proposed by the Senate that none of the funds appropriated in
this Act shall be used to promulgate or implement any
regulation that exempts employees from the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938. The House did not include this
provision.
ETA Office Closings
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice language
proposed by the Senate that the Secretary shall cease closing
ETA regional offices. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
The conferees remain concerned about the Department's
regional office reorganization. The conferees, therefore,
urge the Department to maintain the current office structure
of the Employment and Training Administration Offices.
Personal Dust Monitors
The conference agreement includes language proposed by the
Senate that the Secretary shall re-propose a rule on
respirable coal dust following the successful demonstration
of personal dust monitors. The House bill contained no
similar provision.
Hamilton County One Stop Center
The conference agreement includes a provision transferring
all federal interest in a State of Ohio Employment Services
Office to Hamilton County, Ohio.
New Entrants
The conference agreement includes a provision to permit
youth, ages 14 through 17, who by statute or judicial order
are exempt from compulsory school attendance beyond the
eighth grade, to work inside or outside places of business
where machinery is used to process wood products. The youth
would be permitted to perform activities such as sweeping,
stacking wood, and writing orders. Safety provisions include
prohibiting the youth from operating machinery, and requiring
the use of eye and body protections.
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
Health Resources and Services
The conference agreement includes $6,727,937,000 for health
resources and services, of which $6,698,437,000 is provided
as budget authority and $29,500,000 is made available from
the Public Health Service policy evaluation set-aside,
instead of $6,252,256,000 as proposed by the House and
$5,964,824,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes two technical bill
language citations for sections 510 and 711 of the Social
Security Act. Section 510 had not been included in the House
bill; section 711 had not been included in the Senate bill.
The conference agreement includes bill language that was
not included in either House or Senate bill providing
$367,563,000 for construction and renovation (including
equipment) of health care and other facilities, abstinence
education, related services and other health-related
activities. These funds are to be used for the following
projects:
10/33 Ambulance Service, Ltd., Spring Valley, IL................$75,000
19th Judicial District Drug Court, Baton Rouge, LA, for the Earl K.
Long Hospital..................................................72,000
[[Page 31576]]
Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen's Health Board in Rapid City, South
Dakota for Northern Plains Healthy Start......................400,000
Achievement Centers for Children, Cleveland, OH.................200,000
Adirondack Medical Center, Saranac Lake, NY.....................200,000
Advanced Technology Institute, North Charleston, SC.............200,000
Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, OH for equipment..............970,000
Alaska Family Practice Residency Program........................500,000
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network (AEHN), Philadelphia, PA for
Construction, renovation, and equipment.....................1,000,000
Aliquippa Community Hospital, Aliquippa, PA for construction....500,000
All Children's Hospital, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL.............1,000,000
Alleghany Memorial Hospital, Sparta, NC.........................125,000
Allegheny General Hospital, Cardiovascular Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
for construction, renovation, and equipment.................1,000,000
Allegheny Singer Research Institute, Center for Genomic Sciences,
Pittsburgh, PA for construction, renovation, and equipment..1,000,000
Allen Memorial Hospital, Moab, UT for construction..............100,000
Altoona Area School District, Altoona, PA, for construction of a
wellness center...............................................150,000
American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY................500,000
American Red Cross, Frederick County Chapter, Walkersville, MD..400,000
Appalachian Pain Foundation, Charleston, WV, for equipment and
curriculum development........................................129,000
Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Lexington, KY for healthcare services
in rural areas................................................250,000
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women, Orlando, FL......550,000
Asante Health System to implement an integrated technology system and
demonstrate its impact on rural health delivery................75,000
Ashland Community Hospice, Ashland, KY for construction, renovation,
and equipment.................................................400,000
Association for Individual Development, Aurora, IL............3,200,000
Association for Utah Community Health, Salt Lake City, UT to link
rural, frontier and urban medically underserved sites for
telemedicine..................................................200,000
Association of Utah Community Health, Salt Lake City, UT for e1,000,000
Atlantic City Medical Center, City Division, Atlantic City, NJ..500,000
Atlantic Health Systems/Morristown Memorial Hospital, Florham Pa500,000
Baptist Coosa Valley Hospital, Sylacauga, AL....................500,000
Baptist Medical Center Walker, Jasper, AL, to establish a Thoracic
Surgery program...............................................150,000
Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, St. Peters, MO...............200,000
Barry University, Miami, FL, for the Institute for Community Health and
Minority Medicine.............................................650,000
Bassett Heathcare, Cooperstown, NY..............................616,000
Bay Area Medical Center Foundation, Marinette, WI...............750,000
Bay Clinic Community Health Center, Hawaii to establish a mental health
link for women.................................................50,000
BayCare Health System, Clearwater, FL, for a demonstration project to
develop an electronic medication and clinical services ordering
system for physicians.......................................1,000,000
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.........................750,000
Bear Lake Memorial Hospital, Montpelier, ID.....................400,000
Best Friends Foundation, Washington, DC for abstinence education
activities.....................................................50,000
Bethune Cookman College, Daytona Beach, FL......................500,000
Big Horn County Memorial Hospital, Hardin, MT for construction and
renovation....................................................400,000
Boone County Government Center, Columbia, MO, for construction of a
healthcare facility...........................................250,000
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, for renovations to Higgins Hall
medical research facilities...................................275,000
Bowling Green--Warren County Primary Care Center, Bowling Green, KY for
construction and equipment of a new primary care facility.....400,000
Boys Town National Research Hospital, National Center for Pediatric
Hearing Evaluation Research and Dissemination in Omaha, Nebr1,000,000
Brazos Valley Family Medical Center, Bryan, TX..................100,000
Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, IA...........................50,000
Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa to renovate the emergency
room........................................................1,000,000
Brookville Hospital, Brookville, PA.............................100,000
Cabot Westside Clinic, Kansas City, MO for construction.........500,000
Caldwell County Free Clinic, Murray, Kentucky, to expand primary care
services to working poor families.............................250,000
Camillus House, Inc., Miami, FL.................................167,000
Cancer Network of West Central Ohio, Lima, OH.................1,250,000
Canonsburg General Hospital, Canonsburg, PA.....................300,000
Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, MA, for pediatric center renovation and
expansion.....................................................100,000
Capitol City Family Health Center, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA.........71,000
Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI to renovate Bonaventure Hall
to expand nursing education programs..........................400,000
Carilion Health System, Roanoke, VA.............................520,000
Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, MA, for constructon of
new emergency department facilities...........................450,000
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA for equipment......1,000,000
Carolinas Medical Center, Trauma Intensive Care Unit, Charlotte,980,000
Carondelet Foundation of Arizona, Tucson, AZ for the Carondelet St.
Mary's Hospital...............................................800,000
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, for a Center for
Structural Biology............................................750,000
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, for Netwellness.500,000
Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH, for Regenerative Medicine..500,000
Cass Medical Center, Pleasant Hill, MO for construction.........150,000
Catholic Social Services, The Bridge, Wilkes Barre, PA for abstinence
education and related services.................................46,000
Center for Emergency Preparedness, SUNY Upstate Medical University,
Syracuse, NY................................................1,000,000
Center for Innovation in Behavioral Health at Alliant International
University, San Diego, CA.....................................400,000
Center for the Disabled, Albany, NY, for a center in Saratoga Sp200,000
CentraCare Health Foundation, St. Cloud, MN for a nurse training
program.......................................................500,000
Central New York Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants, Syracuse, NY....35,000
CentraState Health Care System, Freehold, NJ....................800,000
Centre Volunteers in Medicine, State College, PA to provide primary
health care to the uninsured of Centre County.................125,000
Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, Coudersport, PA.................100,000
[[Page 31577]]
Charles Drew Health Center, Inc., Omaha, NE.....................100,000
Cherry Street Health Services, Grand Rapids, MI.................230,000
Chester County Health Department, Chester County Government Services
Center, West Chester, PA for abstinence education and related
services.......................................................41,000
Chicago Medical School, Northern Chicago, IL....................250,000
Child & Family Services, Capital Area's Angel House Project, Lansing,
MI............................................................197,000
Child Neurology Society, Saint Paul, MN to encourage health
professionals to enter the practice of child neurology.........25,000
Children's Health Fund of Mississippi to provide health care (both in a
stationary clinic and a mobile van clinic) to underprivileged
children in a rural, underserved area of the Mississippi Delta400,000
Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, CA............425,000
Children's Hospital Central California, Madera, CA..............200,000
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Akron, OH.................1,500,000
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA for equipm500,000
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................500,000
Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters Health System, Inc.,
Norfolk, VA...................................................400,000
Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH...............................250,000
Children's Medical Research Institute, Pediatric Diabetes Research
Program, Oklahoma City, OK....................................450,000
Children's Memorial Hospital and Children's Memorial Institute for
Education and Research, Chicago, IL for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................125,000
Children's Memorial Hospital and Children's Memorial Institute for
Education and Research, Chicago, IL, for a new wing...........925,000
Children's Specialized Hospital, Hamilton, NJ....................75,000
Children's Specialized Hospital, Mountainside, NJ.............1,000,000
Children's Specialized Hospital, Mountainside, NJ, for outpatient
clinic of the Children's Specialized Hospital in Fanwood, NJ..100,000
Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to renovate
and expand the Health Education Center........................350,000
Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH for equipment....640,000
City of Chester, Bureau of Health, SABER Project, Chester, PA for
abstinence education and related services.....................105,000
City of El Paso, Texas, Border Health Medical Complex for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................250,000
City of Homestead, Florida, for the William F. ``Bill'' Dickinson
Senior Center.................................................375,000
City of Milwaukee Health Department, Milwaukee, WI for a pilot program
providing health care services to at-risk children in day care580,000
Clackamas County Public Health Division, Oregon City, OR, for
construction and equipment.....................................50,000
Clark State Community College, Springfield, OH..................550,000
Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics, Inc., Orofino, ID for eq500,000
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, for Minority Men's Health
Center......................................................1,000,000
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, for Heart Center p2,000,000
Clinton Memorial Hospital Regional Hospital, Wilmington, OH.....700,000
Colby Community College, Colby, KS..............................250,000
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York for a Women's Cancer Genomics
Center......................................................1,000,000
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO...................1,850,000
Commun-I-Care, Columbia, SC, to support a program that distributes
prescription drugs to low income, uninsured South Carolinians.500,000
Community College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV to construct a new
health sciences building......................................500,000
Community Free Clinic of Decatur-Morgan County, Inc., Decatur, AL50,000
Community Health Access Project, Mansfield, OH, to expand their program
to assist pregnant woman......................................176,000
Community Health Centers in Iowa................................600,000
Community Health Centers of Colorado, Denver, CO for renovation and
construction..................................................500,000
Community Health Centers of Jefferson Parish, River Ridge, LA...100,000
Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL1,250,000
Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota to integrate information systems of CHCs and FQHCs in the
Dakotas.......................................................250,000
Community Medical Center Healthcare System, Scranton, PA for equ250,000
Community Memorial Hospital in Staunton, IL for construction and
equipment.....................................................150,000
Community Nurses, Inc., St Marys, PA, for a telehealth project in six
communities...................................................100,000
Community Prevention Partnership of Berks County, Nurse Family
Partnership Program, Reading, PA for a program to aid in healthy
outcomes for pregnant low-income mothers......................150,000
OCondell Medical Center, Libertyville, IL.......................200,000
Conemaugh Health System, Johnstown, PA for equipment............400,000
Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. for construction of health care
facilities for Alaska natives in the Anchorage area.........4,000,000
Cooley Community Hospital, Grand Coulee, WA.....................250,000
Cooper Green Hospital, Birmingham, AL for equipment.............200,000
Copper Queen Community Hospital, Bisbee, AZ...................1,000,000
Corry Memorial Hospital, Corry, PA for equipment................200,000
County Commission of Raleigh County, West Virginia to complete the
Educational Mall facility in Beckley, WV....................4,000,000
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana for a
tribal wellness center........................................850,000
Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, NY...................................400,000
Crozer Keystone Health System, Upland, PA for ChesPenn Health Services
to provide medical services to the most impoverished and medically
needy.........................................................100,000
Cumberland University, Lebanon, TN for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................175,000
Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH.......................300,000
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, for the design and
construction of a clinical care and research facility.........575,000
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, for construction and
equipment...................................................1,000,000
Dauphin County Department of Human Services, Dauphin County, PA to
provide mobile health clinics in Dauphin County...............100,000
Deaconess Billings Clinic, Northwest Area Center for Studies on Aging,
Billings, MT for a program to manage chronic illness in the rural
aging population..............................................750,000
[[Page 31578]]
Delaware Valley Community Health, Inc., Philadelphia, PA for
construction, renovation, and equipment at the Maria de los Santos
Community Health Center.......................................100,000
Delta Dental Plan of South Dakota in Pierre, SD for equipment for a
dental care mobile van........................................200,000
Delta Health Center, Mound Bayou, MS for construction, renovation, and
equipment at the community health center in Greenville, MS....115,000
Delta State University, Cleveland, MS for the Delta Health Alliance, a
multi-university partnership to address delta health problem1,800,000
Detroit-Wayne County Health Authority of Michigan to assess regional
healthcare best practices initiatives.........................500,000
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, Mechanicsburg, PA for abstinence
education and related services................................136,000
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, Topton, PA for abstinence education
and related services...........................................95,000
Domestic Violence Project, Inc., Canton, OH.....................390,000
Door of Hope, Madisonville, KY for abstinence education and related
services......................................................100,000
Dr. Arenia C. Mallory Community Health Center, Inc., Lexington, MS for
rural women's health services.................................400,000
DuBois Regional Medical Center, DuBois, PA......................300,000
East Tennessee Children's Hospital, Knoxville, TN...............200,000
East Tennessee State University James H.Quillen College of Medicine,
Johnson City, TN..............................................500,000
Eastern Connecticut Health Network, Manchester, CT..............300,000
Eastern Oregon University Rural Frontier Delivery Program for
continuation and expansion of a program that provides educational
sources and training for nurses who live and work in rural
communities...................................................100,000
Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc., Nassawadox, VA.........350,000
Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley, CA for a clinic and rehabilitation
center for people with disabilities...........................500,000
Edgemoor Hospital, Santee, CA...................................500,000
Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH...............................1,000,000
Englewood High School, Chicago IL, for a clinic...............1,500,000
Ephrata Community Hospital, Ephrata, PA.........................300,000
Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, NY for construction, renovation,
and equipment.................................................500,000
Excelsior Springs Medical Center Outpatient and Wellness Clinic,
Excelsior Springs, MO.........................................769,000
Fairbanks Community Clinic, Fairbanks, AK.......................650,000
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Fairbanks, AK for construction and
equipment...................................................1,200,000
Fairview Health System, Minneapolis, MN for an electronic medical
record system................................................ 100,000
Family Health Council, Inc., Seneca, PA.........................100,000
Florida A&M University for a Center for Community Health........800,000
Florida Cancer Research Cooperative, University of South Florida,
Tampa, FL.....................................................500,000
Florida Emergency Medicine Foundation, Orange County, FL........100,000
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, Orlando, FL........100,000
Forbes Regional Hospital, Monroeville, PA.......................500,000
Foundation for eHealth Initiative, Washington, DC.............3,000,000
Fox Chase Cancer Center and The University of Maryland Greenebaum
Cancer Center for the American Russian Cancer Alliance to establish a
long term collaborative program for research, clinical activities and
education.....................................................650,000
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA for construction, renovation,
and equipment.................................................750,000
Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................400,000
Franklin County Memorial Hospital, Meadville, MS................250,000
Free Clinic of Doylestown, PA...................................200,000
Free Clinic of Owensboro, Owensboro, KY for healthcare services in
rural areas...................................................100,000
Free Clinics of Iowa in Des Moines to support a network of free 100,000
Gateway Healthcare, Inc, Pawtucket, RI for construction, renovation,
and equipment.................................................100,000
Geer Woods, Inc., Canaan, CT....................................700,000
Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA, for the catheterization lab at
the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Heart Hospital...................500,000
Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA, to construct the Center for
Health Research.............................................1,000,000
George Mason University Krasnow Institute, Fairfax, VA..........225,000
George Washington Carver Community Center, Project A.C.E., Norristown,
PA for abstinence education and related services...............86,000
Georgia Infirmary, Inc., Savannah, GA............................50,000
Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, for rural nursing and
nursing education outreach programs...........................275,000
Georgia State University, Atlanta GA............................150,000
Gilda's Club Northern New Jersey, Hackensack, NJ................500,000
Glens Falls Hospital, Glens Falls, NY...........................600,000
Good Samaritan Health Systems, Kearney, NE for the Mid-Nebraska
Telemedicine Network..........................................350,000
Good Samaritan Hospital, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Lebanon,
PA for construction, renovation, and equipment................250,000
Good Shepherd Hospital, Allentown, PA for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................250,000
Goodwin Community Health Center, Brunswick, GA, for the Coastal Medical
Access Project................................................300,000
Graduate Education and Applied Research Foundation in Sioux Falls,
South Dakota to construct the Center for Graduate Education and
Applied Research............................................2,000,000
Great Mines Health Center, Potosi, MO to expand health services in the
community.....................................................250,000
Green River Medical Center, Green River, UT for construction,
renovation, and equipment......................................50,000
Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, SC to improve critical care in
rural areas through e-ICU/Telemedicine technology.............500,000
Grossmont Hospital Foundation, La Mesa, CA......................750,000
Guidance Center, project RAPPORT, Ridgway, PA for abstinence education
and related services...........................................74,000
Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Inc., Clearwater, FL.........500,000
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL..3,000,000
Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ............100,000
Hackettstown Community Hospital, Hackettstown, NJ...............200,000
Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller, South Dakota for renovation
and equipment..................................................50,000
Harris Regional Hospital, Sylva, NC.............................250,000
Hawaii Primary Care Association to educate community health centers in
utilizing telehealth equipment................................400,000
[[Page 31579]]
Heart Beat, Millerstown, PA for abstinence education and related
services.......................................................51,000
Helping Hands Health Clinic, Elkton, KY for healthcare services in
rural areas...................................................100,000
Hi-Desert Medical Center, Joshua Tree, CA.......................750,000
Hillcrest Health System, Tulsa, OK for inner city clinic........570,000
Hillsdale Community Health Center, Hillsdale, MI.................58,000
Holmes County Board of Supervisors for construction of the Robert G.
Clark Health Complex, Lexington, MS...........................400,000
Holy Cross Hospital, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.........................300,000
Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ for an Emergency Room.........300,000
Holy Redeemer Health System, Philadelphia, PA for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................100,000
Hope Hospice for Southwest Florida, Ft. Myers, FL...............600,000
Hopewell Therapeutic Farm Community, Mesopotamia, OH............390,000
Horn Memorial Hospital, Ida Grove, IA...........................200,000
Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., New Hartford, NY..............40,000
Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Glen Falls, NY................200,000
Hunterdon County Medical Center, Flemington, NJ.................300,000
Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville, AL.............................400,000
Hutcheson Medical Center, Inc., Ringgold, GA....................500,000
Idaho Commission on Nursing and Nursing Education, Idaho Falls, ID, to
initiate the Nursing Leadership and Workforce Network project.250,000
Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID for the Idaho Telehealth
Integrated Care Center......................................1,500,000
Inland NW Health System in Spokane, WA, to provide online telepharmacy
services to rural hospitals and clinics.......................750,000
Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA, for the Claude Moore Health
Education Center..............................................450,000
Institute for Cancer Prevention in New York, NY for facility
improvements and equipment..................................3,000,000
Integris Baptist Regional Health Center, Women's Center, Miami, OK for
construction and equipment................................... 400,000
INTEGRIS Canadian Valley Regional Hospital, Yukon, OK...........600,000
INTEGRIS Health, Oklahoma City, OK for the Rural Oklahoma Telemedicine
Expansion program..............................................75,000
Iowa Caregivers Association for training and support of certified nurse
assistants....................................................100,000
Iowa Department of Public Health to continue the Center for Healthcare
Workforce Shortages...........................................775,000
J. Joseph Moakley Medical Services Building, Boston Medical Center,
Boston, Massachusetts.........................................800,000
Jackson Health System, Miami, FL, for the Center for Patient Saf125,000
Jackson State University, Jackson, MS to develop a Southern Institute
for mental health research and training.....................1,000,000
James Whitcombe Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN...200,000
Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center, Fayette, MS for construction and
equipment.....................................................115,000
Joel Pomerene Hospital, Millersburg, OH.........................750,000
Jordan Valley Community Health Center, Springfield, MO..........315,000
Jordan Valley Community Health Center, Springfield, MO to expand health
services in the community.....................................200,000
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, for equipment...........500,000
Kauai Community Health Center in Hawaii to set up a satellite cli50,000
Kaweah Delta Health Care District, Visalia, CA..................500,000
Kent County Visiting Nurses Association (VNA Care New England),
Warwick, RI, to provide laptop computers for home health nurse100,000
Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council, Inc., Barbourville,
KY............................................................225,000
Keystone Central School District, Central Mountain Middle School East,
Mill Hall, PA for abstinence education and related services....79,000
Keystone Economic Development Corporation, Johnstown, PA for abstinence
education and related services.................................88,000
Keystone Health Center, Chambersburg, PA........................100,000
KidsPeace Children's Hospital, Orefield, PA.....................300,000
KidsPeace of Georgia, Orefield, PA..............................500,000
Klamath Health Partnership, Klamath Falls, OR for construction,
renovation, and equipment......................................50,000
Knox Community Hospital, Mt. Vernon, OH.........................800,000
Knox County Senior Citizen's Home Assistance Service Broadway Center,
Knoxville, TN.................................................200,000
Kuakini Hospital Research Facility for renovation and expansion..50,000
L.V.C.P.T.P., St. Luke's Health Network, CHOICE program, Bethlehem, PA
for abstinence education and related services..................92,000
La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium, La Crosse, WI to expand
the Virtual Health Center program to additional counties in Wi275,000
Lackawanna College, Scranton, PA, for construction, renovation and
equipment.....................................................350,000
Lackawanna Trail School District, Factoryville, PA for abstinence
education and related services.................................74,000
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA.............434,000
Lake Erie Research Institute, Inc., Girard, PA for equipment.....25,000
Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital, Lancaster, PA for equ250,000
Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, RI for construction, renovation,
equipment.....................................................600,000
Lane County Public Health Facilities will use the funds to expand and
enhance its public health facilities to better respond to public
health crises including acts of bioterrorism...................75,000
Langlade Memorial Hospital in Antigo, Wisconsin for a four-county
dental project................................................300,000
Langston University, Langston, OK...............................300,000
Lapeer Regional Hospital, Lapeer, MI.............................15,000
LaSalle University, Philadelphia PA for abstinence education and
related services..............................................112,000
Lawrence General Hospital, Lawrence, MA, for emergency and surgical
department expansion..........................................100,000
Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, Memphis, TN for a pediatric
mobile unit--CHAMPS.........................................1,200,000
Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................750,000
Life Enrichment Center, Shelby, NC, for Kings Mountain Center....50,000
Life with Cancer-Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA.......500,000
Little Flower Free Clinic, Hazard, KY for healthcare services in rural
areas.........................................................100,000
Lodi Community Hospital, Lodi, OH.............................2,000,000
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport to
expand its clinical initiatives that focus on the Brain Institute of
the South.....................................................500,000
[[Page 31580]]
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Baton Rouge, LA, for
a Diabetes Foot Program........................................72,000
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, to
continue and expand the development of the Center for Acadiana
Genetics and Hereditary Health Care...........................600,000
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, for
the Emergency Care Center.....................................250,000
Lourdes Hospital, Paducah, KY for emergency department renovations and
equipment.....................................................500,000
Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL for construction and
equipment.....................................................100,000
Lycoming County Crippled Children's Society, Inc., Williamsport, 50,000
Womens Madison County Memorial Hospital, Madison, FL............250,000
Magee Women's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA for construction, renovation,
and equipment...............................................1,000,000
Malone College, Canton, OH....................................1,000,000
Marceline Economic Development Committee, Marceline, MO to expand
health services in the community..............................200,000
Marcus Institute, Atlanta, GA...................................750,000
Margaretville Memorial Hospital, Margaretville, NY..............200,000
Maria de los Santos Community Health Center, Philadelphia, PA for
construction, renovation and equipment........................100,000
Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, Wheaton, IL................1,000,000
Mario Lemieux Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA for construction, renovation,
equipment of hospital emergency rooms for children............200,000
Marion Regional Medical Center-Hamilton Hospital, Hamilton, AL..300,000
Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI to provide
dental care in underserved rural communities through mobile dental
clinics.......................................................350,000
Marshall University in West Virginia.........................11,500,000
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Baton Rouge, LA.................71,000
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, NY..................800,000
Maui Community Health Center to expand the community health cent350,000
McAuley Clinic, Owensboro, KY for health services in rural areas100,000
Medical College of Georgia, Cancer Research Center, Augusta, G1,275,000
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI...................1,500,000
Medical University of South Carolina Oncology Center in Charleston, SC
for-facility improvements and equipment.....................4,000,000
Medina Health Ministry, Medina, OH...............................34,000
Medina Works, Medina, OH........................................130,000
Meeting Street National Center of Excellence, South Providence, 100,000
Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, GA.......1,300,000
Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Houston, TX...............2,000,000
Memorial Hospital, Inc., Towanda, PA............................200,000
Memorial Medical Center Foundation in Las Cruces, New Mexico for a
mobile health clinic for the New Mexico Children's Health Proj150,000
Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL........................550,000
Memphis Biotech Foundation, Memphis, TN for construction, renovation,
and equipment...............................................4,000,000
Mercy Foundation, Midwest Rural Telemedicine Consortium, Des Moi650,000
Mercy Health Foundation, Durango, CO for equipment...............50,000
Mercy Health Partners, Scranton, PA to provide computerized access to
clinical information at the point of care, and to implement a
computerized physician order entry system that will make medication
and other medical orders more accessible......................150,000
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA for abstinence education
and related services..........................................111,000
Mercy Hospital, Cadillac, MI....................................225,000
Mercy Medical Center, Canton, OH..............................1,000,000
Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines, IA............................800,000
Mercy Medical Center, Renal Dialysis, Durango, CO for construction and
equipment.....................................................500,000
Mercy Medical Center, Springfield, MA, for upgrades to intensive and
critical care units and procurement of medical equipment......425,000
Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX.................................750,000
Methodist Hospital, Henderson, KY for healthcare services for
underserved children..........................................100,000
Miami Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, for the Pediatric Brain Tumor and
Neurological Disease Institute................................167,000
Michigan Research Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, for research and
development of medical technologies...........................400,000
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN for construction,
renovation, and equipment...................................1,000,000
MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland, MI..........................100,000
Midtown Community Health Center, Weber County, UT for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................150,000
Midwestern University, Chicago College of Pharmacy, Downers Grov200,000
Miller's Children's Hospital, Long Beach, CA....................250,000
Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee, WI for construction and
equipment purchases for two satellite campus nurse training pr200,000
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Choctaw, MS for planning,
construction, and renovation of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw's
Health Care Center............................................600,000
Mississippi Blood Services, Jackson, MS for equipment............65,000
Mississippi Primary Health Care Association, Jackson, MS to develop
partnerships among rural health care providers to plan for and
improve rural health care infrastructure......................140,000
Missouri Baptist Hospital, Sullivan, MO for renovation and equipm31,000
Mobile Health Command, Toledo, OH to purchase and equip a specialized
emergency health vehicle......................................100,000
Modoc Indian Health Project, Alturas, CA, for the Modoc Medical Center
and Surprise Valley District Hospital.........................200,000
Mon Valley Hospital, Monongahela, PA for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................250,000
Montefiore Medical Center, Clinical Information System, Bronx, NY for
equipment.....................................................100,000
Moorefield Wellness Project, Petersburg, WV, for health care assistance
to Viral population...........................................129,000
Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, UT for construction, renovation and
equipment.....................................................150,000
Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA for construction and
renovation.....................................................75,000
Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton, PA for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................300,000
[[Page 31581]]
Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF), Washington, D.C. for
construction, renovation and equipment of a health care complex with
emphasis on geriatric research................................900,000
Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY for equipment..........100,000
Mountain Area Hospice, Asheville, NC............................750,000
Mountaineer Community Health and Senior Center, Berkeley Springs175,000
Mountaintop Area Medical Center, Snow Shoe, PA..................150,000
Mt. San Jacinto College, Menifee Valley Campus, Menifee, CA.....100,000
Multi Dimensional Imaging, Inc., Newport Beach, CA for equipment500,000
Murphy Medical Center, Inc., Murphy, NC.......................1,000,000
National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO.........800,000
National Nursing Centers Consortium, Philadelphia, PA to conduct a
demonstration project to standardize services in nurse managed health
and wellness centers..........................................100,000
Navajo Health Foundation/Sage Memorial Hospital, Ganado, AZ.....500,000
Nazareth Hospital, Center for Stroke Treatment and Prevention,
Philadelphia, PA for construction, renovation, and equipment..250,000
Neighborhood United Against Drugs, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence
education and related services................................136,000
Nesbitt Memorial Medical Center, Kingston, PA to fund the Behavioral
Health Services D/B/A Family Enhancement Center that would provide
registered nurses and an administrator.........................50,000
Neumann College, Aston, PA, for construction, renovation, and equ50,000
Nevada Cancer Institute, Las Vegas, NV for construction, renovation,
and equipment.................................................350,000
Nevada Rural Health Partners, Reno, NV, in consultation with NV
Institute of Research & Technology, to expand and improve rural
telemedicine..................................................500,000
New Brighton School District, New Brighton, PA for abstinence education
and related services...........................................23,000
New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................100,000
New York College of Medicine, New York, New York for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................100,000
New York University Medical Center for construction of a vaccine100,000
Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital to construct an Emergency and Cardiac
Center........................................................100,000
North Idaho Rural Health Consortium (NIRHC) for a distance healthcare
access program................................................650,000
North Philadelphia Health System, Philadelphia, PA for equipment100,000
Northeast Health, Rockland, ME for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................150,000
Northeast Mississippi Health Care, Inc., Byhalia, MS............240,000
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay, WI for equipment for
new dental lab................................................200,000
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM),
Rootstown, OH.................................................500,000
Northern Duchess Hospital, Rhineback, NY, for building renovatio400,000
Northern Illinois University Center for the Study of Family Violence
and Sexual Assault, DeKalb, IL................................750,000
Northern Illinois University, Family Health Wellness & Literacy Center,
DeKalb, IL..................................................3,000,000
Northern Illinois University, NIU Institute for Neutron Therapy at
Fermi Lab, DeKalb, IL.........................................900,000
Northwest College, Mark and Huldah Buntain School of Nursing, Kirkland,
WA............................................................250,000
Northwest Pennsylvania Optical Clinic, Erie, PA to establish clinics
and train volunteer staff to provide eyeglasses to poor and indigent
individuals....................................................50,000
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.....................350,000
Northwestern University, Center for Genomics and Molecular Medicine,
Evanston, IL..................................................725,000
Norton Healthcare for Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville, KY700,000
Norwalk Health System, Norwalk, CT..............................200,000
Nueva Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence education and related
services.......................................................72,000
Nursing Institute of West Central Ohio, Wright State University,
Dayton, OH....................................................525,000
Nye County, Nevada, Ambulances for emergency health care in rura100,000
Oakwood Healthcare System, Dearborn, MI.........................500,000
Ochoco Community Clinic, Prineville, OR, for construction and equ50,000
Office of the Advocate for Patients of Puerto Rico, to acquire mobile
offices and telecommunications equipment......................400,000
Ohio Board of Regents, Columbus, OH to connect Ohio's children's
hospitals and select community hospitals with Ohio's academic medical
centers via the Third Frontier Network......................3,400,000
Ohio State University, College of Medicine & Public Health, Columbus,
OH..........................................................1,350,000
Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development
Center, Wooster, OH.........................................1,000,000
Ohio Super Computing Center (OSC), Columbus, OH.................350,000
Ohio University, Athens, OH.....................................250,000
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for the
Native American Genetics Initiative...........................500,000
Oklahoma State University Rural Health Policy and Research Center,
Stillwater, OK................................................280,000
Oregon Community Health Information Network, Portland, OR, for
construction, renovation, and equipment at Community Health Cen50,000
Orthopaedic Hospital of Los Angeles...........................1,000,000
OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac, IL....350,000
Palliative Care Center and Hospice of the North Shore, Evanston,300,000
Paradise Valley Hospital, National City, CA.....................100,000
Partners for Healthier Tomorrows, Ephrata, PA for abstinence education
and related services...........................................50,000
Partners in Family and Community Development, Athens, PA for abstinence
education and related services.................................72,000
Penn State, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Division of
Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Hershey, PA for renovation and
equipment.....................................................975,000
Penn State, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Division of
Gastroenterology and Hepatology for gastroparesis..............25,000
Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Elkins Park, PA to provide equipment
and program costs associated with developing a network of satellite
optometric centers to meet the eye and vision care needs of urban
under underserved and high-risk populations...................100,000
[[Page 31582]]
Pennsylvania Home Care Association, Lemoyne, PA to investigate the
impact of telehealth on the overall cost of patient health car250,000
Peoples Health Center, Inc., Lincoln NE.........................700,000
People's Health Centers, Inc. St. Louis, MO for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................400,000
Perseus House, Inc., Erie, PA for abstinence education and related
services.......................................................50,000
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCO M), Philadelphia, PA
to provide health outreach to the residents of Sullivan County and
rural medicine education......................................350,000
Philipsburg Hospital, Philipsburg, PA...........................250,000
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany, GA for construction.....75,000
Pike Market Medical Center in Seattle, WA, to enable the necessary
tenant improvements required to serve numerous patients.......500,000
Pines of Peace, Inc., Ontario, NY................................15,000
Placer County, Auburn, CA.......................................750,000
Plumas County Seniors Nutrition Program, Plumas, CA.............250,000
Policy Institute for Integrative Medicine, Philadelphia, PA for
equipment......................................................50,000
Polk County 911 Dispatch Center, Bolivar, MO....................250,000
Polk County, FL.................................................500,000
Pondera Medical Center, Conrad, MT for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................500,000
Port Huron Hospital, Port Huron, MI.............................400,000
Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello, ID, for Center for Cardiac and
Vascular Services.............................................700,000
Potter County Human Services, Roulette, PA for abstinence education and
related services...............................................50,000
Prentiss Regional Hospital, Prentiss, MS........................200,000
Presbyterian Home, New Hartford, NY.............................200,000
Presbyterian Medical Services, Carlsbad, NM...................1,500,000
Preventive Medicine Research Institute, Sausalito, CA...........150,000
Prince George's County Community Health Center, to create community
based health clinics in targeted communities..................200,000
Proctor Hospital, Peoria IL.....................................550,000
Project Reality, Glenview, IL for abstinence education and related
services.......................................................50,000
Provena Health Systems, Mokena, IL............................2,170,000
Provena Mercy Center, Aurora, IL..............................4,000,000
Providence Community Health Centers, Providence, RI for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................100,000
Public/Private Ventures, Philadelphia, PA for Nurse-Family Partnership
sites in Reading, Luzerne and Erie............................150,000
Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH for equipmen900,000
Rape and Victim Assistance Center of Schuykill County, Pottsville, PA
for abstinence education and related services..................71,000
Real Commitment, Gettysburg, PA for abstinence education and related
services.......................................................82,000
Red Wing Medical Center, Red Wing, MN...........................600,000
Regional Health Care Clinic Inc., Sedalia, MO to expand health services
in the community..............................................300,000
Rice University, Houston, TX..................................1,250,000
River Hospital, Alexandria Bay, NY..............................300,000
Riverside Community College District, Riverside, CA.............134,000
Rocking Horse Children's Health Center, Springfield, OH for
construction..................................................450,000
Rosebud Sioux Tribe in Rosebud, South Dakota for rural ambulance
service operations............................................250,000
Rural Health Association, La Grande Urgent Care/Family Practice Clinic,
Grande, OR for construction and equipment......................50,000
Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, Sauk City, WI to expand telehealth
activities for clinics and hospitals in rural Wisconsin.......115,000
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.....................300,000
Rush-Copley Medical Center, Aurora, IL........................1,000,000
Rutgers University Genetics Building..........................1,000,000
Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown, PA for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................750,000
Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, Spokane, WA.............500,000
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan for the Victims of Crime prog750,000
Saint Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, OH for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................400,000
Saint Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie, NY........................350,000
Saint Joseph Medical Center, Reading, PA for construction, renovation,
and equipment.................................................750,000
Samuel U. Rodgers Community Health Center, Kansas City, MO for
construction, renovation and equipment........................500,000
San Joaquin Community Hospital, Bakersfield, CA.................250,000
San Miguel County, Public Health Building, Las Vegas, NM for
construction..................................................750,000
San Ysidro Health Center in California..........................335,000
Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville, IL..........200,000
School District of Lancaster, Project IMPACT, Lancaster, PA for
abstinence education and related services.....................101,000
School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence
education and related services................................102,000
Sciperio, Stillwater, OK........................................100,000
Scottsdale Healthcare Trauma Center, Scottsdale, AZ.............500,000
Seton Hall University, Life Science and Technology Center, South
Orange, NJ....................................................150,000
Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Coal Township, PA.............300,000
Shands Jacksonville Hospital, Jacksonville, FL................1,000,000
Shepherd's Maternity House Inc., East Stroudsburg, PA for abstinence
education and related services.................................50,000
Sickle Cell Association of Kentuckiana, University of Louisville,
Louisville, KY.................................................20,000
Silver Ring Thing, Sewickley, PA for abstinence education and related
services......................................................400,000
Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD, renovate the hospital maternity f200,000
Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, NJ, for cancer center......500,000
Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, NJ, for emergency departmen500,000
South Shore Hospital, South Weymouth, MA for emergency department
expansion and renovations.....................................150,000
Southeast Community College, Cumberland, KY.....................750,000
Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Springfield, I150,000
Springfield Regional Medical Center, Springfield, OH............475,000
St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise ID for the St. Benedicte's
Family Medical Center, Jerome, ID.............................500,000
St. Anthony Hospital, Oklahoma City, OK, for construction, renovation,
equipment......................................................75,000
St. Anthony's Health Care Foundation, St. Petersburg, FL......2,500,000
St. Anthony's Medical Center, St. Louis, MO.....................350,000
St. Clair County Senior Citizens Center, Ragland, AL.............75,000
[[Page 31583]]
St. James-Santee Family Health Center, Inc., McClellanville, SC.200,000
St. Joseph College of Nursing & Allied Health, University of St.
Francis, Joliet, IL...........................................150,000
St. Joseph Hospital, Nashua, NH...............................1,500,000
St. Joseph Regional Health Network, Reading, PA.................200,000
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN for equipment400,000
St. Louis University, Biodefense Research Facility, St. Louis, MO for
construction, renovation, and equipment.......................800,000
St. Luke Community Clinic, Front Royal, VA......................100,000
St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh, NY......................150,000
St. Luke's Hospital, Allentown, PA for construction, renovation, and
equipment.....................................................800,000
St. Luke's Hospital, Houston, TX for equipment..................750,000
St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Ltd., Boise, ID.............250,000
St. Mary Medical Center in California for minority cancer early
detection and treatment program...............................100,000
St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, Pueblo, CO for equipment........200,000
St. Mary's Hospital in Connecticut for renovation of emergency room
facilities....................................................300,000
St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia, to expand
public access to automated external defibrillators in Cabell, Lincoln
and Wayne counties............................................360,000
St. Mary's Medical Center of Campbell County, TN for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................500,000
St. Nicholas Family Free Clinic, Paducah, KY for healthcare services in
rural areas...................................................100,000
St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, FL, for dental, prosthetics and
orthotics programs..........................................2,000,000
St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation, Billings, MT for construction and
equipment.....................................................500,000
STAT MedEvac, West Mifflan, PA................................1,000,000
Staywell Healthcare, Inc., Waterbury, CT........................200,000
StemCyte Research Institute, Arcadia, CA......................1,000,000
Stewart-Marchman Center, Inc., Bunnell, FL......................100,000
Stoughton Hospital Foundation in Stoughton, Wisconsin for
defibrillators.................................................30,000
Summa Health System, Akron, OH..................................950,000
Susquehanna Health System, Williamsport, PA for upgrades to the
clinical medical record system................................500,000
Targeted Abstinence Project--McCap, Kansas City, KS for abstinence
education and related services................................200,000
Tehachapi Hospital, Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District, Tehach500,000
Tennessee Technological University School of Nursing, Cookeville, TN
for construction, renovation, and equipment...................500,000
Texas A & M University, College Station, TX for the Rural Community
Health Institute..............................................250,000
Texas Southern University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences,
Houston, TX, for the establishment of a health professions pro100,000
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, to establish
a Center for education, research and clinical services in
cardiovascular disease and stroke.............................375,000
The Children's Health Fund, New York, New York, to improve access to
health care for underserved children in Pennsylvania..........200,000
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA........1,000,000
Titusville Area Hospital, Titusville, PA, for HealthWorks Bradfo200,000
To Our Children's Future with Health, Inc., Philadelphia, PA for
abstinence on education and related services..................109,000
Toledo Children's Hospital, Toledo, OH for equipment............364,000
Town of Bassfield, MS for construction and equipment of a dental110,000
Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ........1,400,000
Transylvania Community Hospital, Brevard, NC..................1,000,000
Tri County Women's Network, New Carlisle, OH....................200,000
Tuscarora Intermediate Unit, McVeytown, PA for abstinence education and
related services...............................................84,000
Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, PA........................400,000
Underwood and Lee Clinic, Louisville, KY..........................9,000
United Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY.............................250,000
University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, 1,000,000
University of Akron, Medina County University Center, Akron, OH.750,000
University of Alabama at Birmingham, for construction of the
Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences Research Building....12,500,000
University of Alaska at Anchorage for recruitment and retention of
Alaska Natives in nursing.....................................425,000
University of Alaska at Fairbanks for the development of research and
evaluation agendas for health care delivery in Alaska.......1,000,000
University of Alaska Fairbanks INPSYCH program to train Alaska Natives
for careers in psychology.....................................400,000
University of California, Irvine Health System, Orange, CA......450,000
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA....................400,000
University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, C150,000
University of Charleston in Charleston, WV for a School of Pharmacy
facility....................................................4,300,000
University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................125,000
University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.......1,875,000
University of Florida Dental Network for Distance Learning and Tele-
Dentistry, Gainesville, FL..................................1,500,000
University of Hawaii at Hilo for the School of Pharmacy Program.700,000
University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Rockford, IL.......400,000
University of Kansas Medical Research Institute, Kansas City, KS for
equipment.....................................................100,000
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, Biomedical Sciences Resource Group,
or equipment................................................2,000,000
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, for equipment...............500,000
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, for equipment..........1,000,000
University of Louisville, Research Foundation, Louisville, KY, Center
for Cancer Nursing Education and Research.....................300,000
University of Louisville, Science and Technology Research Center,
Louisville, KY for construction and equipment...............6,100,000
University of Massachusetts Memorial Hospital for the Picture Archiving
and Communication System......................................850,000
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, for the construction of an
integrative life sciences facility............................300,000
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN........................700,000
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Biomedical Imaging Institute,
Jackson, MS for construction and equipment..................4,000,000
[[Page 31584]]
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS.........3,000,000
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS for planning and constru1,810,000
University of Missouri-Kansas City, Cardiovascular Proteomics Center,
Kansas City, MO for construction, renovation, and equipment.1,700,000
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Great Plains Oral Health program
to recruit, train, and retain oral health providers...........250,000
University of Nevada-Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine for the
purchase of dental equipment................................1,000,000
University of Nevada-Las Vegas, to construct biotechnology training
labs..........................................................300,000
University of Nevada-Reno, for a biomedical imaging laboratory at the
University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno.............1,000,000
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM for construction, renovation,
and equipment...............................................4,300,000
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences to
continue rural health research at the Center for Rural Health and
Medicine in Grand Forks, ND.................................1,000,000
University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Scie1,000,000
University of Northern Colorado, Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation
Institute, Greeley, CO for construction and equipment.........100,000
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, for a
biomedical research center....................................300,000
University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.........................350,000
University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, Tulsa, OK for construction and equipment
of a Research and Medical Clinic..............................500,000
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
for its minority outreach oral health initiative..............200,000
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA for construction,
renovation, equipment.......................................1,000,000
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Bradford, PA..............200,000
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, for Northwest
Hospital......................................................100,000
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA for construction, renovation,
and equipment...............................................1,000,000
University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.........1,000,000
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL for the Gulf Coast Cancer
Center and Research Institute...............................3,500,000
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL for the Office of Emerging
Health Technologies to provide telemedicine services to rural areas
in Alabama....................................................150,000
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL for the Southwest Alabama
Network for Education and Telemedicine........................175,000
University of South Carolina Spartanburg Health Education Center,
Spartanburg, SC...............................................200,000
University of South Dakota School of Medicine in Vermillion, SD for
construction..................................................900,000
University of South Florida Center for Biological Defense, Tam2,500,000
University of South Florida Health Science Center, Tampa, FL..1,000,000
University of South Florida, Sarasota/Manatee Campus, Sarasota, FL, for
the Center for Advanced Health Practices and Policy Formation.700,000
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Computational Engineering,
Chattanooga, Tennessee, for SimCenter project to perform simulations
to study ocean/atmospheric issues associated with global cli1,000,000
University of Tennessee Health System, Knoxville, TN............100,000
University of Tennessee High Risk Newborn Services Center, Knoxville,
TN for construction, renovation, and equipment................750,000
University of Texas at Austin for equipment.....................400,000
University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX for
equipment.....................................................500,000
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX..2,000,000
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX for equipment.400,000
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX,
for multiple sclerosis training center........................950,000
University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Center for
Brain Cognition and Behavior for equipment....................500,000
University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, for the
Comprehensive Stroke Center...................................700,000
University of Utah Telemedicine Outreach Program to develop a
comprehensive suite of teleheath services in Utah and Intermountain
West..........................................................500,000
University of Vermont in Burlington, VT for a pediatric telemedicine
project.......................................................150,000
University of Vermont in Burlington, VT to continue and expand the
Office of Nursing Workforce program...........................400,000
University of Virginia Office for Telemedicine, University of Virginia
Health System, Charlottesville, VA............................180,000
University of Washington to construct a life-sciences building1,000,000
Urban Family Council, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence education and
related services..............................................126,000
Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministry, Youngstown, OH, to expand their
health care and counseling services............................50,000
Valley Healthcare System, Inc., Columbus, GA....................500,000
Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI for a good manufacturing
practices facility............................................470,000
Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, Nashville, TN for construction,
renovation, and equipment.....................................200,000
Venango Economic Development Corporation, Oil City, PA..........400,000
Vermont Technical Colleges, Chittenden, VT, to facilitate the retention
and transfer of a dental hygienist training program from the
University of Vermont.........................................750,000
ViaHealth of Wayne-Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, Newark, NY..200,000
Victim Resource Center Inc., Franklin, PA for abstinence education and
related services...............................................41,000
Victory Memorial Hospital, Brooklyn, NY.........................100,000
Virginia Center for Health Outreach, Harrisonburg, VA...........590,000
Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley, Aurora, IL............550,000
Vitality Center Community Service Agency in Elko, NV for the
construction of a new facility to combine all programs and services
under one roof................................................250,000
Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center for leadership training
activities.....................................................50,000
Waimanalo Community Health Center to expand screening to allow for a
unique focus on American Samoan health care needs.............200,000
[[Page 31585]]
Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC....250,000
Walsh University, Canton, OH, for a Community Wellness Education500,000
Walsh University, Canton, OH, for a Natural Sciences and Bioinfomatics
Center........................................................500,000
Washington College, Chestertown, MD.............................500,000
Washington Health Foundation, Seattle, WA.......................100,000
Washington Hospital Teen Outreach, Academy for Adolescent Health,
Washington, PA for abstinence education and related services..136,000
Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, PA..........................300,000
Wenatchee Valley Clinic in Washington State for equipment.......250,000
Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, Wenatchee, WA..................500,000
Wesley College, Dover, DE.......................................200,000
West Penn Allegheny Health System, Pittsburgh, PA...............250,000
West Virginia University for a Clinical Teaching Center at the
Charleston Area Medical Center..............................5,000,000
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, for the Mobile Health
Screening Program.............................................500,000
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, Hispanic Resource
Center for health outreach services to the area's Hispanic pop700,000
Western Michigan University, College of Health and Human Services,
Kalamazoo, MI, to deploy wireless technology in health care...500,000
Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA to provide eye care to underserved
populations.................................................1,000,000
Windham Community Memorial Hospital, Willimantic, CT............200,000
Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA for construction, renovation, and
equipment......................................................50,000
Womankind, Cleveland, OH, to expand prenatal care................50,000
Woman's Hospital, Baton Rouge, LA, for the Women's Outreach,
Educational and Wellness Initiative...........................100,000
Women's Care Center of Erie County, Inc., Abstinence Advantage Program,
Erie, PA for abstinence education and related services........136,000
World Impact's Good Samaritan Clinic, Wichita, KS...............300,000
Wyoming Dental Association, Laramie, WY to implement comprehensive
programs of recruitment and retention of dental professionals.360,000
Wyoming State Department of Health, Office of Telehealth, Cheyenne, WY
to create the Wyoming Network for Telehealth (WyNETTE), improving the
quality and accessibility of healthcare for people living in
Wyoming's rural areas.......................................1,540,000
Wyoming Valley Health Care System, Wilkes-Barre, PA.............550,000
Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA.................250,000
Yeshiva University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, 500,000
YMCA of Western Stark County, Ohio............................1,000,000
YMCA, Elkins, WV.................................................67,000
York County Human Life Services, Inc. York, PA for abstinence education
and related services...........................................50,000
York Health Corporation, York, PA, to expand services of the Nurse-
Family Partnership program.....................................50,000
The conference agreement includes bill language identifying
$250,000 for facilities renovation at the Gillis Long
Hansen's Disease Center as proposed by the Senate rather than
$248,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement includes $4,850,000 for
malpractice insurance for volunteer physicians who practice
at free clinics as authorized by section 224(o) of the Public
Health Service Act instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The House did not provide funding for this program.
The conference agreement includes bill language providing
$10,000,000 to remain available until expended to establish a
National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Program within HRSA, which
will provide funds to a network of cord blood banks with two
specific aims: (1) building an inventory of the highest
quality cord blood units for use as unrelated donor grafts
for patients who lack human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched
sibling donors and (2) ensuring an integrated system through
which physicians and patients are able to locate a suitably
matched cord blood unit or adult volunteer bone marrow donor
via a single, electronic access point. The conferees intend
that this program be administered by HRSA.
Because this is a new and deve1oping field, the conferees
direct HRSA to use $1,000,000 of the funds provided for the
cord blood bank to contract with the Institute of Medicine
(IOM) to commission a study which shall be completed within
twelve months of enactment of this Act. The study should
recommend an optimal structure for the cord blood program and
address pertinent issues to maximize the potential of this
technology, including collection, storage, standards setting,
information sharing, distribution, reimbursement, research
and outcome measures. The IOM should receive input from
experts including: (a) transplant physicians with expertise
in the use of cord blood for unrelated marrow
transplantation; (b) experts in the analysis of clinical
outcomes after bone marrow and cord blood stem cell
transplantations; (c) experts on HLA typing for
transplantation, especially experts with experience in
unrelated cord blood transplantation; (d) experts in medical
database development and management and web-based information
technology; (e) obstetricians familiar with programs for cord
blood donation for public use; (f) experts in cord blood
banking; (g) representatives of existing Federally-funded and
other active cord blood and bone marrow registries; (h)
representatives of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
(i) experts in the accreditation of facilities for cord blood
stem cell preparation and transplantation; and (j)
representatives of the National Institutes of Health NHLBI
Cord Blood Transplantation Study. The conferees expect that
no additional monies will be expended until the IOM report is
completed and that by the end of fiscal year 2005, HRSA will
implement the program following the IOM recommendations. The
Secretary shall notify the Appropriations Committees of both
Houses of Congress at least fifteen days prior to the release
of funds for this program.
The conferees understand that cord blood is part of a
continuum of transplantation treatment and support further
research in cord blood transplantation. A portion of the cord
blood units collected using these funds should be available
for the performance of pre-clinical and clinical research
focusing on cord blood stem cell biology and the use of
umbilical cord blood stem cells for human transplantation and
cellular therapies. The conferees recognize the importance of
Federal oversight to protect public health and safety, and
expect that funds will be directed to cord blood banks that
comply with all FDA requirements and have obtained any
necessary licenses. The conferees intend that this program
should be available to currently established cord blood banks
with active collection programs operating under an approved
IND from the FDA.
The conference agreement includes bill language identifying
$39,740,000 for the rural hospital flexibility grants program
as provided by both the House and Senate. Within the total
provided, $15,000,000 is for the Small Rural Hospital
Improvement Grant program.
The conference agreement includes bill language identifying
$280,000,000 for family planning instead of $273,350,000 as
proposed by the House and $283,350,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees have included bill language identifying
$25,000,000 for existing community health centers for
economic stabilization and to offset the rising cost of
current services. The conferees expect HRSA to use this
funding to increase basic support for existing health centers
based on performance-related criteria. The House and Senate
reports included a similar directive.
To address the problem of rising expenditures for
prescription drugs, the conferees recognize that,
increasingly, use is being made of the Public Health Service
drug discount program by its grantees, their patients, and
third-party payers, such as State Medicaid plans. Congress
has funded an increase in the number of community health
centers and other safety net health care providers. However,
the process for quarterly updating of the list of providers
certified for the drug discount program acts as an
unnecessary administrative barrier to more immediate access
to the lower drug prices. Therefore, the conferees direct the
Public Health Service to adopt procedures for immediate
access to the drug discounts for qualified entities that are
specified in section 340B of the Public Health Service Act.
The conferees remain concerned that the effort to
restructure HRSA programs and grants management may be having
a negative effect on the stability of many HRSA
[[Page 31586]]
grantees. Specifically, the restructuring of HRSA's project
officer system has proven to be detrimental to new grantees,
that often need immediate, high quality technical assistance
to successfully deliver care in their communities and meet
complex program requirements. The conferees expect HRSA to
work with all stakeholders to improve the availability of
accurate information and policy clarifications from HRSA. The
conferees also expect HRSA to improve the timeliness of award
notices and the notices of the availability of new funds.
The conferees recently learned that, due to certain
requirements under Section 330 of the Public Health Service
Act, a number of school-based health centers that had
previously received funding under the community health
centers program are now ineligible for such funding.
Recognizing the contribution that these entities have made in
their respective communities, the conferees strongly urge
HRSA to make these previously funded programs eligible for
funding in fiscal year 2004. The conferees further urge HRSA
to develop recommendations for overcoming this problem in the
future.
The conference agreement provides $12,000,000 for Native
Hawaiian health care activities within the consolidated
health centers program instead of $15,000,000 as provided by
the Senate. The House did not identify specific funding for
Native Hawaiian activities.
The conference agreement includes $2,056,956,000 for Ryan
White AIDS programs, of which $2,031,956,000 is provided as
budget authority and $25,000,000 is provided from program
evaluation funding under section 241 of the Public Health
Service Act to carry out Ryan White Special Projects of
National Significance. The House had provided $2,023,599,000,
while the Senate provided $2,041,599,000, of which
$25,000,000 was from program evaluation funding. The
agreement includes bill language identifying $753,317,000 for
the Ryan White Title II State AIDS drug assistance programs
as proposed by the House instead of $739,000,000 as proposed
by the Senate.
Within the total for Ryan White AIDS programs, no less than
the amount provided in fiscal year 2003 is included for AIDS
activities that are targeted to address the growing HIV/AIDS
epidemic and its disproportionate impact upon communities of
color, including African Americans, Latinos, Native
Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders.
The conferees are concerned by the increasing prevalence of
hepatitis C-HIV co-infection. Co-infection of the hepatitis C
virus (HCV) in HIV infected patients has become the leading
cause of AIDS mortality in some parts of the country. The
death rate is higher and life expectancy shorter for co-
infection patients than for patients who have only HIV. To
address this growing problem, the conferees urge HRSA to
encourage State ADAPs to offer co-infected patients access to
approved hepatitis C treatments as their resources allow, to
ensure that the Ryan White critical care funded programs
(including Title III & IV clinics) provide opportunities for
training care givers and clinicians to treat co-infected
patients, and to ensure that AETCs address the need for
physician education on HCV/HIV co-infection.
The conferees recognize that it is essential for the Title
IV program to maximize funds going for services to women,
children, families and youth and to place an appropriate
limit on administrative expenses. The conferees agree with
HRSA that, due to the time constraints related to the
approaching application deadline, it is not possible to
institute this limitation in fiscal year 2004 for grants that
would be awarded in August 2004. In addition, the conferees
have concerns with the quality of the data that have been
collected for calculating the proposed cap. In the Notice
regarding the proposal that was placed in the Federal
Register on August 12, 2003, the definition of
``administrative expenses'' was undetermined; however, data
were given regarding the administrative expenses of the
various Title IV grantees. These data may or may not have
included indirect costs. As a result of the lack of a precise
definition, the grantees may have provided incorrect
information regarding their administrative expenses. The
conferees agree that these data must be accurate to determine
a fair limitation on administrative expenses that ensures
that the Title IV grantees remain viable and able to provide
services for women, children, youth, and families infected
with HIV. Since the earliest that this limitation may be put
into effect is fiscal year 2005 for grants that will be
awarded in August 2005, the conferees strongly urge HRSA to
re-collect data regarding administrative expenses with a
precise definition to ensure accuracy and comparability.
The conferees concur in the Senate report language
regarding 90 percent of total title IV funding being provided
to grantees and primarily to support maintenance of existing
care services. The conferees also concur in the Senate report
language intending that HRSA use a significant portion of the
remaining funds to expand comprehensive services for youth.
The conferees also concur in Senate language regarding peer-
based technical assistance and a national consumer and
provider education center.
The conference agreement includes bill language designating
$121,130,000 of the funds provided for the maternal and child
health block grant for special projects of regional and
national significance (SPRANS). The House bill provided
$117,831,000 for this activity while the Senate bill
earmarked $116,381,000 for this purpose. It is intended that
$4,000,000 of the SPRANS amount will be used to continue the
sickle cell newborn screening program and its locally based
outreach and counseling efforts. In addition, $5,000,000 of
the SPRANS amount will be used to continue the oral health
demonstration programs and activities in the States. The
conference agreement also includes within the SPRANS set-
aside $1,600,000 for mental health programs and activities in
the States as outlined in the Senate report, $3,000,000 to
begin an epilepsy demonstration, and $2,000,000 for newborn
and child screening for heritable disorders as authorized in
Title XXVI of the Children's Health Act of 2000. The
heritable disorders program is designed to strengthen States'
newborn screening programs and improve States' ability to
develop, evaluate, and acquire innovative testing
technologies, and establish and improve programs to provide
screening, counseling, testing and special services for
newborns and children at risk for heritable disorders.
The conference agreement includes $74,988,000 for
abstinence education programs instead of $65,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $73,044,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conference agreement includes $4,500,000 in
program evaluation funds for the abstinence education program
and $70,488,000 in budget authority. The program evaluation
funds are to be used for evaluation of adolescent pregnancy
prevention programs. Because the program evaluation funds are
provided in addition to the budget authority for the
abstinence education program, the conference agreement
strikes language in both the House and Senate bills
permitting the budget authority to be used for evaluation and
setting a limit of 3.5 percent of the total provided for such
purposes. The conferees concur in language included in the
House report regarding technical assistance and capacity
building and language included in the Senate report about
grantees with project periods expiring in fiscal year 2003.
The conference agreement includes $500,000 for rural
emergency service training and equipment assistance instead
of $1,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The specific bill
language providing the funding has been deleted and the
funding included in the table at the end of the statement of
managers.
The conference agreement includes $11,000,000 for rural and
community access to rural devices. This includes $10,000,000
for the rural program under section 413 of the Public Health
Service Act and $1,000,000 for the new community access
demonstration under section 313.
The conference agreement includes $438,748,000 for health
professions instead of $391,203,000 as proposed by the House.
The Senate provided $423,765,000 for a consolidated health
professions line as well as $50,000,000 for nurse training.
The conferees concur in the House report language
allocating fiscal year 2003 level funding for graduate
psychology education and geropsychology and $19,000,000 for
geriatric education centers, $7,000,000 for geriatric
training, and $6,000,000 for geriatric academic career
awards. The conferees concur in Senate report language
allocating at least $5,500,000 for the pediatric dental
program and providing continued funding for the chiropractic-
medical school demonstration grant program.
The conference agreement provides $142,763,000 for nurse
training programs within the health professions training
total. In using the increase in funding provided above the
fiscal year 2003 level under Nurse Education, Practice, and
Retention Grants, the conferees expect HRSA to give
preference in funding to internship and residency programs,
career ladder programs, and enhancing patient care delivery
systems. The conferees intend that a portion of the funding
provided for loan repayment and scholarships be used for
scholarships in exchange for two years of service at health
care facilities with critical shortages of nurses.
The conferees continue to be concerned about the health
care needs of those in the Mississippi River Delta region.
The conferees provide $6,800,000 for rural health outreach to
continue the ongoing initiative in eight States. These grants
provide funding and technical assistance to help underserved
rural communities identify and better address their health
care needs and to help small rural hospitals improve their
financial and operational performance. The conferees further
recommend that HRSA consult with the Delta Regional Authority
and the Delta Health Alliance, given their ongoing
relationships with communities in the Delta.
The conferees concur with the Senate report language
regarding frontier extended stay clinics.
The conferees support the Student Resident Experiences and
Rotations in Community Health (SEARCH) program within the
National Health Service Corps and intend that HRSA continue
this program in fiscal year 2004.
[[Page 31587]]
The conference agreement includes $35,000,000 for the
Denali Commission instead of $40,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The House did not include funding for the Commission.
The conference agreement includes a general provision,
section 222, amending the Denali Commission Act of 1998 to
clarify that the Commission has authority to use the
interagency transfer mechanism rather than grants to receive
the funding provided in this Act. The conferees concur in
language in the Senate report indicating that the Denali
Commission should allocate funds to a mix of service
facilities. Within the funds provided, $2,500,000 is provided
to acquire medical equipment for rural clinics and hospitals,
such as an x-ray machine for Seldovia, AK, and $5,000,000
shall be used for upgrade and construction of shelters for
victims of domestic violence.
The conferees concur in language in the Senate report
identifying $3,000,000 within traumatic brain injury funding
for protection and advocacy services.
The conference agreement includes $104,317,000 for the
community access program as proposed by the House. The Senate
did not provide funding for this program. The conferees
encourage HRSA, through the Community Access Program, to
establish demonstration projects between community health
centers and minority health professions schools for the
purpose of health status disparities research and data
collection. Such demonstration projects were authorized in
the Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2002.
The conference agreement includes $150,000,000 for program
management instead of $155,974,000 as provided by the House
and $146,686,000 as provided by the Senate.
The conferees expect HRSA to use no more than one percent
of the funds allocated for projects for agency administrative
expenses.
The Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Act of 1998 established the
Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund to provide compassionate
payments to certain individuals affected by HIV transmission
via contaminated blood products. The fund terminated by law
on November 12, 2003. The conferees are aware of
approximately 28 cases that may still be adjudicated. The
conferees understand that HRSA has made budgetary
arrangements in anticipation of potential additional
payments. The conferees expect HRSA to report to the House
and Senate Appropriations Committees on the status of these
potential payments by February 1, 2004.
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Trust Fund
The conference agreement includes $3,222,000 for the
administrative costs associated with the Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program instead of $3,472,000 as proposed by the
House and $2,972,000 as proposed by the Senate.
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
Disease Control, Research, and Training
The conference agreement includes $4,545,472,000 for
disease control, research, and training at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), instead of
$4,588,671,000 as proposed by the House and $4,494,496,000 as
proposed by the Senate. In addition, $212,134,000 is made
available under Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act,
the same as proposed by the Senate. The House bill proposed
that $13,226,000 be derived under Section 241 authority.
The conference agreement includes language proposed by the
Senate inserting the word ``purchase'' before the phrase,
``hire, maintenance, and operation of aircraft.'' The House
proposed no similar language.
The conference agreement includes bill language earmarking
$262,000,000 for equipment, construction, and renovation of
facilities, instead of $260,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The House proposed $206,000,000 for this activity.
Within this total, $250,000,000 is for continuation of CDC's
Facilities in Atlanta and $9,600,000 is for the second year
costs of replacing CDC's infectious disease laboratory in
Fort Collins, Colorado and $2,400,000 is to begin replacement
of CDC's facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio. The conferees
continue to support the implementation of CDC's Buildings and
Facilities Master Plan and are pleased with the progress made
to date.
The conferees expect the CDC to utilize a portion of the
funds provided for buildings and facilities to continue and
expand security improvements to ensure critical information
reliability for response to critical events, as well as to
conduct increasingly varied public health missions.
The conference agreement includes bill language to allow
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enter
into a single contract or related contracts for the full
scope of development and construction of facilities as
proposed by both the House and the Senate. The conference
agreement also includes bill language to allow funds
appropriated to the CDC to be used to enter into a long-term
ground lease for construction on non-Federal land, in order
to replace their laboratory in the Fort Collins, Colorado
area as proposed by both the House and Senate.
The conference agreement includes bill language to earmark
$293,569,000 for international HIV/AIDS, with $150,000,000
earmarked for the International Mother and Child HIV
Prevention Initiative, the same as proposed by the Senate.
The House proposed $242,569,000 for international HIV/AIDS,
with $100,000,000 earmarked for the International Mother and
Child HIV Prevention Initiative.
The conference agreement includes bill language as proposed
by the Senate designating that the following amounts shall be
available under section 241 (Public Health Service Act
evaluation set-aside) for the specified activities:
$127,634,000--National Center for Health Statistics Surveys
$14,000,000--National Immunization Surveys
$28,600,000--Information Systems Standards Development and
Architecture and Applications-based Research Used at Local
Public Health Levels
$41,900,000--Research Tools and Approaches within the
National Occupational Research Agenda
The House bill provided that $13,226,000 be derived from
section 241 for National Center for Health Statistics
surveys.
Birth Defects
The conference agreement includes $113,513,000 for birth
defects, developmental disabilities, disability and health
instead of $106,339,000 as proposed by the House and
$110,639,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Within the total, the following amounts are provided for
the specified activities above the comparable amount for
fiscal year 2003:
$5,244,000 to expand autism surveillance and education
activities;
$1,000,000 to expand research activities conducted by the
regional Centers for Birth Defects Research and Prevention;
$250,000 to expand activities related to Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome;
$1,000,000 to expand the National Spina Bifida program;
$1,500,000 to establish a public health education and
research program concerning Tourette syndrome;
$1,500,000 to expand surveillance and epidemiological
efforts of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy;
$750,000 to expand support for the Special Olympics Healthy
Athletes Initiative;
$2,500,000 to expand the work of the Paralysis Resource
Center;
$1,000,000 to expand disability prevention activities;
$300,000 to expand the newborn infant screening program;
$250,000 to expand Limb Loss activities;
$500,000 to establish a craniofacial malformation program;
and
$274,000 to expand the work of the Attention Deficit
Resource Centers.
The conference agreement includes $3,000,000 above the
fiscal year 2003 level for the support and expansion of CDC's
State autism surveillance program. In addition, $2,244,000 is
provided to establish a national awareness and education
program that will widely disseminate information regarding
autism identification and diagnosis to both families and
health care providers as authorized by Sec. 103 of the
Children's Health Act of 2000. This program should be
administered and piloted in partnership with voluntary
organizations already working in the autism community.
The conferees concur that the status report on autism data
collection requested by both the House and Senate is due by
March 1, 2004.
The conference agreement includes $1,500,000 to establish a
public health and research program in partnership with a
national voluntary health association dedicated to assist
parents and families of children with Tourette Syndrome as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
The conferees continue to support strongly the partnership
between CDC and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis
Resource Center and intend that within the increase provided:
$500,000 be used to fund up to three applied research
projects to translate clinical rehabilitation treadmill
therapy to community-based settings and to train health care
professionals to deliver this intervention; and $2,000,000 be
used to expand the work of the Resource Center.
The conferees commend CDC for its partnership with CHADD in
developing an AD/HD Resource Center and has provided an
increase of $274,000 above fiscal year 2003 to expand the
Resource Center in an effort to respond to the overwhelming
demand for information and support services. The conferees
intend that the full amount of the increase be awarded to the
Resource Center.
The conferees commend CDC for its partnership with Amputee
Coalition of America on the National Limb Loss Information
Center. The conferees intend that the full amount of the
increase provided be awarded to the Information Center.
The conference agreement includes $500,000 for craniofacial
malformation activities. The conferees concur with language
in the Senate report regarding the establishment of a
craniofacial malformation and development registry and the
creation of a plan for an information clearinghouse for
parents and physicians.
The conference agreement includes sufficient funds above
the request for CDC to initiate in fiscal year 2004
epidemiological and
[[Page 31588]]
population-based studies on individuals with Down syndrome as
outlined in the House and Senate reports.
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The conference agreement includes $859,065,000 for chronic
disease prevention and health promotion instead of
$862,011,000 as proposed by the House and $801,844,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Programs within this account are
funded at the following levels:
Heart Disease and Stroke....................................$46,000,000
Cancer Prevention and Control...............................315,631,000
Diabetes.....................................................67,342,000
Arthritis and Other Chronic Diseases.........................24,501,000
Tobacco.....................................................100,100,000
Nutrition/Physical Activity..................................45,000,000
Community Health Promotion...................................24,064,000
School Health................................................62,835,000
Safe Motherhood/Infant Health................................54,252,000
Oral Health..................................................12,510,000
Prevention Centers...........................................26,830,000
VERB (Youth Media) Campaign..................................36,000,000
Steps to a Healthier U.S.....................................44,000,000
Within the amounts provided for Cancer Prevention and
Control $210,929,000 is for the Breast and Cervical Cancer
Screening Program; $50,000,000 is for Cancer Registries;
$15,000,000 is for Colorectal Cancer; $12,000,000 is for
Comprehensive Cancer; $4,950,000 is for Ovarian Cancer;
$15,555,000 is for Prostate Cancer; $5,000,000 is for the
Geraldine Ferraro Cancer Education Program; and $2,197,000 is
for Skin Cancer.
The conferees applaud the ongoing work at CDC, in
conjunction with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, to develop a
National Cancer Survivorship Action Plan. The conferees also
urge the CDC to develop a cancer survivorship resource center
focused on the post-treatment needs and long-term
survivorship/quality of life issues.
The conferees are aware that survival rates of the most
lethal cancers, including lung, esophageal, liver, and
pancreatic cancer, remain at or below 15 percent. Further,
the conferees understand that the University of Kentucky,
Markey Cancer Center, has begun a three-year effort to
establish a state-of-the-art early detection and outreach
program for a rural, medically underserved population with
links to best treatment practices, clinical trials, and
relevant translational research. Upon its completion, the
conferees request that the Secretary, through the Director of
the CDC, assess both the design and findings of this project,
and report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees
on the project's outcomes and any recommendations to increase
the survival rates of lethal cancers.
Within the amounts available for Arthritis and Other
Chronic Diseases, the agreement provides an increase over
fiscal year 2003 of $250,000 for the expansion of State-based
arthritis programs and collaborations with the relevant
voluntary health organizations and of $750,000 to enhance
epilepsy efforts, in partnership with a national non-profit
organization that works on behalf of children and adults
affected by seizures. In addition, $1,000,000 is available
within Arthritis and Other Chronic Diseases to continue
support for the National Lupus Patient Registry.
The conferees encourage the CDC to develop a partnership
with a national voluntary health association dedicated to
assisting persons with Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and
undertake initiatives to expand public and professional
education efforts concerning IC and enhance the understanding
of IC through epidemiological studies.
Within amounts provided for Community Health Promotion,
$8,100,000 is provided to support and expand the Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance Systems, $2,982,000 is provided for
continuing and expanding a model project that is testing and
evaluating the efficacy of glaucoma screening using mobile
units, $2,887,000 is for the national vision screening and
education program, and $1,800,000 is for the Mind-Body
Medical Institute in Boston, Massachusetts to continue
practice-based assessments, identification, and study of
promising and heavily-used mind/body practices.
The conferees concur with language included in the Senate
report regarding the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
death scene protocol and have provided $300,000 to support
projects to demonstrate the protocol's effectiveness from
within funds available under Safe Motherhood and Infant
Health.
The conference agreement includes $36,000,000 for the VERB
(Youth Media) campaign. The conferees intend that the funds
provided for fiscal year 2004 be used to augment the media
buy for phase 3 of the campaign and encourage the CDC to use
these enhanced resources to leverage additional in-kind
contributions.
The conferees encourage the CDC to develop partnerships
with national organizations to enhance the reach and impact
of the STEPS program by coordinating and delivering program
models to additional communities across America, including in
rural and disadvantaged communities. Potential partners
should have experience directly providing youth-development
programs, long-standing dedication to promoting lifelong
health, and a commitment to serving all ages, incomes, and
abilities.
Within the amount for Nutrition and Physical Activity, the
conference agreement includes $1,000,000 to support a
comprehensive review of the effects of food marketing on
children's diet and health, including the characteristics of
effective marketing of foods to children to promote healthy
food choices. The conferees request that upon completion of
the review, a report detailing the review's findings be
submitted to the appropriate Committees of jurisdiction of
the Congress.
Environmental Health
The conference agreement includes $184,629,000 for
environmental health instead of $184,829,000 as proposed by
the House and $184,329,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Within the total provided: $38,518,000 is for the
environmental health laboratory; $66,728,000 is for
environmental health activities (including $2,200,000 to
continue the physician education and public awareness program
for primary immune deficiency disease as implemented by the
Jeffrey Modell Foundation, and $27,900,000 to continue the
health-tracking network); $37,386,000 is for asthma; and
$41,997,000 is for childhood lead poisoning.
The conferees support the continuation of CDC's work
responding to, and preventing adverse health effects of
complex humanitarian emergencies around the world and commend
CDC for supporting organizations that apply public health
strategies to mitigate the impact of conflict on civilian
populations in Iraq and elsewhere.
Epidemic Services
The conference agreement includes $92,494,000 for epidemic
services and response, instead of $82,494,000 as proposed by
the House and $127,494,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $15,000,000 above the
comparable level for fiscal year 2003 for the Director to
expand global disease detection capabilities. The conferees
are aware that approximately thirty previously unheard of
infectious diseases were discovered in the last thirty years.
The conferees intend that the increased funds provided for
global disease detection be allocated in the manner
determined by the Director of CDC to enhance the capability
to detect and track global outbreaks of disease.
The conferees commend CDC for its partnership with the
Landmine Survivor Network and have provided funds within
Epidemic Services to support the Network at not less than the
fiscal year 2003 level.
Health Statistics
The conference agreement includes $127,634,000 for Health
Statistics, to be derived from amounts made available under
Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act, the same as
proposed by the Senate. The House proposed $125,899,000 for
Health Statistics, of which $13,226,000 was to be derived
from amounts made available under Section 241 of the Public
Health Service Act.
HIV/AIDS, STD and TB Prevention
The conference agreement includes $1,299,388,000 for HIV/
AIDS, STD and TB prevention instead of $1,247,388,000 as
proposed by the House and $1,301,388,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Included in this amount is $993,189,000 for HIV/AIDS
activities, of which $293,569,000 is for global HIV/AIDS
activities; $169,072,000 for STD activities; and $137,127,000
for TB activities. Within the funds provided for global HIV/
AIDS, $150,000,000 is for the International Mother and Child
HIV Prevention Initiative.
Within the total for HIV/AIDS, $104,000,000 is provided to
continue CDC's support of activities that are targeted to
address the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and its disparate
impact on communities of color, including African Americans,
Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians,
and Pacific Islanders. The conferees intend that CDC follow
the report accompanying the Labor, HHS and Education and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 regarding the
disbursement of these funds, including continuing support for
the Directly Funded Minority Community Based Organization
Program.
The conferees urge the Director to continue and to
strengthen CDC support of community-based organizations and
faith-based organizations in their efforts to provide
culturally and linguistically appropriate primary and
secondary HIV prevention programs. The conferees are aware of
recent concerns regarding instability in the recompetition
process and encourage the CDC to provide directly funded
community and faith based organizations with technical
assistance and capacity building support in order to promote
effective and sustainable programs.
Within the total for STD activities, $500,000 is for CDC to
carry out a competitive grant program to strengthen local
capacity on Indian reservations to screen for and treat
sexually transmitted diseases and to educate local
populations about such diseases and their consequences, as
well as how
[[Page 31589]]
transmission of such diseases can be prevented.
The conferees urge CDC to utilize $1,000,000 of the
increase provided for Tuberculosis (TB) prevention to partner
with a private foundation uniquely qualified to test new TB
vaccines and that has implemented a large-scale community-
based TB vaccine field trial. CDC should utilize its
cooperative agreement mechanisms to ensure that the agency
has the opportunity to provide technical assistance and
guidance to this important partnership, especially with
regard to epidemiology.
The conferees request that the Director prepare a plan to
comprehensively address blood safety and injection safety in
Africa under the Global AIDS program, to be completed and
submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of the House
and Senate no later than 120 days after enactment of this
Act. The plan should ensure that all injections occur in a
safe manner, through provision of an adequate supply of safe
injection equipment, preferably non-reusable syringes,
provider education, and waste management, and to foster
``appropriate use'' of injections in order to reduce the
number of unnecessary injections administered. Similarly, the
plan should reflect an emphasis on both increasing the blood
supply through donor recruitment and ensuring its safety
through proper screening of donors and donated blood as well
as the development or improvement of a robust national blood
service. In addition, provision should be made for provider
education and other measures necessary to ensure the
appropriate use of donated blood and to discourage
unnecessary or inappropriate uses.
Immunization
The conference agreement includes a discretionary program
level total of $633,385,000 for immunization, instead of
$650,586,000 as proposed by the House and $641,686,000 as
proposed by the Senate. In addition, $14,000,000 is for
national immunization surveys to be derived from section 241
evaluation set-aside funds, the same as proposed by the
Senate. The House bill included no similar provision.
The conferees note that the National Vaccine Program
Office, formerly housed within CDC, will be transferred to
the Office of the Secretary. Accordingly, the appropriation
for immunization has been reduced and the $7,301,000
requested to support that office is appropriated within the
Office of the Secretary, General Departmental Management
account.
In addition, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program funded
through the Medicaid program is expected to provide
$980,196,000 in vaccine purchases and distribution support in
fiscal year 2004, for a total immunization program level of
$1,627,581,000.
Included in the amount provided is $495,464,000 for the
section 317 program, and $151,921,000 for global immunization
activities. Within the total available for global
immunization, $106,400,000 is for global polio eradication
activities, and $45,521,000 for other global activities,
including the global measles program.
The conferees are aware of sensitivities about research
involving the safety of childhood vaccines. CDC's Vaccine
Safety Datalink Data Sharing Program allows external
researchers to assess vaccine safety by analyzing data from
managed care organizations. The conferees believe that it is
essential that these data be available in a way that allows
for independent review while at the same time protects
confidentiality and complies with regulations for the
protection of human subjects involved in research. The
conferees urge that CDC continue to assure access to these
data and appropriately preserve final datasets for vaccine
safety studies and datasets created by CDC for external
researchers through the Vaccine Safety Datalink Data Sharing
Program.
Infectious Diseases
The conference agreement includes $372,503,000 for
infectious diseases instead of $382,226,000 as proposed by
the House and $372,760,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Within the total provided, $9,000,000 above fiscal year
2003 is provided for areas of highest scientific and
programmatic priority for preparing and responding to present
and emerging infectious disease threats.
Within the total provided, $2,000,000 above fiscal year
2003 is to augment CDC's resources for supporting States in
developing and implementing effective surveillance,
prevention, and mosquito control to effectively combat West
Nile Virus and support research on the biology of the
disease.
Within the total provided, $911,000 above fiscal year 2003
is to expand research, prevention and control activities on
malaria and to continue CDC's Global Malaria Initiative.
Within the total provided, $1,000,000 above fiscal year
2003 is to expand and improve surveillance, research, and
prevention activities on prion disease. The conferees intend
that a significant portion of the increase be used to expand
support for the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance
Center to augment the national autopsy network for prion
disease surveillance.
Within the total, $2,200,000 is provided to continue the
thalassemia blood safety surveillance program.
The conferees are deeply concerned by the largest known
outbreak of Hepatitis A in the Nation, which has been
developing in western Pennsylvania over the last few weeks.
The conferees understand that a CDC field investigation team
is in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania working with State and local
health officials to determine the source of the outbreak and
limit the spread of the disease. The conferees commend the
CDC's response, and expect the CDC to continue and expand
these efforts to contain this specific outbreak and to
prevent future occurrences.
The conferees are pleased that CDC has branched into new
areas of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) research and medical
education in the four-year period in which the $12,900,000 is
being restored to the CFS program. The conferees expect that
the payback period will be extended through fiscal year 2005.
Injury Control
The conference agreement includes $154,632,000 for injury
control, instead of $152,414,000 as proposed by the House and
$152,409,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Within the total provided, $3,750,000 is to extend
implementation of the National Violent Death Reporting
System, $8,700,000 is for child maltreatment prevention
activities, and $5,224,000 is for the Traumatic Brain Injury
prevention program. In addition, sufficient funds are
included to continue support for all existing Injury Control
Research Centers.
Occupational Safety and Health
The conference agreement provides $236,985,000 for
occupational safety and health, instead of $273,385,000 as
proposed by the House and $240,485,000 as proposed by the
Senate. In addition, $41,900,000 is available to carry out
Research Tools and Approaches activities within the National
Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) to be derived from
section 241 evaluation set-aside funds as proposed by the
Senate. This brings the comparable program level to
$278,885,000. The House bill had no similar provision.
Within the total provided, $19,700,000 is for the Education
and Research Centers and $26,000,000 above the request is for
research activities in support of implementation of NORA.
Also within the total provided, $3,500,000 above the fiscal
year 2003 level is provided for the National Personal
Protective Technologies Laboratory. The conferees intend that
the funds be used in the manner outlined in the Senate
report.
The conference agreement also includes sufficient funds to
continue the farm health and safety initiative, the
construction safety and health program, and to purchase
personal dosimetry monitors as outlined in the House report.
Public Health Improvement
The conference agreement includes $143,082,000 for public
health improvement instead of $144,530,000 as proposed by the
House and $106,789,000 as proposed by the Senate. In
addition, $28,600,000 is available to carry out information
systems standards development and architecture and
applications-based research used at local public health
levels to be derived from section 241 evaluation set-aside
funds, as proposed by the Senate. The House bill included no
similar provision.
The conference agreement includes $15,000,000 within Public
Health Improvement to expand public health research that is
determined by the Director as having high scientific and
programmatic priority.
Funds requested within public health improvement for
development and implementation of a nationwide environmental
health-tracking network have been provided for within the
CDC's environmental health activities program.
The conference agreement includes $500,000 to continue the
Comprehensive Assessment of Rural Health in Iowa (CARHI), in
conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health.
The conferees include the following amounts for the
following projects and activities in fiscal year 2004:
Allergy/Asthma Foundation of Alaska and The Alaska Lung Association for
programs aimed at preventing youth smoking....................250,000
American Trauma Society, Upper Marlboro, MD to develop trauma response
curriculum....................................................100,000
American Vitiligo Research Foundation, Clearwater, FL, for public and
health professional education regarding Vitiligo..............250,000
BioAdvance, Philadelphia, PA to strengthen bioinformatics training
activities....................................................100,000
Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota for the West
River Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effect.............200,000
Burlington Community College, Pemberton, NJ, for equipment for high-
tech simulation training of handling chemical and biological h800,000
[[Page 31590]]
Center for Disaster Epidemiology & Preparedness, Department of
Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of
Medicine, Miami, FL, to establish a Specialty Center for Public
Health Preparedness focused on Hispanic Training on Disasters.166,000
Center for Mind Body Medicine, Washington, DC, to train health and
mental health professionals in treating war and terrorism related
trauma in the U.S. and abroad.................................100,000
Chester County Hospital, West Chester, PA to establish home monitoring
systems for patients with congestive heart failure............250,000
City of Waterloo, Iowa, for expansion of Fire PALS, a school-based
injury prevention program.....................................150,000
Clarion University, Clarion, PA for a smoking cessation and prevention
campaign.......................................................50,000
Community College Foundation, Sacramento, CA, for the ePassport foster
child health and education data tracking program............2,000,000
Community Health Centers in Hawaii for Childhood Rural Asthma Pr150,000
Community Lead Education and Reduction Program (CLEARCorps),
Minneapolis, Minnesota to provide intervention training to detect the
signs of childhood lead poisoning and perform remediation of affected
homes.........................................................100,000
Delaware Valley Hepatitis Treatment, Research, and Education Center
(HepTREC), Melrose Park, PA to enhance awareness, train support
groups, and fund programs for patients.........................75,000
Delta State University, Cleveland, MS for the Delta Health Alliance
Agri-Medicine Initiative......................................500,000
DuPage County Health Department, Wheaton, Illinois, for security
enhancements..................................................300,000
East Harlem Asthma Working Group for salaries and treatment methods,
focusing on teaching kids and families how to cope with asthma100,000
East Tennessee State University, Division of Health Sciences, Johnson
City, TN, for the Appalachian Cancer Demonstration Project....375,000
Federation of American Scientists, Washington, DC, for a
biopreparedness demonstration project involving the use of
interactive simulation for training...........................100,000
Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus, Whitestone, New York, for
demonstration project in Southwest Texas to conduct screening for
Glaucoma......................................................500,000
Georgia Rural Water Association, Georgia Environmental Training and
Education Authority for Small Community Water Fluoridation.....50,000
Gertrude Barber Center, Erie, PA, for autism intervention & educ150,000
Greater Cleveland Asthma Outreach, Cleveland; OH, to expand asthma-
related programs..............................................150,000
Gwynedd-Mercy College School of Education, Gwynedd Valley, PA for the
Prevention Education for Applied Creativity against Emerging Threats
program........................................................75,000
Haymarket Center, Chicago, Illinois, for a project to integrate chronic
disease management with substance abuse treatment.............500,000
Health Care Improvement Foundation, PA for a public health/bioterronsm
disaster communications project...............................100,000
Health Choice Network, Miami, FL for the Jessie Trice Cancer prevention
project.......................................................350,000
Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio, for equipment and staffing at the
Water Quality Laboratory......................................350,000
Hult Health Education Center, Peoria, Illinois, for teacher training,
technology equipment and curriculum development for a data collection
program to integrate schools and community health resources....75,000
I Care Foundation, Bethesda, MD, for epidemiological studies related to
Autism.........................................................50,000
Illinois State University, Normal, IL, for a Physical Education Obesity
Prevention and Lifestyle Enhancement (PEOPLE) program.........165,000
Inner Harmony Foundation, Clarks Summit, PA for implementation of the
New Beginnings Integrative Cancer Care Program................250,000
Institute for Cancer Prevention in New York, NY to identify populations
that have a decreased risk in developing cancer and Alzheimer's
Disease, design mechanism-based strategies to prevent cancer and
Alzheimer's Disease in the general population...............3,000,000
Iowa Department of Education to provide free fruits and vegetables to
schoolchildren..............................................1,000,000
Iowa Health Foundation to continue a pilot program on chronic disease
management....................................................400,000
Iowa State University, Ames, IA for the Center for the Study of
Violence to identify factors that contribute to the development of
violence-prone individuals....................................166,000
Iowa State University, Ames, IA for the Center for Food Security and
Public Health...............................................1,000,000
Iron Disorders Institute in association with Penn State University,
College of Medicine, Hershey, PA to establish a Center for the Study
of Biometals..................................................100,000
James Whitcombe Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN, for
continuation of autism programs at the Christian Sarkine Autism
Treatment Center..............................................500,000
Kent State University, Kent, OH, for The Northeast Ohio Alliance for
Biopreparedness...............................................750,000
Kids Health, Inc., Atlanta, GA, for an obesity prevention initia350,000
Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA for the National Mass
Fatalities Institute..........................................500,000
Lance Armstrong Foundation to perform services and programs in
consultation with Families in Search of the Truth in Fallon, N100,000
Lance Armstrong Foundation, Austin, TX for the National Cancer
Survivorship Resources Center.................................300,000
Lapeer Regional Hospital, Lapeer, MI, for an Asthma Intervention and
Management Program.............................................25,000
Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies,
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, for the National Friendly
Access Program................................................500,000
Lifestyle Advantage, Pittsburgh, PA for the Lifestyle Modification
Program.......................................................150,000
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and
Shreveport and the Tulane Health Sciences Center for a statewide,
targeted effort for the detection and prevention of cancer....500,000
Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr, PA to create a computer system that will
provide a standardized dosage mechanism that cross-checks for errors,
allergies, and potential drug interaction.....................200,000
[[Page 31591]]
Marion Downs Hearing Center, Denver, CO for the creation of an
international hearing center to provide services, resources,
education and research to support the needs of individuals who are
deaf and hard of hearing....................................3,000,000
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, for Charlotte ALERT bioterrorism
surveillance activities.......................................300,000
Medical Institute for Sexual Health (MISH), Austin, TX, for the
development of curricula for medical students and primary care
residents related to sexual health............................400,000
Mississippi Department of Education to provide free fruits and
vegetables to schoolchildren................................1,000,000
Monterey Institute, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey, CA,
for enhancing bioterrorism preparedness.....................1,000,000
Montgomery County, PA for a pilot program to provide communications
interoperability for fire, police, and EMS in the event of a
bioterrorism event............................................150,000
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, Scranton, PA to address the root
cause of higher incidence of colorectal cancer in northeastern100,000
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, for the Center for
Bioterrorism Forensics and Genomic Research...................300,000
Oral Vaccine Institute in Las Vegas, NV for the development of
innovative vaccine delivery alternatives......................900,000
Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas, Fort Worth, TX, for the study of
the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for people with cerebral palsy
and other disabling conditions................................600,000
Partnership for Food Safety, Washington, DC, for The Fight BAC!
campaign to reduce the incidents of foodborne illnesses.......500,000
Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, Ephrata, PA for the development
of a Pennsylvania health care insurance resource guide.........25,000
Pennsylvania Tourette Syndrome Association Inc., Gettysburg, PA, to
provide education, information services, and workshops regarding
Tourette Syndrome..............................................50,000
Pinnacle Health System, Harrisburg, PA to develop and implement
Pinnacle Health System's ``Safe Care Delivery System,'' to use
innovative technologies in an effort to reduce medical errors.250,000
Pueblo Community Diabetes Project, Pueblo, CO, for a diabetes
prevention initiative.........................................150,000
Saint Vincent Health Center, Erie, PA for a cardiac disease management
program........................................................15,000
Save a Life Foundation, Schiller Park, IL, for training.......1,175,000
Sister to Sister--Everyone Has a Heart Foundation to increase women's
awareness of heart disease, Washington, DC....................400,000
Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA, for the Center on
Disability and Health to promote and encourage regular physical
activity......................................................161,000
South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy in Brookings, SD to
support pharmacist immunization training.......................60,000
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation, New York, NY for a spinal muscular
atrophy initiative............................................100,000
State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Obesity
Prevention and Control program................................500,000
Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, for a Childhood Obesity
Project.......................................................350,000
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Lancaster, PA, for improved
first responder communications.................................25,000
University of Findlay Center for Terrorism Preparedness, Findlay250,000
University of Georgia Center for Leadership in Education and Applied
Research in Mass Destruction Defense (CLEARMADD) to train public
health professionals..........................................225,000
University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington, KY, to establish
a state-of-the-art early detection and outreach program for a rural
population with high incidences and low survivability of lethal
cancers, including lung, esophageal, pancreatic, and liver c1,000,000
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, Center for Improving Medication
Related Healthcare Outcomes to identify medication errors...1,000,000
University of Louisville Research Foundation, Louisville KY, for the
Center for Oral Health and Systemic Disease...................700,000
University of Louisville, Cardiovascular Innovation Institute,
Louisville, KY, for a Cardiac Regeneration Program..........1,500,000
University of Louisville, Center for the Deterrence of Bioterrorism and
Biowarfare, Louisville, KY, to educate public health officials in
detecting and responding to biological attacks..............1,500,000
University of Nebraska Medical Center, National Biosecurity Center for
Rural Health, Omaha, NE, to develop and expand an electronic system
to address the threat of bioterrorism.......................1,000,000
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Forth Worth, TX, for
diabetes prevention and control.............................1,500,000
University of Northern Iowa, Youth Fitness and Obesity Institute, Cedar
Falls, IA for an evaluation of preschool health programs......525,000
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK for the Center for Chemical,
Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Countermeasures...400,000
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA for the
Strategic Medical Intelligence Initiative.....................150,000
University of Pittsburgh, Center for Sports Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA,
to determine the prevalence of knee injuries in female athlete100,000
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL for the Alabama Birth Defects
Monitoring and Prevention Center..............................250,000
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL for the Diabetic Lower
Extremity Amputation Prevention Program.......................400,000
University of Tennessee, Department of Nutrition, Knoxville, TN, for
the Tennessee on the Move initiative..........................500,000
Visiting Nurse Association Healthcare Partners of Ohio, Cleveland, OH,
for the VNA--Healthy Town program.............................500,000
Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA for Lyme disease
prevention efforts............................................100,000
Wayne County Michigan, Detroit, Michigan, for an infant mortality
prevention, education and outreach project....................200,000
[[Page 31592]]
Office of the Director
The conference agreement includes $59,707,000 for the
activities of the Office of the Director, the same as
proposed by the Senate. The House proposed $49,707,000 for
the Office of the Director.
The conferees understand that CDC has elevated its Office
of Genomics and Disease Prevention to the Office of the CDC
Director and encourage CDC to continue its work to integrate
genomics across public health research and practice.
The conferees understand the urgent need to contact,
inform, and mobilize physicians during public health
emergencies. The conferees encourage the CDC to form
partnerships with entities and organizations that have
databases of physician contact information to facilitate
rapid communication of public health alerts.
The conferees urge CDC to continue its efforts to address
the unique needs of Native Hawaiians on dialysis in a
culturally sensitive manner.
The conferees are aware of potential cost savings that may
result from improved information technology, administrative,
and management processes and practices. The conferees intend
that any savings accrued in fiscal year 2004 as a result of
these improvements must come only from internal operational
savings of the agency, and may be refocused only into other
intramural activities or extramural Public Health Research
activities related to the purposes for which those funds were
originally appropriated.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
National Cancer Institute
The conference agreement includes $4,770,519,000 for the
National Cancer Institute as proposed by both the House and
the Senate.
To increase the likelihood of a cure for every child with
cancer, the conferees urge NCI to increase its support of
translational research to accelerate the pace of pediatric
cancer clinical trials. The existing NCI-supported national
infrastructure of a clinical trials network should be the
dominant component of this accelerated effort.
The conferees encourage the Director of NCI to establish a
task force to explore the continuing unique needs of the
peoples of Hawaii and the Pacific Basin region.
The conferees concur with language in the House report
regarding the importance of the collaboration between NCI and
CDC regarding tobacco harm reduction. In addition, the
conferees urge the NCI to examine what additional scientific
research is needed to determine the relative risks of
different tobacco products.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
The conference agreement includes $2,897,145,000 for the
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute instead of
$2,897,595,000 as proposed by the Senate and $2,867,995,000
as proposed by the House.
The conferees encourage NHLBI, in collaboration with the
Office of Rare Diseases, to develop standards of care for
pulmonary and cardiac complications associated with Duchenne
muscular dystrophy.
The conferees urge NHLBI to develop a set of treatment
guidelines for von Willebrand disease and further urge the
Institute to work with medical associations and experts in
the field when developing such guidelines.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
The conference agreement includes $385,796,000 for the
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
instead of $386,396,000 as proposed by the Senate and
$382,396,000 as proposed by the House.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
The conference agreement includes $1,682,457,000 for the
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases instead of $1,683,007,000 as proposed by the Senate
and $1,670,007,000 as proposed by the House. An amount of
$150,000,000 is also available to the Institute through a
permanent appropriation for juvenile diabetes.
The conferees recognize the research supported by the NIDDK
digestive diseases branch that is dedicated to the treatment
of functional gastrointestinal disorders, which include
irritable bowel syndrome. In addition to this important
research, the conferees encourage the digestive diseases
branch to support and fund basic, translational and clinical
research dedicated to developing effective diagnostic tests
and innovative treatments for gastrointestinal motility
disorders involving enteric neuromuscular dysfunction
including, but not limited to, chronic intestinal pseudo-
obstruction, gastroparesis, and colonic inertia.
The conferees were pleased to learn of the recent discovery
that an existing drug, already used on humans to treat
irregular fluid retention has also been found to retard cyst
production and disease progression in polycystic kidney
disease. The conferees urge NIDDK to conduct clinical trials
to follow up on these recent breakthroughs.
Branched chain ketoaciduria is a rare inherited disorder
that prevents the proper metabolism of the three branched-
chain amino acids found in all protein, and can lead to
mental retardation, physical disabilities and death. The
conferees are aware of modeling research currently being
performed on mice, with the goal of finding a permanent cure
for the disease. The conferees encourage NIDDK to provide
support for this type of research and other branched chain
ketoaciduria-related research.
The conferees applaud NIDDK for their efforts to combat
childhood obesity and encourage them to consider particular
use of the CDC's Prevention Research Centers as a mechanism
through which to award competitive grants for this
initiative.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
The conference agreement includes $1,510,776,000 for the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
instead of $1,468,926,000 as proposed by the House and
$1,510,926,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees urge NINDS to increase its overall investment
in multiple sclerosis (MS) research. Special emphasis on
imaging, biological markers and clinical trials for new
therapeutics should be areas of high priority. The conferees
are pleased to note the development of a joint symposium on
MS genetics sponsored by NINDS and the National MS Society,
and encourage the Institute to take a more active role at the
NIH in furthering MS genetics research by developing
collaborative strategies with the National Human Genome
Research Institute and other relevant NIH institutes. The
conferees request that NIH report back to Congress no later
than September 30, 2004 with progress in its efforts to
expand its commitment to multiple sclerosis. The conferees
also are pleased to note a major success in past years in the
creation of a joint collaborative research program in
``gender and immunity'' between the National Institute on
Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and a major voluntary
association for the disease, in which NINDS participates. The
conferees encourage NINDS to seek similar collaborative
activities related to MS.
The conferees urge NINDS, in collaboration with the
National Institute on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases and the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, to accelerate clinical trials to improve
treatment for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The
conferees encourage NINDS to actively seek and assess
clinical trial proposals and to expedite the review process
for clinical research in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The
conferees strongly encourage the funding of three additional
centers of excellence by the end of fiscal year 2004.
Stroke is the second leading cause of death among women
worldwide and kills more than twice as many women as do
breast cancer and AIDS combined. Recognizing that women are
the single largest group at risk for death from stroke, the
conferees believe that special attention should be focused on
better understanding the gender differences with specific
attention to stroke related to pregnancy; the use of oral
contraceptives; and the impact of postmenopausal hormone
replacement therapy on stroke risk. The conferees further
urge NIH to increase research into new therapies for stroke
in women as well as ways of enhancing the vascular health of
all Americans, including (1) a clinical trial of carotid
endarterectomy and angioplasty/stenting in women, (2)
observational research on differences in the way men and
women present with stroke symptoms, and (3) studies of
differences in how men and women respond to FDA-approved
antiplatelet agents for recurrent stroke prevention.
The conferees strongly support NIH's initiatives toward
advancing the organization of stroke care and the
identification of stroke treatment and research centers that
would provide rapid, early, continuous 24-hour treatment to
stroke victims, including the use of the clot-buster t-PA,
when appropriate.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
The conference agreement includes $4,335,155,000 for the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases instead
of $4,335,255,000 as proposed by both the House and the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes bill language permitting
the transfer of $150,000,000 to International Assistance
Programs, Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and
Tuberculosis as proposed by the Senate instead of
$100,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees encourage NIAID to enhance its research
efforts to identify the cause of eosinophilic-myalgia
syndrome and to characterize better the pathophysiological
events of this disease. The conferees support the Institute's
efforts to support a workshop in 2004 to evaluate the current
state of knowledge on EMS. The conferees anticipate that the
workshop will identify new scientific opportunities related
to the pathogenesis of EMS and improved diagnosis, treatment
and prevention strategies.
The conferees are concerned about the pace of research in
the area of chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome.
The conferees encourage NIAID, in collaboration with NINDS
and NIMH, to increase its research portfolio in the areas of
CFIDS. The conferees further request that the NIH report to
the Committees on Appropriations by
[[Page 31593]]
March 1, 2004, on the number of grants specifically devoted
to CFIDS research, over the past five years.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
The conference agreement includes $1,916,333,000 for the
National Institute of General Medical Sciences instead of
$1,923,133,000 as proposed by the House and $1,917,033,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
The conference agreement includes $1,250,585,000 for the
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
instead of $1,245,371,000 as proposed by the House and
$1,251,185,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees urge NICHD to continue its cooperation and
participation in the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy programs of
the National Institute on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and
Skin Diseases and NINDS. The conferees commend NICHD for its
involvement in the Paul Wellstone Centers of Excellence
programs for Muscular Dystrophy, and urge its ongoing
commitment to assist the funding of clinical trials proposals
and expedite the review process for clinical research in
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, in addition to its investment in
new Centers of Excellence.
National Eye Institute
The conference agreement includes $657,199,000 for the
National Eye Institute as proposed by the Senate instead of
$648,299,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees commend the NIH Director's initiative to
advance translational clinical research through the joint
efforts of the various Institutes, often in partnership with
private organizations focused on clinical research and
patient participation. The conferees are aware of a proposal
for a national conference on translational clinical research
for orphan eye diseases. The Director of the NEI is
encouraged to consider providing support for this important
effort.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
The conference agreement includes $636,974,000 for the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences instead
of $630,774,000 as proposed by the House and $637,074,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conferees recognize the complex environmental exposures
faced by the residents of rural areas. NIEHS is urged to
address rural environmental concerns through its
environmental health sciences core centers program.
The conferees encourage NIEHS to continue its support for
critical research required to fill data gaps in environmental
health, with special concern for children's health, including
the effects of mixtures of chemicals on developing nervous
systems; accurate exposure levels for environmental
chemicals; and the development of predictive models of
chemical effects on developing systems. The conferees
encourage the NIEHS to collaborate with the CDC on research
focused on environmental chemical mixtures and computational
modeling.
National Institute on Aging
The conference agreement includes $1,031,311,000 for the
National Institute on Aging instead of $994,411,000 as
proposed by the House and $1,031,411,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
The conference agreement includes $504,300,000 for the
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases instead of $502,778,000 as proposed by the House and
$505,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees urge NIAMS, in collaboration with NINDS and
NICHD, to accelerate clinical trials to improve treatment for
patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The conferees
encourage NIAMS to actively seek and assess clinical trial
proposals and to expedite the review process for clinical
research in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The conferees
encourage the funding for three additional centers of
excellence by the end of fiscal year 2004.
The conferees commend NIAMS for conducting a workshop on
the ``Burden of Skin Diseases.'' The workshop participants
found that there was a lack of specific data on this topic
and recommended that general and skin disease-specific
measures of the burden of skin disease be developed in order
to generate data on the incidence, prevalence, economic
burden, quality of life, disability, and handicaps
attributable to these diseases. The conferees request that
NIAMS provide a detailed action plan of Institute activities
to effectively implement the recommendations of the workshop
participants.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
The conference agreement includes $384,477,000 for the
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders instead of $380,377,000 as proposed by the House
and $384,577,000 as proposed by the Senate.
National Institute of Nursing Research
The conference agreement includes $135,555,000 for the
National Institute of Nursing Research instead of
$134,579,000 as proposed by the House and $135,579,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
The conference agreement includes $431,471,000 for the
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism instead of
$430,121,000 as proposed by the House and $431,521,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
The conference agreement includes $997,414,000 for the
National Institute on Drug Abuse instead of $995,614,000 as
proposed by the House and $997,614,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
National Institute of Mental Health
The conference agreement includes $1,390,714,000 for the
National Institute of Mental Health instead of $1,382,114,000
as proposed by the House and $1,391,114,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
National Human Genome Research Institute
The conference agreement includes $482,222,000 for the
National Human Genome Research Institute instead of
$478,072,000 as proposed by the House and $482,372,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
The conference agreement includes $288,900,000 for the
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
instead of $282,109,000 as proposed by the House and
$289,300,000 as proposed by the Senate.
National Center for Research Resources
The conference agreement includes $1,186,183,000 for the
National Center for Research Resources instead of
$1,053,926,000 as proposed by the House and $1,186,483,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes bill language to earmark
$119,220,000 for extramural facilities construction grants as
proposed by the Senate. The House did not provide funding for
extramural facilities construction.
Within the total provided for NCRR, the conference
agreement includes $215,000,000 for the Institutional
Development Awards (IDeA) program and $320,000,000 for the
General Clinical Research Centers as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees are pleased with reports of the ongoing
successes of the Science Education Partnerships Award (SEPA)
program. The NCRR is urged to continue soliciting and funding
additional SEPA grant applications from science centers and
other eligible entities.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The conference agreement includes $117,752,000 for the
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
instead of $116,202,000 as proposed by the House and
$117,902,000 as proposed by the Senate.
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities
The conference agreement includes $192,724,000 for the
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities as
proposed by the House instead of $192,824,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
John E. Fogarty International Center
The conference agreement includes $65,800,000 for the John
E. Fogarty International Center instead of $64,266,000 as
proposed by the House and $65,900,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
National Library of Medicine
The conference agreement provides $319,835,000 for the
National Library of Medicine, of which $311,635,000 is from
budget authority and $8,200,000 is from amounts available
under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act to carry
out the National Information Center on Health Services
Research and Health Care Technology. The House had provided
$316,040,000, entirely from budget authority, and the Senate
had provided $320,035,000, of which $311,835,000 was from
budget authority and $8,200,000 was from section 241
authority.
Office of the Director
(Including Transfer of Funds)
The conference agreement includes $329,707,000 for the
Office of the Director instead of $317,983,000 as proposed by
the House and $323,483,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes bill language identifying
$7,500,000 for the purposes identified in general provision
221.
The conference agreement provides $500,000 for the
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health as proposed
by the House instead of $497,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees concur with the guidance in the Senate report
regarding limits for NIH reprogramming requests.
The conferees concur in the House report language
indicating that the proposal to multi-year fund some or all
NIH grants is not approved.
The conferees recognize that breakthroughs in the physical
sciences underpin many of the remarkable advances in the life
sciences that have been achieved during the last century.
Increasingly, the boundaries between the life sciences and
the physical sciences are being blurred, as capacities and
[[Page 31594]]
talents bridging the disciplines are essential for modern
experimentation and discovery. Accordingly, the conferees
believe that a major effort must be undertaken to promote the
advancement of research at the interface between the life
sciences and the physical sciences. This interface occurs in
many agencies including NIH, NSF, Office of Science,
Department of Energy, DARPA, NASA, NOAA, and others. The
conferees commend NIH for its plans to evaluate, as part of
the NIH Roadmap process, what steps need to be taken to
encourage progress in the physical sciences that will provide
support and underpinning for future advances in the life
sciences and to convene a conference to discuss this issue
with other Federal agencies.
The conferees commend NIH for recently awarding nine five-
year grants to expand research on autoimmune disease and to
increase the number of autoimmunity centers of excellence.
This coordinated approach, under the NIH Autoimmune Diseases
Coordinating Committee, involves the full spectrum of NIH
Institutes. It marks a promising start in implementing the
recommendations of the NIH Autoimmune Diseases Research Plan.
The Committee encourages the Office of Rare Diseases to
work in association with NINDS in studying Niemann-Pick Type
C, a rare metabolic disorder in which harmful quantities of
cholesterol and other fatty substances accumulate in the
spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow and most often in the
brain.
The conferees urge NIH to support the efforts of
universities, medical schools, scientific societies and other
groups that are working to develop and implement a system for
voluntary, peer-driven accreditation of organizations
throughout the country which are engaged in research
involving human subjects.
The conferees encourage the Office of Dietary Supplements
and NCCAM to review and consider funding research to
elucidate the mechanisms of action of the B vitamins and
antioxidant phytochemicals in berries so that work in animal
models can be extended to human studies. Research with
animals has shown that diets containing berry fruits (such as
blueberries) as well as B vitamins can forestall and perhaps
reverse many of the neurological changes that are associated
with age-related neurodegenerative conditions such as
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
Buildings and Facilities
The conference agreement includes $89,500,000 for buildings
and facilities as proposed by the Senate instead of
$80,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement includes language granting full
scope authority for the contracting of construction of the
first and second phases of the John E. Porter Neurosciences
Building as proposed by the Senate. The House did not have a
similar provision.
Due to extensive community concerns about the proposed
construction of a BSL-3 lab on NIH's main Bethesda, MD
campus, the conferees expect NIH to: (1) submit a report to
the Senate and House Appropriations Committees within 60 days
of enactment of this Act detailing the reasons why NIH
believes the lab should not be built at Fort Detrick, MD; (2)
provide the community with detailed information regarding
ongoing risk assessments and proposed safety policies to
protect NIH employees and the local community; and (3)
provide a mechanism for ongoing involvement between NIH and
the local community to provide information about lab safety,
research, and activities.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
The conference agreement includes $3,370,813,000 for
substance abuse and mental health services, of which
$3,253,763,000 is provided through budget authority and
$117,050,000 is provided through the evaluation set-aside.
The House bill had proposed $3,345,000,000 for SAMHSA, of
which $16,000,000 was from the evaluation set-aside and the
Senate proposed $3,274,590,000, of which $117,050,000 was
from the evaluation set-aside. The conference agreement
includes bill language establishing a limitation of five
percent of the block grant appropriation for funding of data
collection activities as proposed by the Senate.
Within the total provided, the conference agreement
includes funding at no less than the fiscal year 2003 level
for activities throughout SAMHSA that are targeted to address
the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and its disparate impact on
communities of color.
The conference agreement includes bill language identifying
$14,985,000 for projects in the amounts specified in the
statement of the managers on the conference report.
Center for Mental Health Services
The conference agreement includes $242,379,000 for programs
of regional and national significance instead of $237,000,000
as proposed by the House and $237,667,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Within the total provided, the conference agreement
provides $95,000,000 for counseling services for school-aged
youth as proposed by the Senate. As proposed by the Senate,
$3,000,000 is provided to support the National Suicide
Prevention Resource Center, and continued support is provided
for the Suicide Prevention Hotline program at the fiscal year
2003 level.
Within the total provided, $30,000,000 is provided under
section 582 of the Public Health Service Act to support
grants to local mental health providers for the purposes of
developing knowledge of best practices and providing mental
health services to children and youth suffering from post-
traumatic stress disorder as a result of having witnessed or
experienced a traumatic event.
The conference agreement includes $2,500,000 for a
nationwide, three-year public service campaign to reduce the
stigma of mental illness. The conferees expect SAMHSA to work
in partnership with a private, non-profit agency that is the
leading producer of public service advertisements (PSAs) and
is able to use the services of volunteer advertising agencies
and donated media.
The conferees are concerned about the problem of chronic
homelessness across the Nation. Within the total for mental
health programs of regional and national significance, the
conference agreement provides funds at no less than the
fiscal year 2003 level for programs addressing homelessness.
The conference agreement provides $2,000,000 to continue
the current level of funding for the consumer and consumer-
supporter national technical assistance centers as proposed
by the Senate. The conferees direct CMHS to support multi-
year grants to fund five such national technical assistance
centers.
The conference agreement provides $5,000,000 to continue
the elderly treatment and outreach program.
As proposed by the House, the conference agreement provides
$7,000,000 for the jail diversion program.
The conferees include the following amounts for the
following projects and activities in fiscal year 2004:
AgriWellness, Inc. in Harlan, Iowa, for the Sowing the Seeds of Hope
rural mental health project..................................$160,000
Alfred University, Alfred, NY for the Lea R. Powell Institute for
Children and Families: Improving Access to High Quality Mental Health
Services in Underserved, Isolated Rural Areas.................500,000
American Red Cross, Lower Bucks County Chapter, Levittown, PA for the
Homeless Services Program.....................................200,000
Bellefaire Jewish Children's Bureau, Cleveland, OH for the Social
Advocates for Youth (SAY) project.............................500,000
Boone Community Family Center, Philadelphia, PA to develop and
implement adolescent suicide prevention pilot program in Philadelphia
schools........................................................50,000
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in Eagle Butte, South Dakota for mental
health services...............................................225,000
CONTACT of Mercer County, Trenton, NJ............................35,000
Dauphine County department of Human Services, Dauphin County, PA for
the Mental Health Court Program to help the Dauphin County courts and
prisons work with individuals with mental health and substance abuse
problems......................................................100,000
Deschutes County, Oregon, to develop a program providing mental health
services for rural communities................................100,000
Family Communications Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA, for an antiviolence
program entitled the National Project Managing Anger, Promoting
Safety........................................................100,000
Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence of Providence, RI
for the Streetworkers Program to reduce youth crime, violence and
drug abuse.....................................................50,000
Jewish Association for Residential Care, Farmington Hills, MI...150,000
KidPeace, Orefield, PA to diagnose children with mental health p100,000
Lawrence Hall Youth Services in Chicago, Illinois for mental health and
related support services.......................................50,000
Mental Health Center of Dane County, Inc., Madison, WI to provide
culturally appropriate mental health services to the Hmong com100,000
[[Page 31595]]
Noah's Ark--A Safe Place, Inc., for mental and emotional counseling for
young men in several Pennsylvania counties....................150,000
Northwestern Academy, Lafayette Hill, PA for equipment and personnel to
provide for a program to diagnose and treat delinquent, mentally ill
adolescents through the delivery of comprehensive psychological and
psychiatric services..........................................100,000
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,
Oklahoma City, for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Cross
Training Initiative............................................50,000
Potter County Human Services, Roulette, PA for a Youth Community
Awareness program that will provide community outreach and assistance
to address the rising number of teen suicides in Potter County.75,000
See Forever Foundation, Washington, DC to provide the mental health
services needed by the students of the Maya Angelou Public Charter
School........................................................400,000
Temple University, Center for Social Policy and Community Development,
Philadelphia, PA to develop and implement a two-pronged Adolescent
Suicide Prevention Pilot Program............................1,000,000
Ventura County Probation Agency, Ventura, CA for the Emotionally
Challenged Juvenile Offender Intervention Program.............500,000
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA for
Computerized Decision Support for Chronic Care Management of
Psychiatric Disorders.........................................250,000
Women's Crisis Center, Covington, KY, to provide rape counseling,
community outreach and related mental health programs.........100,000
The conference agreement includes $437,140,000 for the
mental health block grant, which includes $21,850,000 from
the evaluation set-aside as proposed by the Senate, instead
of $435,000,000 as proposed by the House. The House proposed
funding to SAMHSA through direct appropriation rather than
using the evaluation set-aside.
The conference agreement includes $103,026,000 for
children's mental health grants rather than $108,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $98,052,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement provides $50,055,000 for grants to
States for the homeless (PATH) as proposed by the House
rather than $47,073,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $34,825,000 for
protection and advocacy instead of $33,870,000 as proposed by
the House and $35,779,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
The conference agreement includes $421,975,000 for programs
of regional and national significance instead of $417,278,000
as proposed by the House and $327,071,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Within funds provided, $100,000,000 is for the new drug and
alcohol treatment voucher initiative as proposed by the
House. The Senate did not include funding for this program.
The conferees applaud the Administration for proposing this
initiative, the Access to Recovery program, which will
provide much-needed funds to increase capacity and expand
access to alcohol and drug treatment. The conferees expect
that the new voucher program will support evidenced-based
practice and will provide medically appropriate treatment for
individuals needing care. To this end, the conferees expect
that States and providers receiving funds under this program
will use assessment and placement criteria developed by
national experts, such as the American Society of Addiction
Medicine. The conferees support the Administration's goal of
opening new pathways to treatment. At the same time however,
the conferees direct that all providers participating in the
Access to Recovery program should be held accountable to the
same standards of care, performance, licensure and
certification requirements as other licensed or certified
drug and alcohol programs in their respective States. The
conferees direct SAMHSA to report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations 30 days after Access to Recovery
funds are distributed regarding the States that applied for
and received grants, the amount awarded to each State, and
the services each State will provide with these funds.
Furthermore, no funds shall be expended under this Act for
the implementation of the Access to Recovery voucher program
other than those funds specifically provided for by the
conferees.
The conference agreement provides $10,000,000 for treatment
programs for pregnant, postpartum and residential women and
their children as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees are concerned about the problem of chronic
homelessness across the Nation. Within the total for
substance abuse treatment programs of regional and national
significance, the conference agreement provides funds at no
less than the fiscal year 2003 level for programs addressing
homelessness.
The conference agreement provides $33,901,000 for targeting
specific treatment approaches for adolescents and young
adults. The conferees are aware that there are becoming fewer
treatment options for teens and young adults and provide this
funding to address that specific treatment gap.
Included in the conference agreement is $35,000,000 for
targeted capacity expansion for general populations, as
proposed by the Senate.
The conferees have not included funds for the Screening,
Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT) program
and direct that none of the funds provided in this Act for
existing programs shall be reduced below fiscal year 2003
levels to fund the SBIRT program.
The conferees include the following amounts for the
following projects and activities in fiscal year 2004:
19th Judicial District Drug Court, Baton Rouge, LA, to implement a 28-
Bed Residential Program at the Earl K. Long Hospital..........$71,000
Akeela, Inc. Re-Entry Program, Anchorage, AK to increase retention at
Akeela House by re-establishing a cultural component to the treatment
environment, and to enhance transition of inmates from prison-based
treatment programs back into the community....................200,000
Alaska Christian College, Soldotna, AK for operations of residential
substance abuse program for adolescents.......................150,000
Baltimore City, to expand drug treatment services.............1,000,000
Behavior Management Systems in Rapid City, South Dakota for substance
abuse treatment...............................................250,000
Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, Inc., Waverly, IA...........100,000
Center for the Study of Addiction at Texas Tech University, Lubb250,000
City of Wrangell, AK for its Avenues Program to provide comprehensive
substance abuse treatment services for the community..........100,000
Community Services for Children, Allentown, PA to remediate and reverse
the impact of drug use by pregnant mothers on their newborn inf50,000
Cook Inlet Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Kenai, AK for treatment
of women and children with substance abuse problems...........200,000
Doe Fund, Inc., Philadelphia, PA to provide substance abuse treatment
services......................................................100,000
Fairbanks Community Initiative for Chronic Inebriates, Fairbanks, AK to
operate community programs to provide treatment and services to
chronic inebriates............................................700,000
Healing Place, Louisville, KY...................................113,000
Institute for Research, Education, and Training In Addictions (IRETA),
Pittsburgh, PA to implement and complete several major model projects
concerning alcohol and drug use...............................200,000
Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy, Des Moines, to develop Drug
Endangered Children rapid response teams that will intervene on
behalf of children exposed to methamphetamine as a result of residing
in a home-based clandestine drug laboratory...................146,000
Municipality of Anchorage for comprehensive substance abuse treatment
services, focusing on transitional populations................500,000
[[Page 31596]]
Pinon Hills Residential Treatment Center in Valarde, New Mexico.150,000
Ramsey County ACE Program, Minnesota to provide staffing for a
research-based early intervention program for children under 10 at
high risk for serious, violent and chronic juvenile delinquency50,000
Recovery Options for Addictive Disorders (ROADS), Fort Worth, TX for
outpatient treatment services and to continue the ROADS projec400,000
Second Chance Program, La Mesa, CA, for a substance abuse
rehabilitation demonstration transition Program in the New Mexico
State prison system...........................................350,000
University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health
Institute, Tampa, FL for the National Implementation Research 500,000
Vinland National Center, Loretto, MN to provide chemical dependency
treatment services for individuals with co-occurring disorders200,000
Wayne County, MI for the Anti-addiction Treatment Project to pilot a
treatment protocol that blocks the craving for heroin.........350,000
Yankton Sioux Tribe in Marty, South Dakota for substance abuse
treatment at Canku Teca.......................................200,000
The conference agreement includes $1,789,235,000 for the
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, of
which $1,710,035,000 is budget authority and $79,200,000 is
provided through the PHS evaluation funding tap. The House
bill had proposed $1,774,538,000 and the Senate proposed
$1,803,932,000, of which $79,200,000 was derived through the
evaluation tap. The conference agreement includes bill
language establishing a limitation of five percent of the
block grant appropriation for funding of data collection
activities as proposed by the Senate.
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
The conference agreement includes $199,763,000 for programs
of regional and national significance instead of $198,000,000
as proposed by the House and $194,306,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement provides $5,000,000 to continue
and expand the program funded for the last two years
regarding ecstasy and other club drugs as proposed by the
Senate.
Included in the conference agreement is $10,000,000 for
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAS/FAE)
prevention and treatment programs, with an emphasis on
teenage mothers as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees include the following amounts for the
following projects and activities in fiscal year 2004:
Abraham Hall Emergency Youth Shelter, Paducah, KY...............$75,000
Centre County, PA, to implement, in coordination with Clinton County,
educational programming targeting the prevention of drug use by
students......................................................200,000
Clinton County Communities That Care, Lock Haven, PA, for a program
that helps families cope with drug and behavioral problems....100,000
Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free St. Petersburg, Inc., St.
Petersburg, FL................................................500,000
Community Health Center on the Big Island of Hawaii for Youth Anti-Drug
Program.......................................................250,000
Corporate Alliance for Drug Education, Bala Cynwyd, PA for an
elementary school-based prevention program to teach children to
reject substance abuse and violence while helping them to identify
positive alternatives to harmful situations...................250,000
District Attorney of the 24th Judicial District of Louisiana, Gretna,
LA for Jefferson Parish SE Louisiana Drug Prevention and Education
Program.......................................................300,000
Drug Free Pennsylvania, Inc., Harrisburg, PA, for a media literacy
project to prevent drug use by students........................25,000
DuPage County, Psychological Services, Wheaton, IL for the DuPage
Prevention Partnership ti initiate treatment, intervention and
prevention services targeted at reducing substance abuse, violence,
juvenile and community crime county-wide......................260,000
Lea County, New Mexico for substance abuse counseling and treatment of
detention center residents....................................350,000
National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors,
Alexandria, VA, to recruit, retain, and train alcohol and other drug
treatment professionals in Ohio...............................100,000
Security on Campus, Inc., King of Prussia, PA, to distribute
educational materials to high schools in Pennsylvania aimed at
informing students of the high risks of underage and binge drin25,000
Stone Soup Group, Anchorage, AK to expand services to FAS/FAE children
and their families............................................200,000
University of Cincinnati, College of Education, Center for Prevention
Studies, Cincinnati, OH for Ohio Bridgebuilders...............500,000
University of South Dakota School of Medicine Center for Disabilities
in Sioux Falls, SD to continue the work of the Consortium of Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome..............................................475,000
Program Management
The conference agreement includes $92,415,000 for program
management, of which $16,000,000 is provided through the
evaluation set-aside. The House bill had proposed $91,259,000
and the Senate bill had proposed $93,570,000.
AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY
Healthcare Research and Quality
The conference agreement includes $303,695,000 as proposed
by both the House and Senate. The agreement provides all
these funds through the policy evaluation set-aside.
The conference agreement provides $79,500,000 for reducing
medical errors instead of $75,000,000 as proposed by the
House and $84,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
agreement includes modified House bill language identifying
$12,000,000 for the conduct of research on the comparative
clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and safety of
drugs and devices. The conferees understand that the agency
will use grants, contracts and other funding mechanisms to
support the Administration's patient safety hospital
information technology initiative.
The conferees concur with the Senate report language urging
AHRQ to support evidence-based research focused on the
relationship between metabolic genes and drug efficacy and
safety.
The conferees concur in the House report language regarding
public-private sector partnerships in the adoption and use of
standards and technology to support quality and safety.
The conferees believe health services research can address
the real and growing threats to the quality of care and
patient safety created by an inadequate supply of nurses. The
conferees encourage AHRQ to continue to support research that
further promotes patient safety by understanding linkages to
the work environment, retention of nurses, the impact of an
aging nurse workforce, and outcomes of care. This research
should include the development of data needed to conduct the
research and should be undertaken in collaboration with the
Division of Nursing within HRSA, the National Institute of
Nursing Research, and other relevant agencies.
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES
Grants to States for Medicaid
The conference agreement provides $130,892,197,000 for
Medicaid grants as proposed by the House instead of
$124,892,197,000 as proposed by the Senate. These funds meet
the requirements of the temporary increase in the Federal
match rate provided in Public Law 108-27.
The conferees have been made aware of concerns from the
City of San Juan, Puerto Rico related to the disbursement of
Federal Medicaid funds to its municipal health care system.
The conferees direct CMS to expand and update its study of
the issues related to the current disbursement system of
Federal Medicaid to providers in the City of San Juan, so as
to ensure that eligible beneficiaries have access to
Medicaid-covered health care services. Such a study should
examine any existing barriers to care and the
[[Page 31597]]
adequacy of the provider network, as well as any lack of
capacity that may exist as a result of the current system.
CMS is further directed to report the findings of this study
back to the Committee on Appropriations no less than six
months after the enactment of this Act.
Program Management
The conference agreement includes $2,664,994,000 for
program management instead of $2,698,025,000 as proposed by
the House and $2,707,603,000 as proposed by the Senate. An
additional appropriation of $720,000,000 has been provided
for the Medicare Integrity Program through the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
The conference agreement includes $78,791,000 for research,
demonstration, and evaluation instead of $27,918,000 as
proposed by the House and $67,400,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Within the total provided, the conference agreement
provides $40,000,000 for Real Choice Systems Change Grants to
States and $6,000,000 is provided for a national
demonstration to address workforce shortages of community
service direct care workers. These two provisions were
included in the Senate bill but not the House bill. The
conferees concur in Senate report language regarding program
management techniques for long-term care systems. The
conferees are pleased with the demonstration project at
participating sites licensed by the Program for Reversing
Heart Disease and encourage its continuation. The conferees
further urge CMS to continue with the demonstration project
being conducted at the Mind Body Institute of Boston,
Massachusetts. The conferees urge CMS to continue its
research activities targeted towards ensuring culturally
sensitive health care for American Samoans.
The agreement includes bill language for the following
projects and activities for fiscal year 2004:
Advocate Health Care in Oak Brook, IL for health education programs and
services to the deaf and hard-of-hearing.....................$100,000
AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles for a demonstration of
residential and outpatient treatment facilities.............1,750,000
Berwick Hospital Center, Berwick, PA for stabilizing the workforce for
patient care..................................................250,000
Bloomsburg Hospital, Bloomsburg, PA for stabilizing the workforce for
patient care..................................................163,000
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in Eagle Butte, South Dakota to establish a
nursing home..................................................275,000
Community Medical Center, Scranton, PA for stabilizing the workforce
for patient care..............................................778,000
Cook County (IL) Bureau of Health Services to improve the management of
vulnerable patients with poorly controlled diabetes...........150,000
Divine Providence Hospital, Williamsport, PA for stabilizing the
workforce for patient care....................................178,000
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA for
stabilizing the workforce for patient care....................267,000
Hazleton General Hospital, Hazleton, PA for stabilizing the workforce
for patient care..............................................237,000
Hope Worldwide, Philadelphia, PA to maintain clinical care for
recovering drug and alcohol addicts............................25,000
Illinois Primary Health Care Association for the Shared Integrated
Management Information System, Springfield, IL................825,000
James S. Taylor Memorial Home, Louisville, KY...................250,000
Jefferson Area Board for Aging, Charlottesville, VA, for the Nursing
Assistant Institute...........................................100,000
Jersey Shore Hospital, Jersey Shore, PA for stabilizing the workforce
for patient care...............................................85,000
Marian Community Hospital, Carbondale, PA for stabilizing the workforce
for patient care..............................................179,000
Medical Care for Children Partnership, Fairfax, Va to provide outreach
to increase access to medical and dental care for children....200,000
Mercy Health Partners, Scranton, PA for stabilizing the workforce for
patient care..................................................393,000
Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, PA for stabilizing the workforce for
patient care..................................................571,000
Mid-Valley Hospital, Peckville, PA for stabilizing the workforce for
patient care...................................................63,000
Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton, PA for stabilizing the workforce for
patient care..................................................510,000
Muncy Valley Hospital, Muncy, PA for stabilizing the workforce for
patient care..................................................109,000
Muskegon Community Health Project, Muskegon, MI, for the Access Health
program.......................................................225,000
North Penn Visiting Nurse Association, Lansdale, PA to provide low-cost
or free health care to children who do not have health insuranc75,000
Patient Advocate Foundation, Newport News, VA to provide direct
intervention assistance to patients throughout U.S. who are
experiencing difficulty in accessing quality health care servi122,000
Rhode Island Hospital--Medical Simulation Center of Providence, RI for
the creation of a transportable simulation-based training curriculum
and validated human performance measurement system............100,000
Saint Joseph Medical Center, Hazleton, PA for stabilizing the workforce
for patient care..............................................256,000
Santa Clara County, CA for its Children's Health Initiative program to
provide outreach and enrollment assistance for families under 300% of
federal poverty level.........................................100,000
Sharon Regional Health System, Sharon, PA for stabilizing the workforce
for patient care..............................................664,000
Sickle Cell Medical Treatment & Education Center, St. Louis Children's
Hospital, St. Louis, MO, to improve the academic achievement of
children with Sickle Cell Disease with specific cognitive
rehabilitation.................................................25,000
Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, PA for stabilizing the workforce
for patient care..............................................111,000
United Community Hospital, Grove City, PA for stabilizing the workforce
for patient care..............................................174,000
UPMC Horizon, Farrell, PA for stabilizing the workforce for patient
care..........................................................503,000
Williamsport Hospital & Medical Center, Williamsport, PA for
stabilizing the workforce for patient care....................613,000
Wyoming Valley Health Care System, Wilkes-Barre, PA for stabilizing the
workforce for patient care....................................965,000
The conference agreement includes bill language identifying
$30,000,000 for the CMS revitalization plan as proposed by
the Senate instead of $65,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement does not include language that was
in the House bill identifying $129,000,000 for processing
Medicare appeals. Funding is included to support the Social
Security Administration's costs of Medicare hearings
workloads.
The conference agreement includes $1,722,889,000 for
Medicare operations instead of $1,776,889,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate. The conference agreement does
not include the $98,000,000 reduction to Medicare operations
included in general provision 217 of the House bill. The
conference agreement includes bill language proposed by the
Senate making up to an additional $18,000,000 available to
CMS for Medicare claims processing if unit costs of claims
exceed particular thresholds. The House bill did not contain
similar language.
The conferees are concerned that the proposed Medicare
``75% Rule'' classifying inpatient rehabilitation facilities
(IRFs) would have severe consequences for access to inpatient
services. The conferees concur with the Medicare Payment
Advisory Commission
[[Page 31598]]
(MedPAC) finding that further analysis should be conducted to
identify which criteria are clinically appropriate for
inclusion in the calculation of the rule used to determine
eligibility for reimbursement under the IRF prospective
payment system. The conferees direct CMS to contract with the
Institute of Medicine to issue a report, in consultation with
a panel of independent experts in the field of physical
medicine and rehabilitation, to establish clinically
appropriate standards for medical necessity and clinically
appropriate qualification criteria for IRFs. During the study
period, the conferees expect the Secretary to delay
implementation of the 75% rule, delay implementation of local
medical review policies concerning medical necessity, and not
accept new IRF applications until the report is finished.
The conferees are concerned that CMS has not updated since
1992 the relative values code for the provision of portable
services, such as X-rays, despite the statutory requirement
to update these codes every five years. This failure may be
contributing to the utilization of more costly care settings.
The conferees urge the Secretary, within 90 days of enactment
of this Act, to review the relative values code for portable
X-ray providers and to update this code utilizing existing
data.
The conferees are aware that a final rule to revise the
2004 Medicare Fee Schedule for payment to physicians was
issued on November 7, 2003. The rule will change payment for
physicians managing dialysis patients to reflect the varying
number of visits performed each month to an end-stage renal
disease (ESRD) patient. Yet, there appears to be no published
evidence that visiting dialysis patients more frequently than
once per month correlate with improved outcomes. Moreover,
the conferees are concerned that this change in payment
methodology may have serious implications for ESRD patients
who reside in rural communities. The conferees understand
that it is equally plausible that the quality of an
individual visit is more critical to ensuring optimal
outcomes than is the frequency of visits. Therefore, the
conferees expect CMS to consult with the General Accounting
Office, the Relative Value Update Committee, and clinical
nephrology societies, as well as relevant provider and
patient organizations, to evaluate and develop an alternative
payment reform that facilitates enhanced physician/dialysis
patient interaction and outcomes.
ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Payments to States for Child Support Enforcement and Family Support
Programs
The conference agreement provides $3,292,970,000 for
payments to States for child support enforcement and family
support programs. The House bill had proposed $3,292,970,000
and the Senate bill had proposed $3,292,270,000.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
The conference agreement provides $1,900,000,000 for low-
income home energy assistance rather than $1,800,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $2,000,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Of the amount provided $1,800,000,000 is provided for
formula grants to States. The House bill had proposed
$1,700,000,000 for State formula grants and the Senate bill
proposed $2,000,000,000. Within the funds available,
$27,500,000 is included for the leveraging incentive fund as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $100,000,000 as proposed
by the House for the contingency fund to meet the additional
home energy assistance needs arising from a natural disaster
or other emergency. The Senate bill did not include funds for
the contingency fund. The conferees expect the Secretary to
consider the factors identified in the statute when making
decisions about the release of funds. The conferees are aware
that the Secretary formally notifies the authorizing
committees in advance of issuing grants from LIHEAP
contingency funds, pursuant to Section 2604(e) of the Low-
Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C.
8623(e)). The conferees request that the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations receive copies of such
notifications in advance of issuing grants. The conferees
urge the Department to provide regular information on
significant, unanticipated changes in home heating and
cooling costs and to receive quarterly reports on significant
variances in regional weather data and fuel prices to the
Committees on Appropriations and the appropriate authorizing
committees. Such reports should be provided within 30 days of
the end of any fiscal quarter in which LIHEAP contingency
funds remain available for obligation. In addition, the
conferees request for any quarter in which there is a release
of funds to receive a detailed explanation of the factors
used to determine the distribution of funds among States.
The conferees are aware that one of the criteria for
release of emergency funds is a significant increase in
disconnections. The precursor to disconnection is a household
in arrearage. The conferees believe that helping families
prior to disconnection would prevent safety and health
concerns surrounding a household without energy services. For
that reason, the conferees urge the Secretary to monitor
arrearage trends nationwide and consider a significant
increase in arrearage rates as part of the disconnection
criteria.
Refugee and Entrant Assistance
The conference agreement includes $450,276,000 for the
refugee and entrant assistance programs rather than
$461,853,000 as proposed by the House and $428,056,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $170,000,000 for the
transitional and medical services programs rather than
$200,193,000 as proposed by the House and $180,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conferees recognize the positive outcomes achieved for
individuals served through the matching grant fund program.
Therefore, the conferees encourage the Office of Refugee
Resettlement (ORR) to ensure that the matching grant program
is not disproportionately affected by the funding reductions
proposed due to lower admissions to the United States. The
conferees request, as part of the fiscal year 2005
Congressional budget justification, that the ORR provide a
detailed breakdown on the plan for allocating funding under
the transitional and medical services program.
The conference agreement provides $9,968,000 for both the
victims of trafficking program and the victims of torture
program. The House bill had included $10,000,000 for each
program and the Senate bill had proposed $9,935,000 for each
program.
The conference agreement provides $153,121,000 for social
services, the same level as proposed in the House bill. The
Senate had proposed $140,000,000 for this program. Within
funds provided, the conference agreement includes $19,000,000
for increased support to communities with large
concentrations of Cuban and Haitian refugees of varying ages
whose cultural differences make assimilation especially
difficult justifying a more intense level and longer duration
of Federal assistance for healthcare and education.
The conference agreement includes $4,820,000 for preventive
health rather than $4,835,000 as proposed by the House and
$4,804,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $49,316,000 for targeted
assistance. The House bill had proposed $49,477,000 and the
Senate had proposed $49,155,000 for this program.
The conference agreement provides $53,083,000 for the
unaccompanied alien children program rather than $34,227,000
as proposed by both the House and Senate. These additional
funds will enable the Office of Refugee Resettlement to meet
its obligations under the Homeland Security Act, which
transferred the administration of this program from the
former Immigration and Naturalization Service. The conferees
intend that funding provided above the budget request be used
to continue making progress toward providing appropriate
facilities for the care of children; improving medical
services that address the needs of such children; and
enhancing the legal representation for those involved in this
program.
The conferees recognize the importance of continued
educational support to schools with a significant proportion
of refugee children, consistent with previous support to
schools heavily impacted by large concentrations of refugees,
and urge the Office of Refugee Resettlement to support these
efforts should funding become available in the social
services or other programs.
Payments to States for the Child Care and Development Block Grant
The conference agreement includes $2,099,729,000 for the
child care and development block grant, the same level as
both the House and Senate bills. Included in the bill is
$9,864,000 within the total funds provided, for child care
research, demonstration, and evaluation activities as
proposed by the House. The Senate bill had included
$10,000,000 for these activities.
Social Services Block Grant
The conference agreement provides $1,700,000,000 for the
social services block grant, the same level as proposed in
both the House and Senate bills. The conference agreement
provides 10 percent transfer authority between the social
services block grant and the temporary assistance for needy
families program (TANF). The House bill had proposed 5.5
percent transferability. The Senate did not include a similar
provision.
Children and Families Services Programs
The conference agreement includes $8,822,097,000 for
children and families services programs, of which $6,000,000
is provided through the evaluation set-aside. The House
proposed $8,614,670,000 for these programs and the Senate
proposed $8,788,457,000, of which $6,000,000 was from the
evaluation set-aside.
Head Start
The conference agreement includes $6,815,570,000 for Head
Start, the same as both the House and Senate bills. The
agreement includes $1,400,000,000 in advance funding, the
same level as proposed by both the House and Senate.
The conferees are aware that approximately one-third of
Head Start programs are affiliated with public school systems
and often combine or coordinate the transportation of Head
Start, preschool, and K-12
[[Page 31599]]
students. In addition, many center-based Head Start programs
coordinate with local transit authorities to provide
supervised transportation to Head Start children whose
parents work non-traditional hours or whose geographical
distance from the parent's place of employment creates a
barrier to Head Start participation. Differences between Head
Start transportation regulations, promulgated by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, and those
promulgated by State and local authorities, may have the
unintended consequence of reducing transportation services
for Head Start students, and in turn, decrease transportation
options for children. These differences may leave Head Start
children without transportation or relying on parents to
provide transportation in their vehicles.
The conferees recognize that children's safety is the most
important consideration and that many students participating
in Head Start programs need access to safe and reliable
transportation provided by public schools or local transit
systems. For this reason, the conferees direct the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services to offer a waiver
option to local educational agency-contracted Head Start
programs that provide integrated transportation to Head Start
students. In cases where public schools or local transit
authorities provide Head Start services, local educational
agencies should have the option to comply with transportation
standards for preschool students mandated by the State or
local educational agencies, transit agencies, State
Departments of Transportation or the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
Consolidated Runaway and Homeless Youth Program
The conference agreement includes $89,978,000 for the
consolidated runaway and homeless youth program, the same
level as proposed by the Senate, rather than $88,043,000 as
proposed by the House. Within the funds provided, $40,505,000
is available for the transitional living program (TLP) and
$49,473,000 is for basic centers as proposed by the Senate.
Prevention Grants To Reduce Abuse of Runaway Youth
The conference agreement includes $15,399,000 for
prevention grants to reduce abuse of runaway youth as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill had proposed
$14,999,000 for these grants.
Child abuse
The conference agreement includes $34,623,000 for child
abuse discretionary programs instead of $26,301,000 as
proposed by the House and $28,401,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Within the funds provided for child abuse prevention
programs, the agreement includes the following items:
AGAPE of Central Alabama, Inc., Montgomery, Alabama, for their work
with children in need.........................................$70,000
Alaska Native Health Board and the State of Alaska to develop and
implement statewide child abuse prevention and treatment plan for
Alaska children and parents...................................500,000
Blair County Children and Youth Services, Blair County, Pennsylvania,
to develop a Family Intervention Program to keep families toge150,000
Blount County Health Care Authority, Oneonta, AL, for services through
a service mall................................................250,000
Boys and Girls Home of Nebraska, Inc., Lincoln, NE for child abuse
prevention services and counseling services...................250,000
Catholic Community Services, Juneau, AK to operate Family Resource
Center for child abuse prevention and treatment...............400,000
Child Advocacy Center, Inc., Springfield, Missouri, for equipment
upgrades and other operational expenses.......................100,000
Childhelp USA, Fairfax, Virginia, to reduce the incidence and severity
of child abuse and enhance the ability to investigate reports and
meet the needs of victims of child abuse......................250,000
Children's Center of Southwest Missouri, Inc., Joplin, Missouri, for
equipment upgrades and other operational expenses.............100,000
Children's Center of the Ozarks, Inc., Monett, Missouri, for equipment
upgrades and other operational expenses........................50,000
Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois, Chicago, IL for the Child
Abuse Prevention Project in Carpentersville, IL...............163,000
Children's Rights Council, Hyattsville, MD for Safe Haven programs in
Stark County, Ohio.............................................64,000
Cook Inlet Tribal Council to provide child welfare services for Alaska
Native Children who are abused or neglected and their parents in the
Anchorage area, including supervised visitation center and a father
involvement program...........................................900,000
Cornerstones for Care, Kansas City, MO to expand services and
programming that benefit victims of child abuse...............500,000
Geauga Family First Council, Chardon, OH for the Family Stability
Program.......................................................145,000
Healthy Families/Better Beginnings for a home visitation program for
State of Alaska and regional Native non-profit organizations2,000,000
Jackson County Children's Services Coalition, Gautier, MS, to prevent
child abuse and neglect in at-risk homes.......................25,000
Lutheran Settlement House, Philadelphia, PA for the expansion of LSH's
Bilingual Domestic Violence Project (BDVP) expansion to include
children who have witnessed or have been victims of abuse......75,000
Municipality of Anchorage, in consultation with Cook Inlet Tribal
Council and Anchorage Women's Commission, to develop comprehensive
domestic violence initiative for Municipality of Anchorage..1,000,000
Northern Virginia Family Service, Oakton, VA, for the Healthy Families
Fairfax Program...............................................200,000
Oregon Association of Relief Nurseries, Eugene, OR, to expand services
to children who are at risk for child abuse or neglect.........80,000
Stop It Now, Philadelphia, PA for outreach to the community to prevent
child abuse...................................................100,000
Synergy Services, Inc., Parksville, Missouri, Children's Therapeutic
Center and Domestic Violence Services.........................150,000
The Futures Institute for Sustainable Development for a child abuse
prevention and treatment program..............................300,000
West River Foundation, Sturgis, SD, to establish early childhood
development programs in small communities.....................500,000
Abandoned Infants Assistance
The conference agreement provides $12,126,000 for the
abandoned infants assistance program, the same level as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill had proposed
$12,086,000 for this program.
Child Welfare Services
The conference agreement provides $291,037,000 for child
welfare services rather than $291,986,000 as proposed by the
House and $290,088,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Child Welfare Training
The conference agreement includes $7,460,000 for child
welfare training rather than $7,470,000 as proposed by the
House and $7,449,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Adoption Opportunities
The conference agreement includes $27,285,000 for the
adoption opportunities program rather than $27,343,000 as
proposed by the House and $27,227,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Adoption Incentives
The conference agreement provides $35,000,000 for the
adoption incentive program for bonuses for adoptions
completed prior to the end of fiscal year 2004, $27,500,000
of which is unused fiscal year 2003 funds, instead of
$43,000,000 as proposed by the House and $42,720,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement includes
bill language, which allows funds appropriated for bonus
payments in Public Law 108-7 and available for obligation
through September 30, 2004 to be used to make bonus payments
for adoptions completed before September 30,
[[Page 31600]]
2004. The conferees note that the number of adoptions from
the public foster care system has increased significantly
over the past several years, rising from 27,761 in fiscal
year 1997 to 50,179 in fiscal year 2002. As a result of this
increase and based on the most recent estimates, fewer
resources will be needed in fiscal year 2004 to make bonus
payments to States for the full amount for which they are
eligible under this program.
Adoption Awareness
The conference agreement includes $12,864,000 for the
adoption awareness program rather than $12,906,000 as
proposed by the House and $12,822,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Compassion Capital Fund
The conference agreement includes $48,000,000 for the
compassion capital fund, instead of $50,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $34,772,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Social Services and Income Maintenance Research
The conference agreement includes $18,767,000 for social
services and income maintenance research, of which $6,000,000
is provided through the evaluation set-aside. The House had
proposed $5,982,000 for this program and the Senate proposed
$31,812,000, of which $6,000,000 was from the evaluation set-
aside.
The conferees note that efforts undertaken through the
State information technology consortium have led to greatly
improved systems communications and compliance in both the
TANF and child support enforcement (CSE) programs. For TANF,
the conferees have provided $2,000,000 to permit States to
utilize uniquely designed web-based technology to improve
benefit delivery and fulfill new Federal reporting
requirements. For CSE, the conferees have provided $3,000,000
to continue the consortium's efforts to improve data exchange
between CSE and the courts in ways that will significantly
reduce the time lag between court orders and enforcement/
collections activities.
The conferees are concerned that children continue to be
left unaccounted for and underserved within State child
welfare systems. Protecting the Nation's most vulnerable
populations, especially youth in State protective care,
should receive significant attention. The conferees are aware
of a project being developed by Rx for Reading that would
provide a model for a case management tool housing all of the
health and education records of children in the care of the
counties of the State of California, including those in
foster care and residential facilities, in a web browser-
based database. The conferees understand that this database
could replace a number of stand alone, antiquated databases
and automate manual record keeping, which would enable
caregivers, foster families, educators, doctors and case
workers to easily access and update information relating to
their services and functions through secure portals.
The conferees also provide sufficient funding for the
following:
Alaska Children's Services of Anchorage for operations of programs to
serve needs of at risk, low income youth in Anchorage........$300,000
Buckeye Ranch, Grove City, OH, for the Applied Violence and Prevention
Research program..............................................350,000
Children's Village in Pine Ridge, South Dakota for foster care
services......................................................200,000
ChildServ, Chicago, IL for family services at the Lake County Family
Service Center................................................200,000
City of Gadsden, Family Success Center, AL, to provide equipment for
the development of a one-stop area for social services with the focus
on helping families help themselves...........................100,000
Corporate Foundation for Children, Montgomery, AL to assist
historically underserved organizations to increase the number and
capacity of community-based organizations across the state to serve
needy families and individuals in their own communities.......350,000
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Clearwater, Florida, for the Road to
Independence--A Continuum of Foster Care Pilot Demonstration1,500,000
Family and Youth Development Foundation Inc., Louisville, KY....20,000
Fathers' Support Center, St. Louis, MO, to provide non-custodial
fathers with personal development, communication and relationship
building skills...............................................100,000
First Gethsemane Center for Family Development, Louisville, KY..50,000
Freedom House Inc., Princeton, IL, for technology to create an Adult
and a Children's Learning Center...............................50,000
Gomlei Chasodim Inc., Lakewood, NJ..............................75,000
Hope Home in Kennewick, WA, to develop a curriculum and train foster
parents of teen parents and their children.....................50,000
Horizons Initiative, Boston, MA, for mentoring, educational, and
social development programs for homeless youth................150,000
Jewish Community Centers of Northeastern Ohio, Canton, OH for human
services programs for children and families...................250,000
Kentucky Sheriffs' Boys Range Trust, Gilbertsville, KY..........75,000
LINK, Sterling, VA, to help meet the growing demands for servic100,000
Lutheran Community Services in Burien, WA, to equip a child care
center for families in need...................................200,000
Middlecreek Area Community Center, Beaver Springs, PA, for technology
equipment and upgrades for community-based programs and
implementation of Youth-at-Risk initiatives...................300,000
Network for Child Safety, Columbus, OH, to provide leadership training
for professionals to improve the child welfare system.........200,000
New Alternatives for Children Inc, New York, NY for support of
programs serving children and their families focusing on health and
social services...............................................350,000
ProJeCt of Easton, Inc., Easton, PA to assist with local food pantry;
and to provide intensive case management to individuals and families
experiencing emergency situations..............................50,000
United Way of Anchorage, AK to support shelters for victims of
domestic violence.............................................250,000
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, Center for Children and
Families for Parent Education about Marital Conflict and ``Adventures
in Parenting'' projects.......................................700,000
Washington State Department of Health to implement the Bright Futures
program to promote early childhood education and good health..500,000
WeatherWise USA, Pittsburgh, PA, for a demonstration program designed
to improve the financial security of low income households....200,000
YouthCare's Orion Center in Seattle, WA, to equip a center providing
many services at one site to homeless and high-risk youth.....200,000
Community-Based Resource Centers
The conference agreement includes $33,403,000 for the
community-based resource centers as proposed by the House
rather than $33,412,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Developmental Disabilities
For developmental disabilities programs, the conference
agreement includes $73,515,000 for State Councils as proposed
by the Senate instead of $71,500,000 as proposed by the
House. The conference agreement includes $38,644,000 for
protection and advocacy services as proposed by the Senate
instead of $36,500,000 as proposed by the House. The
agreement also includes $11,642,000 for special projects as
proposed by the Senate instead of $12,500,000 as proposed by
the House. Within the funds for special projects, $4,000,000
is available to expand activities for the Family Support
Program. For university-affiliated programs, the agreement
includes $26,962,000 as proposed by the Senate instead of
$25,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement includes $15,000,000 for the
disabled voter services programs. Within the funds provided,
$10,000,000 shall be for payments to States to promote
disabled voter access as proposed by the Senate rather than
$13,000,000 as proposed by the House and $5,000,000 shall be
for payments to States for disabled voter protection and
advocacy, the same level as proposed by the Senate. The House
had proposed $2,000,000 for protection and advocacy.
[[Page 31601]]
The conferees are aware that funding for protection and
advocacy services under section 291 of the Help America Vote
Act currently is not being made available to protection and
advocacy services that specifically address the Native
American community. Native Americans with disabilities
experience unique challenges in exercising the right to vote.
For that reason, the conferees intend that organizations
providing protection and advocacy services to Native
Americans as defined in the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act should also be deemed an
eligible entity under the Help America Vote Act.
Native American Programs
The conference agreement includes $45,457,000 for Native
American programs as proposed by the Senate, instead of
$45,119,000 as proposed by the House.
Community Services
The conference agreement includes $645,762,000 for the
community services block grant as proposed by the Senate
instead of $494,964,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement also includes $32,546,000 for
economic development as proposed by the Senate, instead of
$32,436,000 as proposed by the House. Within the total,
$5,464,000 is provided for the job creation demonstration
authorized by the Family Support Act.
The conference agreement provides $24,870,000 for the
individual development account initiative rather than
$24,912,000 as proposed by the House and $24,828,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $7,227,000 for rural
community facilities instead of $7,250,000 as proposed by the
House and $7,203,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides $18,000,000 for the
National youth sports program as proposed by the House. The
Senate did not propose funding for this program.
The conference agreement includes $7,281,000 for community
food and nutrition as proposed by the Senate. The House did
not propose funding for this program.
Early Learning Fund
For the early learning fund, the conference agreement
includes $33,779,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House did
not include funding for this program.
Mentoring Children of Prisoners
The conference agreement includes $50,000,000 for Mentoring
Children of Prisoners instead of $25,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $9,935,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Independent Living Training Vouchers
The conference agreement includes $45,000,000 for
Independent Living Training Vouchers as proposed by the House
instead of $41,727,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Promoting Safe and Stable Families
The conference agreement includes $100,000,000 for the
discretionary grant program of promoting safe and stable
families as proposed by the House rather than $99,350,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
ADMINISTRATION ON AGING
Aging Services Programs
The conference agreement includes $1,381,689,000 for aging
services programs instead of $1,377,421,000 as proposed by
the House and $1,361,193,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Within the total, $5,500,000 is available for medication
management, screening, and education activities as proposed
by the Senate. The House had proposed $5,000,000 for these
activities.
The conference agreement includes $356,000,000 for
supportive centers, instead of $357,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $355,673,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $19,559,000 for
protection of vulnerable Americans activities, as proposed by
the Senate, instead of $18,559,000 as proposed by the House.
Within the funds provided $14,361,000 is provided for
ombudsman services and $5,198,000 is for the prevention of
elder abuse program.
The conference agreement provides $160,000,000 for the
caregivers programs. Of the total provided, $153,645,000 is
for family caregivers rather than $162,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $149,025,000 as proposed by the Senate and
$6,355,000 is provided for Native American caregivers support
rather than $6,500,000 as proposed by the House and
$6,209,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $718,704,000 for
nutrition programs rather than $720,655,000 as proposed by
the House and $716,964,000 as proposed by the Senate. Within
the total, $388,646,000 is provided for congregate meals
rather than $390,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$387,292,000 as proposed by the Senate and $149,073,000 is
provided for the nutrition services incentives program rather
than $149,670,000 as proposed by the House and $148,697,000
as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides $26,612,000 for grants
for Native Americans rather than $25,729,000 as proposed by
the House and $27,495,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $33,223,000 for aging
research, training and demonstrations instead of $30,837,000
as proposed by the House and $17,843,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conferees continue to support funding at no less
than last year's level for national programs scheduled to be
refunded in fiscal year 2004 that address a variety of
issues, including elder abuse, native American issues and
legal services.
Within the funding provided, the conference agreement
includes $3,000,000 for social research into Alzheimer's
disease care options, best practices and other Alzheimer's
research priorities that include research into cause, cure
and care, as well as respite care, assisted living, the
impact of intervention by social service agencies on victims,
and related needs. The agreement provides that this research
utilize and give discretion to Area Agencies on Aging and
their non-profit divisions in municipalities with aged
populations (over the age of 60) of over 1,000,000, with
preference given to the largest population. The conferees
recommend that unique partnerships to affect this research be
considered for the selected Area Agency on Aging.
Given the enormous demands on Alzheimer's family
caregivers, the conferees have included $1,000,000 to support
the continuation of an Alzheimer's family contact center for
round-the-clock help to Alzheimer's families in crisis.
The conferees expect the Administration on Aging to
continue to fund the National program of statewide senior
legal services hotlines (also called legal help lines) at
their current levels and ideally to provide an increase in
the number of States served by these legal hotlines.
The conferees also include the following amounts under
aging research, training, and demonstrations:
Adult Care Center of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, Inc., Winchester,
VA, to study the use of complementary and alternative medicine for
persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders........100,000
Aging In Place Initiative, Denver, CO, for the development of a program
to address an increasing number of senior citizens living
independently and to provide for a collaborative community effort for
community-based providers.....................................200,000
College Misericordia, Dallas, PA................................200,000
College of Science and Public Policy at Boise State University, ID, for
a Center for the Study of Aging project.......................250,000
College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, Center for Excellence in
Aging and Geriatric Health to implement a pilot program to help
promote the health and independence of older adults...........400,000
Copper Ridge Institute, Sykesville, MD..........................100,000
Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam, CT, for the Center for Excellence in
Rural Geriatric Services......................................600,000
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, for the Clinical
Intervention Day Center.......................................125,000
Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Inc., Miami, FL, for services to
seniors living independently in Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities...................................................250,000
Hardy County Committee on Aging, Moorefield, WV, for wellness pro75,000
Hearth and Home Senior Adult Day Care Center, Manassas, VA, for program
support for an innovative approach to full and part-time senior adult
care..........................................................245,000
Iowa Department of Elder Affairs Seamless System to continue the
integration of senior programs. In administering this award, the AoA
and CMS should continue to provide the technical assistance and
related support necessary to develop and implement programs.1,000,000
Jewish Community Centers of Northeastern Ohio, Canton, OH, for human
services programs for seniors.................................250,000
[[Page 31602]]
Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, PA, to develop and test models of coordinated social
services delivery to persons living in Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities (NORC) in the Philadelphia area...................200,000
Jewish Family and Children's Service of Southern Arizona, Inc., Tucson,
AZ, for services to Naturally Occurring Retirement Community s200,000
Jewish Family and Children's Service, Sarasota, FL, for supportive
services to Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities' reside225,000
Jewish Family and Children's Services of Greater Boston, Boston, MA,
for a naturally occurring retirement community program designed to
serve the health needs of the elderly.........................200,000
Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County New York, Buffalo, NY,
for programs for seniors in Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities...................................................100,000
Jewish Family Service of Richmond, Richmond, VA, for a demonstration
project to expand their services into Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities...................................................200,000
Jewish Family Service of Rochester, Inc., Rochester, NY, for service
delivery to seniors living in Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities...................................................100,000
Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, Norfolk, VA, for a demonstration
project to expand their services into Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities...................................................175,000
Jewish Family Service, Seattle, WA, for programs for seniors in
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities....................150,000
Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties, Northfield,125,000
Jewish Federation of Greater Albuquerque, NM, for a Naturally Occurring
Retirement Communities demonstration project..................300,000
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta for a Naturally Occurring
Retirement Communities (NORC) demonstration....................75,000
Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, for a Naturally Occurring
Retirement Communities (NORC) demonstration...................845,000
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, IL, for services to seniors
who live in Naturally Occurring Retirement Community housing..100,000
Jewish Federation of Ocean County, Lakewood, NJ.................250,000
Jewish Seniors Agency of Providence, RI, for a Naturally Occurring
Retirement Communities (NORC) demonstration....................50,000
La Pine Senior Center Project, Bend, OR, for services to seniors in
Deschutes County..............................................100,000
Lapeer Regional Hospital, Lapeer, MI, for the Geriatric Assessment
program........................................................60,000
LIFESPAN of Greater Rochester for a Coordinated Response to Elde100,000
Madison Area Continuing Care Consortium, LLC in Madison, WI, for a
Naturally Occurring Retirement Community demonstration project350,000
Maine Hospice Council, Augusta, ME, to organize alternative delivery
systems for palliative and end-of-life care...................250,000
Meals on Wheels Association of America, Alexandria, VA, for Bridging
the Gap in Senior Meals Services demonstration project......1,600,000
National Indian Council on Aging to increase training to improve elder
access to social services in Washington State.................750,000
New Courtland Elder Services, Philadelphia, PA, to demonstrate whether
the presence of advanced practice nurses can improve the quality of
care received by nursing home residents.......................100,000
Olde Kensington Redevelopment Inc., North Philadelphia Senior
Development Project, Philadelphia, PA, to maximize senior capacity
for self-sufficiency and independent community residency by
developing a technology based program that will foster the volunteer
spirit........................................................100,000
Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Inc., Philadelphia, PA,
for developing a national model for supporting Alzheimer's patients
and their caregivers...........................................75,000
Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, FL, for Combating Health
Care and Consumer Fraud Through Elder Education.............1,000,000
UJA Federation of Bergen County and North Hudson, River Edge, NJ, for
service delivery to seniors living in Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities...................................................200,000
United Jewish Communities of Metro West, NJ, for Naturally Occurring
Retirement Communities (NORCs)................................200,000
United Jewish Federation, Pittsburgh, PA, to launch a program to assist
the elderly in Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NOR250,000
University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, to expand the Center for
Aging and Community which helps seniors cope with chronic conditions
of aging......................................................155,000
The conference agreement includes $13,373,000 for aging
network support activities as proposed by the Senate rather
than $2,379,000 as proposed in the House bill. The conferees
have funded programs in this activity that were previously
funded in the aging, research and training account as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill had retained the
traditional program distribution.
The conference agreement includes $11,956,000 for the
Alzheimer's disease demonstrations instead of $11,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $12,412,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
For program administration, the conference agreement
includes $17,501,000 as proposed by the House rather than
$17,869,000 as proposed by the Senate.
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
General Departmental Management
The conference agreement includes $357,358,000 for general
departmental management instead of $343,284,000 as proposed
by the House and $344,808,000 as proposed by the Senate,
along with $5,851,000 from Medicare trust funds. In addition,
$21,552,000 in program evaluation funding is provided. Funds
provided include $7,301,000 for the National Vaccine Program
Office to comport with the Department's recent move of this
office to the Office of the Secretary from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
The conferees include the amounts within the Office of the
Secretary for the following projects and activities in fiscal
year 2004 listed below:
Ad Council of New York, NY, in consultation with the industry,
advocates and other interested parties, for an underage drinking
public service campaign directed at parents..................$800,000
Community Transportation Association for TA to human services
transportation providers on ADA requirements................1,000,000
[[Page 31603]]
Palmer College on Chiropractice, Consortial Center for Chiropractic
Research in Davenport, Iowa, and the Policy Institute for Integrative
Medicine in Philadelphia, PA for a best practices initiative on lower
back pain.....................................................100,000
The conference agreement includes bill language earmarking
$11,885,000 under the adolescent family life program for
activities specified under section 2003(b)(2) of the Public
Health Service Act as proposed by the Senate instead of
$11,185,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement includes bill language identifying
$49,838,000 for minority AIDS prevention and treatment
activities instead of $49,675,000 as proposed by the House
and $50,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes bill language identifying
$15,000,000 for the information technology security and
innovation fund as proposed by the Senate instead of
$18,400,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement does not include bill language
proposed by the Senate that would earmark $3,000,000 within
the General Departmental Management account to carry out
programs to address dental workforce needs of designated
health professional shortage areas.
The conferees strongly support the Buy American Act, which
was enacted in 1933 to ensure that the Federal government
supports domestic companies and domestic workers by buying
American-made goods. The Act includes a number of waiver
provisions that allow Federal agencies to buy foreign goods
in some circumstances, but there is little disclosure or
accountability in the waiver process. The conferees direct
the Secretary to issue a report not later than 60 days after
the end of fiscal year 2004 on the amount of acquisitions
made by the Department during such fiscal year of articles,
materials, or supplies that were manufactured outside the
United States. Such report shall separately indicate the
dollar value of any articles, materials, or supplies
purchased by the Department that were manufactured outside
the United States, an itemized list of all waivers under the
Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a et seq.) that were granted
with respect to such articles, materials, or supplies, and a
summary of total procurement funds spent on goods
manufactured in the United States versus funds spent on goods
manufactured outside of the United States. The conference
agreement does not include the bill language related to this
report that was proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides $1,000,000 to reduce SIDS
disparity rates and provide risk reduction education to
African American and American Indian populations in the
United States. The Senate bill included language making up to
$2,000,000 available for this purpose. The House bill did not
include a similar provision.
The conferees intend that, of the funding provided to the
Office of Minority Health, no less than the fiscal year 2003
funding level be allocated to a culturally competent and
linguistically appropriate public health response to the HIV/
AIDS epidemic.
The conferees include the amounts for the following Office
of Minority Health projects and activities in fiscal year
2004 listed below:
AIDS Foundation of Chicago to expand prevention programs.......$125,000
Blue Ridge Hospice, Winchester, VA, for grief and loss outreach 350,000
Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH,
for the Center for Health Disparities.........................250,000
Esther's Pantry of Metropolitan Community Church of Portland to provide
food and supplies for people living with AIDS..................25,000
Jaisohn Center, Philadelphia, PA, to provide comprehensive health
promotion and prevention programs to the Korean-American older adult
community.....................................................100,000
Maryland Center at Bowie State University, to develop and disseminate
HIV and diabetes prevention to minority seniors...............150,000
National Donor Awareness Foundation, New Orleans, LA, for Minority
Organ Donation Initiative.....................................100,000
St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, NJ.........................250,000
University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (UMC) & Clark County
Health District (CCHD) Multi-Cultural Services Program........450,000
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, for their
Minority Women's Health Initiative to provide health services,
including diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance to African American
women with chronic heart disease..............................850,000
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX, to
evaluate system of disease management within a diverse population of
asthma patients.............................................2,500,000
University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX,
to address how diet and nutrition, in combination with genetic,
social and other factors, affect the health of Hispanic Ame$1,000,000
The conferees concur in the requirement in the Senate bill
for an Institute of Medicine (IoM) study on mammography
standards. The conferees have provided $500,000 to carry out
the IoM study as described in the Senate bill. The IoM study
should include an evaluation of interpretive skills
assessments as a possible tool to improve physician
interpretation of mammograms (after consultation with those
who have expertise in interactive skills assessments) and how
the annual medical outcomes audit required under Mammography
Quality Standards Act regulations could be used to improve
mammography quality and interpretation.
The conference report does not include within the General
Departmental Management account $3,000,000 for the Public
Health Service Commissioned Corps transformation and
modernization effort as proposed by the Senate. Instead,
these funds are provided in the Public Health and Social
Services Emergency Fund.
The conferees have included $500,000 for a study by the
Institute of Medicine focusing on the state of emergency care
in the United States. The study should examine the different
roles of emergency departments as emergency care provider,
safety net provider, portal of entry provider and disaster
response provider, along with an identification of the
impediments to successfully performing those roles. The study
should also examine workforce issues, including residency
training and problems in obtaining emergency physicians in
rural areas, information technology and systems issues that
relate to speeding access and treatment to emergency patients
while improving patient safety, and the development of a
research agenda needed to provide the information necessary
to ensure that the American people have access to the
emergency medical services they require in the future.
The conferees direct that the effects statements required
for the General Departmental Management account include a
level of detail that identifies the funding for each Office
in the Office of the Secretary, such as the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management.
The conferees concur in the Senate report language
regarding the collection of racial, ethnic and primary
health-related data; the embryo adoption awareness campaign;
and new and continuing projects in the adolescent family life
program.
The conference agreement modifies House report language to
direct the Secretary to request that Title X grantees
voluntarily provide the following information regarding
abortions: the number of Title X-funded sites that also
provide abortions with non-Federal funds. The Secretary's
request shall be limited to the above question with no
additional information regarding the identity of the clinics
or the patients receiving abortions. The conferees direct
that when the Secretary requests the information, the letter
of request should contain a statement making it clear that
the grantees' responses shall be voluntary and without
consequence, or threat of consequence, to non-responsiveness.
The conferees further direct that the records documenting
this information shall be retained by the grantee, and shall
not be provided to the Secretary nor any other Federal,
State, or local official or entity. The conferees expect the
Secretary to provide a report to the House and Senate
appropriations committees four months after enactment of this
Act summarizing the volunteered information.
The conferees are concerned about underage drinking and the
need to take immediate steps to better coordinate Federal
efforts combating this problem facing our Nation. The
conferees are aware of recommendations that the Secretary of
Health and Human Services (HHS) establish an interagency
committee on the prevention of underage drinking and issue an
annual report summarizing all Federal agency activities
concerning this issue, including key surveillance data and
progress being made in reducing underage drinking. The
conferees direct the Secretary to take immediate steps to
implement these recommendations. In addition, the conferees
direct the Secretary, in coordination with agencies such as
SAMHSA and NIAAA, to prepare a plan for combating underage
drinking, including the projected
[[Page 31604]]
costs and next steps to be taken, and report progress on such
a plan 90 days after enactment of this Act.
The conferees support the Administration's goals of ending
chronic homelessness and creating 150,000 units of permanent
supportive housing. However, the conferees believe these
goals were not properly reflected in the Department's budget
request. The Administration is instructed to include as part
of its fiscal year 2005 budget request a description of new
and continuing resources that are being applied to create and
sustain permanent supportive housing for people experiencing
chronic homelessness and a description of the resources
necessary to achieve the goal of ending chronic homelessness.
Within the amount provided, sufficient funds are included
to publish and widely disseminate the U.S. Surgeon General's
report on osteoporosis and related bone diseases. In an
effort to heighten public awareness of this report, the
Surgeon General is encouraged to work with voluntary health
organizations dedicated to promoting lifelong bone health.
The conferees urge the Department to begin a study on
comprehensive pharmacy services in light of changes in
technology, distance and distributive learning models, the
aging of the populations and the Department's study on the
severe pharmacist shortage, to analyze how these factors may
influence the nature of pharmaceutical education and
interventions in healthcare.
The conferees direct that specific information requests
from the chairmen and ranking members of the Subcommittees on
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related
Agencies, on scientific research or any other matter, shall
be transmitted to the Committees on Appropriations in a
prompt professional manner and within the time frame
specified in the request. The conferees further direct that
scientific information requested by the Committees on
Appropriations and prepared by government researchers and
scientists be transmitted to the Committees on
Appropriations, uncensored and without delay.
By January 1, 2005, the Secretary shall develop policy
recommendations and issue a report to Congress by which
vision rehabilitation services would be provided by vision
rehabilitation professionals in an appropriate setting,
including the patient's home environs, acting under a
qualified physician's general supervision. The report may
include adopting a national credentialing measure, or other
steps deemed necessary by the Secretary, that would ensure
patient quality of care. In developing the recommendations,
the Secretary should consult with the National Vision
Rehabilitation Cooperative, the Association for Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind, the Academy for Certification of
Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals, the
American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American
Optometric Association and other interested organizations.
Policy Research
The conference agreement provides $20,750,000 for policy
research from program evaluation funding. The House bill
provided $20,483,000, of which $2,483,000 was Federal funds
and $18,000,000 was program evaluation funding. The Senate
bill provided $23,499,000, entirely from program evaluation
funding.
Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund
The conference agreement includes $1,776,846,000 for the
Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF) to
enhance Federal, State, and local preparedness to counter
potential biological, disease, chemical, and radiological
threats to civilian populations, the same as proposed by the
House. The Senate proposed $1,856,040,000 for the Fund.
The agreement continues bill language applicable in prior
fiscal years to allow the Secretary to transfer amounts
specified in the account between categories subject to normal
reprogramming procedures.
The conference agreement continues language, applicable
during fiscal year 2003, exempting from any personnel ceiling
applicable to the Agency, Service, or the Department of
Health and Human Services both civilian and Commissioned
Officers detailed to States, municipalities or other
organizations under authority of Section 214 of the Public
Health Service Act for purposes related to homeland security
during their period of detail or assignment.
Within the amount provided: $1,116,156,000 is for the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; $545,870,000 is
for the Health Resources and Services Administration; and
$64,820,000 is for the Office of the Secretary.
The conferees note that funds requested within this account
for Poison Control, and Emergency Medical Services for
Children are provided within the Health Resources and
Services Administration. This brings the comparable total for
the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to
$1,820,700,000.
Within the amounts available to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC): $940,000,000 is for State and
Local Preparedness, $158,116,000 is for Upgrading CDC
Capacity; and $18,040,000 is for the fourth year of a
collaborative research program on anthrax vaccine.
Within the amounts available for State and Local
Preparedness, the conference agreement includes $847,456,000
for State Cooperative Agreements, $29,838,000 for Public
Health Preparedness Centers and $5,500,000 for Centers for
Advanced Local Public Health Practice.
Funds available for Public Health Preparedness Centers
shall be used to establish collaborative programs with State
and local public health agencies, enhance practice-based
training of students, and to increase participation of public
health practitioners in the Centers education and training
activities.
The conferees concur with language in the Senate report
concerning the needs of local health departments and
encourage both the Director and the Secretary to ensure that
funds appropriated for State and local public health
preparedness are spent in a manner with which local public
health officials concur. Furthermore, it is expected that
local public health agencies will continue to be full
partners in developing State preparedness plans.
The conferees note that the Health Alert Network now falls
under the umbrella of the Public Health Information Network
under development by the CDC. The conferees encourage CDC to
provide adequate funding to improve public health capacity
for electronic communication and data exchange at the local
level in a manner consistent with the Public Health
Information Network and with which local public health
officials concur. This will enable enhanced local capacity
that has resulted from HAN funding to continue.
The conference agreement includes $2,000,000 to continue to
discover, develop, and transition anti-infective agents to
combat emerging diseases from within amounts available for
Upgrading CDC Capacity.
The conferees encourage CDC to conduct a demonstration
project with World Medical Leaders to disseminate news,
information, and alerts to physicians who are on the front
lines in the effort to recognize biological, chemical, and
radiological events.
Within the funds available to the Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA) is $518,000,000 for Hospital
Preparedness and $27,870,000 to provide incentives for
curricular reform in health professions schools and the
delivery of continuing education to those already in
practice.
The conferees recognize the importance of training in
biopreparedness and response for emergency physicians and
encourage HRSA to support the development of a national
bioterrorism response course for practicing emergency
physicians. The conferees further encourage HRSA to work with
the relevant professional associations through which
emergency physicians receive their continuing education
credits.
The agreement includes $3,000,000 within funds provided to
the Office of the Secretary to continue activities related to
the transformation and modernization of the Public Health
Service Commissioned Corps.
The conferees recognize the need for development of a
comprehensive national strategy to address the Nation's
medical response capabilities given the growing threat of
biological, chemical, radiation or explosive weapons attacks
in the United States. The conferees are aware that the
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is pursuing a
comprehensive, integrated strategy for dealing with threats
throughout the region. The conferees urge the Department to
study the preparedness efforts of institutions such as UPMC,
the effectiveness of these programs, and the feasibility of
replicating this type of initiative nationwide.
The conferees are aware that a new technology, known as
nanometal enhanced fluorescence (NanoMEF), offers promise for
providing a rapid, ultra sensitive, method for the detection
of bio-organisms, such as anthrax and smallpox. The conferees
encourage the Director to review this promising technology
and consider supporting its development from within the funds
provided.
In addition to the funds for terrorism preparedness and
response, the conference agreement includes $50,000,000 for
activities to ensure year-round production capacity of
influenza vaccine, the same as proposed by the House. The
Senate proposed $100,000,000 for the same activities.
General Provisions
Evaluation Tap Authority
The conference agreement includes a provision as proposed
by the Senate to allow for a 2.2 percent evaluation tap
pursuant to section 241 of the Public Health Service Act.
This tap is to be applied to programs authorized under the
Public Health Service Act. The House bill contained a
provision to allow for a 1.25 percent evaluation tap.
One Percent Transfer Authority
The conference agreement includes language permitting the
Secretary of HHS to transfer up to one percent of
discretionary funds between appropriations, with up to an
additional 2 percent subject to approval by the
Appropriations Committees. The language permits the transfer
of funds appropriated for HHS in this Act as proposed by the
House. The Senate bill proposed the transfer of funds under
this or any other Act.
[[Page 31605]]
Refugee Status of Certain Persecuted Groups
The conference agreement includes a provision proposed by
the Senate to extend the refugee status for persecuted
religious groups. The House bill contained no similar
provision. The conferees intend to fully protect religious
minority refugee applicants from Iran, including the current
caseload of Iranian Christians, Jews, Bahai, Mandeans and
Zoroastrians. Therefore, the administration should implement
the provisions of section 213 of the conference report with
respect to new applications, as well as to review previously
denied applications for refugee applicants who have remained
outside of Iran without a viable solution after being denied
refugee status.
SYNAR
The conference agreement includes a provision directing
States to maintain expenditures in fiscal year 2004 for
tobacco prevention programs and for compliance activities at
the same level as in fiscal year 2003 as proposed by the
Senate.
CDC International Authorities
The conference agreement includes a general provision
relating to authorities for the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention to carry out international health activities
as proposed by the Senate. The House proposed similar
language in two separate provisos.
CMS Program Management
The conference agreement does not include a general
provision proposed by the House reducing the amounts provided
to CMS. The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
CDC Management/IT Savings
The conference agreement does not include a general
provision proposed by the House reducing the amounts provided
to CDC for management and information technology. The Senate
bill contained no similar provision.
Parkinson's Disease Research Centers
The conference agreement includes a general provision
proposed by the Senate that overrides section 409B(c) of the
Public Health Service Act, which limits the number of
Parkinson's disease research centers that may be supported by
the National Institutes of Health. The agreement includes
language making this provision permanent so that the language
does not need to be repeated each fiscal year.
HHS Human Resources Consolidation Plan
The conference agreement does not include a general
provision proposed by the Senate prohibiting the use of funds
for the HHS human resources consolidation plan. The House
bill contained no similar provision. The conferees direct the
Secretary to provide the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees a report identifying the benchmarks HHS is using
to measure the speed and cost of its human resources
transactions, comparing those benchmarks as of October 1,
2003 to fiscal year 2004 Department performance on a semi-
annual basis. The conferees are disappointed that such
benchmarks have not been provided to the Committees, despite
commitments from the Assistant Secretary for Administration
and Management to do so before the consolidation took effect.
The conferees expect data in the report that would indicate
the average and median length of time to post positions, the
average and median length of time to complete hiring, the
percentage of applicants accepting the position when offered,
the number of transactions assigned per human resource FTE,
and the estimated cost per transaction.
Concierge Care
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice bill
language proposed by the Senate regarding a study of
concierge care. However, the conferees concur in the
direction from the Senate reflected in the bill language to
the General Accounting Office to conduct a study on concierge
care and to report to Congress their findings and
recommendations no later than eighteen months after enactment
of this Act. The House bill did not include a similar
provision.
Pediatric Research Initiative
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice the
general provision proposed by the Senate requiring the
National Institutes of Health to report on its pediatric
research initiative. The conferees concur in the direction
from the Senate reflected in the bill language to produce the
report no later than January 2004. The House did not include
a similar provision.
Poison Control Centers
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate providing an
additional $1,500,000 for poison control centers. The
conference agreement incorporates this funding into the
regular appropriation provided for Health Resources and
Services Administration. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
AoA Ombudsman Program
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate providing an
additional $1,000,000 for the AoA ombudsman program. The
conference agreement instead incorporates this funding into
the regular appropriation provided for AoA. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
Nurse Reinvestment Act Funding
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate providing an
additional $50,000,000 for activities authorized under the
Nurse Reinvestment Act. The conference agreement includes
funding for the nurse training program in the regular
appropriation provided for the Health Resources and Services
Administration. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
Products and Inventions from Federal Funds
The conference agreement includes a general provision
proposed by the Senate requiring the Director of NIH to
report to Congress no later than 90 days after enactment of
this Act, on the role of NIH in promoting the affordability
of inventions and products developed from Federal funds. The
House bill did not include this provision.
Mammography Standards
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate providing an
additional $500,000 for the IOM to conduct studies concerning
mammography standards. The conference agreement incorporates
this funding and associated report language into the Office
of the Secretary. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
STD Prevalence Among Native Americans
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate earmarking
$1,000,000 from within funds available to the CDC to carry
out a competitive grant program regarding STD prevalence
among Native American Populations. The conference agreement
incorporates similar language within the Statement of the
Managers under the heading for the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
Newborn and Child Screening
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate providing $2,000,000
to carry out newborn and child screening of heritable
disorders. The conference agreement incorporates this funding
into the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant within the
Health Resources and Services Administration. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
Summer Health Career Programs
The conference agreement does not include a general
provision proposed by the Senate authorizing a new summer
health career program for middle and high school students.
The House bill contained no similar provision.
Blood and Injection Safety in Africa
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate requiring the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to
report to Congress on a plan to address blood and injection
safety in Africa. The conference agreement includes a similar
requirement within the Statement of the Managers under the
heading for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The House bill contained no similar provision.
Hansen's Disease Study
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate requiring a report
concerning Hansen's disease. The conferees concur in the
direction from the Senate reflected in the bill language to
produce the report. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Funds
The conference agreement does not include a general
provision proposed by the Senate providing additional funds
for CAPTA programs. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
SIDS Disparity Rates
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate providing $2,000,000
for the Office of Minority Health to carry out a
demonstration project to reduce sudden infant death (SIDS)
disparity rates among high-risk populations. Funding for this
initiative has been provided within the appropriation for the
Office of the Secretary. The House did not include a similar
provision.
Community Access to Emergency Devices
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate providing an
additional $2,000,000 for community access to emergency
devices. The conference agreement incorporates funding for
this program into the Health Resources and Services
Administration. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
Emergency Devices for Rural Areas
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision proposed by the Senate providing an
additional $2,000,000 for emergency devices for rural areas.
The conference agreement instead incorporates funding for
this program into the Health Resources and Services
Administration. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
[[Page 31606]]
Council on Graduate Medical Education
The conference agreement includes a general provision
proposed by the Senate allowing for the continued operation
of the Council on Graduate Medical Education. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers
The conference agreement includes a general provision
proposed by the Senate designating the National Institutes of
Health Muscular Dystrophy Centers as the Senator Paul D.
Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers.
The House did not include a similar provision.
Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Prevention
The conference agreement deletes without prejudice a
general provision appropriating an additional $60,000,000 for
mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention activities, and
an additional $1,000,000 for non mother-to-child activities,
supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). Funding for these activities are provided within the
appropriation for the CDC. The House bill contained no
similar provision.
NIH Roadmap Initiative
The conference agreement includes language proposed by the
Senate authorizing the Director of NIH to enter into
agreements to carry out research in support of the NIH
roadmap initiative. The House bill did not include such a
provision. This provision has been included to assess the
merits of this funding approach and to demonstrate whether
this funding mechanism would accelerate the research agenda.
The conferees direct the Director of the NIH to enter into
these agreements solely on the basis of scientific merit,
opportunity for medical breakthroughs and urgency of need. It
is the conferees intent that these funds be obligated solely
at the discretion of the Director of NIH. The conferees
understand that all awards would be subject to a competitive
process. The language in this Title appropriating funds for
the Office of the Director of NIH includes a limitation of
$7,500,000 which may be used under the authority created in
this general provision.
Denali Commission
The conference agreement includes language amending the
Denali Commission Act of 1998 to clarify that the Commission
has authority to use the interagency transfer mechanism
rather than grants to receive the funding provided in this
Act. The House and Senate bills did not contain this
provision.
TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Education for the Disadvantaged
The conference agreement includes $14,528,522,000 for
Education for the Disadvantaged instead of $14,507,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $14,107,356,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
For Grants to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) the
agreement provides $12,412,000,000. Both the House and the
Senate proposed $12,350,000,000 for this program. The
conference agreement includes $7,107,283,000 for basic grants
and $1,365,031,000 for concentration grants. The agreement
also includes $1,969,843,000 for targeted grants, and
$1,969,843,000 for education finance incentive grants.
Concentration grants, targeted grants, and incentive grants
are all provided on an advance-funded basis.
The House proposed $7,172,971,000 for basic grants,
$1,365,031,000 for concentration grants, $3,018,499,000 for
targeted grants and $793,499,000 for education finance
incentive grants. The Senate bill proposed $7,107,282,000 for
basic grants, $1,365,031,000 for concentration grants,
$1,670,239,000 for targeted grants, and $2,207,448,000 for
education finance incentive grants.
The conference agreement also includes language proposed by
the Senate which specifies that the Secretary of Education
shall obtain annually updated census poverty data for the
purpose of distributing title I funds. The conference
agreement does not include language proposed by the Senate
directing the Secretary to use data available on July 1, 2003
to calculate grants for fiscal year 2004 under title I,
notwithstanding any other provision of law.
The conference agreement includes $248,375,000 for the Even
Start program instead of $250,000,000 as proposed by the
House and $175,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees commend the Office of Student Achievement and
School Accountability for their efforts to coordinate and
integrate existing Federal, State, and local literacy
resources, including those provided under the Head Start
program, Title I programs, and Adult Education programs, to
strengthen and expand family literacy services. The conferees
are aware that the 2003 report, ``State Administration of the
Even Start Family Literacy Program: Structure, Process and
Practices'', prepared by the U.S. Department of Education,
calls for ``Federal leadership to promote collection of core
program and participant data that are comparable across
States.'' The conferees also note that the report indicates
``States differed greatly in every aspect of Even Start
performance indicators that were submitted in June 2001,
including the measures used, performance standards set, and
subgroups to which the measurements and standards are to be
applied,'' and recommends areas where ``further development
is needed to enable successful implementation of the
[Performance Indicators] system.''
The conferees believe that the development of program
performance indicators is critical to the Even Start program,
however the conferees also understand that much of this
development must take place at the State level. Therefore,
the conferees urge the Department of Education to work with
State coordinators of the Even Start Family Literacy Program
and national organizations representing family literacy
programs in developing these indicators. The conferees are
aware that similar efforts are underway in the adult
education, Head Start, and elementary and secondary education
programs and suggest that the frameworks and indicators
developed under these programs could be adapted to the Even
Start progam as well. The conferees also believe that the
performance indicators should be consistent with the findings
of the ongoing Even Start evaluation being conducted by the
Institute for Education Sciences, as required by Title I (B)
Sec. 1239 to ``improve the performance and effectiveness'' of
adults and children participating in Even Start Family
Literacy programs. The conferees look forward to receiving
information in the 2005 Congressional Budget Justification
about the Department's plans (including a timeline for
implementation) for collecting this information.
The conference agreement also includes $1,030,000,000 for
Reading First State Grants instead of $1,050,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $1,000,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. It also includes $95,000,000 for Early Reading First
instead of $100,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$85,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement also includes $19,960,000 for
Literacy through School Libraries instead of $27,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $12,419,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes $395,913,000 for the
migrant education program as proposed by the Senate instead
of $396,000,000 as proposed by the House. The conference
agreement also includes $19,000,000 for high school
equivalency program instead of $24,000,000 as proposed by the
House and $16,000,000 as proposed by the Senate and
$15,750,000 for college assistance migrant program instead of
$16,000,000 as proposed by the House and $15,500,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The agreement also includes $48,682,000 for neglected and
delinquent youth as proposed by the Senate instead of
$49,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement includes $235,000,000 for
comprehensive school reform as proposed by the House. The
Senate bill did not include funds for this activity.
The conference agreement also includes $8,842,000 for
evaluation as proposed by the Senate instead of $9,500,000 as
proposed by the House.
IMPACT AID
The conference agreement includes $1,236,824,000 for the
Impact Aid programs instead of $1,238,324,000 as proposed by
the House and $1,193,226,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Within this amount, $1,070,000,000 is provided for basic
support payments instead of $1,073,000,000 as proposed by the
House and $1,030,292,000 as proposed by the Senate and
$62,000,000 is provided for payments for Federal property as
proposed by the House instead of $59,610,000 as proposed by
the Senate. The conference agreement includes $46,208,000 for
construction programs instead of $44,708,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate. The agreement also includes
the following:
Delta Greely School District, Delta Junction, AK, for school $1,000,000
Fairbanks North Star Borough, Fairbanks, AK, for relocation of the
district's kitchen facilities.................................500,000
School Improvement Programs
The conference agreement includes $5,834,208,000 for School
Improvement Programs instead of $5,797,637,000 as proposed by
the House and $5,731,453,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
agreement provides $4,399,208,000 in fiscal year 2004 and
$1,435,000,000 in fiscal year 2005 funding for this account.
The conference agreement includes $2,945,825,000 for State
grants for improving teacher quality instead of
$2,930,825,000 as proposed by the House and $2,850,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Of this amount, $1,435,000,000 is
provided as a fiscal year 2005 advance instead of
$1,150,000,000 as proposed by both the House and the Senate.
The conference agreement also includes $150,000,000 for
math and science partnerships as proposed by the House
instead of $100,344,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $300,000,000 for the
education block grant instead of $335,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $345,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
agreement also includes $1,005,000,000 for the 21st Century
Community Learning Centers program instead of $1,000,000,000
as proposed by both the House and the Senate. The
[[Page 31607]]
agreement also includes $391,600,000 for State assessments
instead of $390,000,000 as proposed by both the House and the
Senate. The agreement also includes $16,644,000 for the
foreign language assistance program instead of $17,144,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The House did not propose funding for
this program.
The conference agreement includes $33,500,000 for the
Education of Native Hawaiians instead of $36,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate and $18,300,000 as proposed by the
House. The agreement also includes language notwithstanding
any other provision of law to allow funds under this program
to be used for construction, renovation and modernization of
any elementary school, secondary school, or structure related
to an elementary school or secondary school run by the
Department of Education of the State of Hawaii that serves a
predominantly Native Hawaiian student body as proposed by the
Senate. The House bill did not contain this provision. The
conferees direct that no less than $1,000,000 shall be made
available for early childhood activities, no less than
$1,000,000 shall be made available to the Hawaii Department
of Education for school construction/renovation activities,
and $300,000 shall be made available for the University of
Hawaii law school's Native Hawaiian legal center.
The conference agreement includes $33,500,000 for the
Alaska Native Educational Equity program instead of
$36,000,000 as proposed by the Senate and $14,200,000 as
proposed by the House. The agreement also includes language
notwithstanding any other provision of law to allow funds
under this program to be used for construction as proposed by
the Senate. The House bill did not contain this provision.
The conference agreement includes $168,827,000 for rural
education programs, instead of $170,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $167,653,000 as proposed by the Senate.
INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT
The conference agreement includes $1,106,811,000 for
programs in the Innovation and Improvement account, instead
of $807,959,000 as proposed by the House and $782,133,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $15,000,000 for Troops to
Teachers, instead of $20,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The Senate did not propose funding for this program. The
conference agreement also includes $45,564,000 for the
transition to teaching program, instead of $49,400,000 as
proposed by the House and $41,727,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes $18,000,000 for the
National Writing Project instead of $16,890,000 as proposed
by the House and $18,890,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees intend that, from the increase provided over the
fiscal year 2003 level, $500,000 shall be used to support a
pilot program on the integration of technology training in
the national writing project program.
The conference agreement includes $120,000,000 for the
Teaching of Traditional American History as proposed by the
Senate instead of $50,000,000 as proposed by the House. The
conferees direct the Department to continue its current
policy of awarding 3-year grants.
The conference agreement includes $18,500,000 for advanced
credentialing activities instead of $16,500,000 as proposed
by the House and $9,935,000 as proposed by the Senate. Within
this amount, the conferees intend that $10,000,000 be used to
complete the fifth year of a five-year grant to the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and
$7,000,000 be used to continue a grant to the National
Council on Teacher Quality. The conference agreement also
includes $1,500,000 to conduct an evaluation of the outcomes
of teachers who achieved NBPTS certification versus teachers
who did not complete certification and teachers who did not
participate in or apply for the program. The conferees direct
the Assistant Secretary for the Institute for Education
Sciences to contract with the National Academies of Science
(NAS) to perform an independent, scientific study using the
strongest practical methodology to evaluate the impact of
board certification, including an assessment of whether the
NBPTS certification model is a cost effective method of
improving teacher quality and the extent to which
certification makes a difference in student academic
achievement. In carrying out this study, the NAS should
commission the collection of new data and conduct
appropriate, rigorous analyses of such data. The conferees
also expect that a similar scientific evaluation will be
conducted on the outcomes of the work of the National Council
on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) when available data will permit
such an assessment and therefore urge NCTQ to begin to
incorporate evaluation elements into the program now.
The conference agreement includes $37,500,000 for credit
enhancement for charter schools instead of $75,000,000 as
proposed by the House. The Senate bill did not include
funding for this activity.
The conference agreement includes $26,916,000 to support
voluntary public school choice programs instead of
$25,831,000 as proposed by the House and $28,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE)
The conference agreement includes $430,463,000 for the Fund
for the Improvement of Education.
Within the total for FIE, the conference agreement includes
funding for the following activities in the following
amounts:
Reading Is Fundamental......................................$25,334,000
Star Schools.................................................20,483,000
Ready to Teach...............................................14,406,000
Exchanges with Historic Whaling and Trading Partners..........8,500,000
Arts in Education............................................35,279,000
Parental Assistance Information Centers......................42,224,000
Excellence in Economics Education Act.........................1,500,000
Women's Educational Equity....................................2,980,000
ED Pubs.......................................................1,900,901
Helping Your Child Learn publications...........................400,000
Recognition programs............................................808,000
Teacher Quality initiatives...................................8,500,000
CSRD grants..................................................74,513,000
CSRD clearinghouse............................................1,639,099
Facilities clearinghouse........................................700,000
Peer Review......................................................25,000
Reach Out and Read............................................4,000,000
The conferees intend that the $74,513,000 for comprehensive
school reform grants to local educational agencies shall
support grants to States for continuing and new subgrants to
local educational agencies for comprehensive school reform
activities in both title 1 and non-title 1 eligible schools.
The bill includes language specifying that these funds shall
be allocated and expended in the same manner as in fiscal
year 2003 and provides the funds on a forward funding basis.
As noted above, the conference agreement includes $700,000
for the National Institute of Building Sciences to continue
operation of the National Clearinghouse for Educational
Facilities, the Nation's sole source for comprehensive
information about school planning, design, financing,
construction and maintenance. The conferees expect that the
Department will provide an additional $300,000 for this
purpose to address issues related to school safety and
healthy school buildings, as described in the
administration's budget request for Safe and Drug-Free
Schools and Communities National Programs.
For Arts in Education, the conferees intend that within
this total, $7,250,000 is for VSA Arts and $6,225,000 is for
the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In
addition, $4,000,000 is for cultural partnerships, $7,500,000
is for model professional development programs for music,
drama, dance and visual arts educators and $304,000 is for
evaluation activities. The remaining $10,000,000 is available
to continue model arts programs.
The conferees have included additional funds in this line
item for the Secretary to support programs and projects that
address national priorities in K-12 education.
The conferees direct the Department to implement the Act
consistent with their intent, as reflected above, and request
an implementation plan to be submitted to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations within 30 days of
enactment of the Department of Education Appropriations Act,
2004. To the extent that the Department wishes to reprogram
funds in order to address other activities or alter the
allocation of funds for activities listed in the chart above,
the conferees expect the Department to follow the guidance
provided in this statement of the managers.
Within the total for FIE, the following amounts are also
provided:
100 Black Men of Louisville, Louisville, KY for Project MALE....$12,000
10th District Gang Task Force, Herndon, VA, for program development and
implementation for at-risk and gang prevention after-school pr280,000
Academy of Music, Lynchburg, VA, to support an arts education program
for area students.............................................100,000
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, for educational
programming associated with the Lewis and Clark expedition....150,000
AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center, MD for a technology-based
mentoring program for at-risk youth...........................250,000
After the Bell Program, Soldotna, AK, for after school programs.100,000
Alaska Department of Education, Juneau, AK, for remedial education
programs to help low-performing students meet testing requir2,000,000
[[Page 31608]]
Alaska Education Services, Anchorage, AK, for East Anchorage Youth in
Peril Program to provide after school and summer programs for at risk
youth.........................................................475,000
Alaska Hospitality Alliance, Anchorage, AK, for a vocational training
program.......................................................100,000
Alaska Humanities Forum, Anchorage, AK, to bring authors to rural and
remote school districts to promote literacy, reading, and writing
skills through the Authors in Schools program..................50,000
Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Pittsburgh, PA, in
collaboration with War for Empire, Inc., for educational programs and
activities associated with the 250th anniversary of the French and
Indian War....................................................350,000
American Foundation for Negro Affairs (AFNA) National Education and
Research Fund, Philadelphia, PA, to raise the achievement level of
minority students and increase minority access to higher educa650,000
American Humane Animal Welfare Education Program, Denver, CO, to
support a model animal health and welfare educational program for
elementary and secondary education students....................50,000
American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, for
educational programming........................................25,000
American Society of Educators, Philadelphia, PA, to develop and
disseminate materials on the use of instructional technologies.50,000
American Theater Arts for Youth, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, for an arts in
education program..............................................75,000
American Theater Arts for Youth, Philadelphia, PA for youth arts
programs in San Diego County, CA...............................50,000
American Theater Arts for Youth, Philadelphia, PA for youth arts
programs in Washington State...................................50,000
American Theater Arts for Youth, Philadelphia, PA, for elementary
school students in Idaho......................................100,000
American Theater Arts for Youth, Philadelphia, PA, for the Mississippi
Arts in Education Program.....................................150,000
Americana Community Center, Inc., Louisville, KY for an after school
program and computer classes...................................52,000
An Achievable Dream, Newport News, VA, for curriculum development and a
college preparation program...................................250,000
Anchorage Museum of History and Art and Alaska Humanities Forum,
Anchorage, AK, to develop curriculum on Alaskan culture and art for
Alaska schools................................................200,000
Anchorage School District, Anchorage, AK, for an English Language
Instruction program for limited English proficiency students..500,000
Anchorage School District, Anchorage, AK, in conjunction with the
Fairbanks North Star School District, for a technology-based system
for standards-based instruction...............................500,000
Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center, St. Louis, MO, to
expand an early education program and services and to include the
Parents as Teachers Program...................................750,000
Artspace Projects, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, for the Artspace Projects
Distance Education Initiative, which may include the acquisition of
technology....................................................100,000
Atlantic City Schools, Atlantic City, NJ for English as a second
language curriculum...........................................125,000
Audubon Pennsylvania, Audubon, PA, to support educational programming
that focuses on the art and writings of John Audubon..........100,000
Augusta Public Schools USD #402, Augusta, KS, for staff
development and implementation of technology curriculum.......250,000
Bakersfield Music Theatre, Bakersfield, CA, for the STARS School of
Fine Arts.....................................................100,000
Beaufort County School District, Hilton Head Island, SC for the
development and implementation of a model program in technology and
literacy for K-12 education teachers..........................200,000
Bellevue School District, Washington, for implementation of an English
as a Second Language training program.........................250,000
Bethesda Children's Home, Meadville, PA, to integrate a vocational and
technical component into the educational curriculum............50,000
Big Brothers Big sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA,
for a mentoring initiative for children of incarcerated parent150,000
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Southeast Alaska,
in partnership with Alaska Department of Education, the Boys and
Girls Club and Cook Inlet Tribal Council for a comprehensive
mentoring program for at-risk children........................300,000
Bossier Parish School Board, Benton, LA, for technology enhancem100,000
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston, MA, for youth musical training and
educational programs..........................................400,000
Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, to develop a
school-based mentoring program.................................50,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Atlanta, GA, for computer training for
at-risk youth...............................................2,000,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of Indian River County, Vero Beach, FL.....100,000
Boys and Girls Harbor, Inc., New York, NY, for a financial literacy
project at the Germantown Settlement Charter School in Philadelphia,
PA.............................................................25,000
Bozeman Public School District, Bozeman, MT, for a pilot, standards-
based learning program for elementary, middle, and high school
students......................................................650,000
Bradford High School, Bradford, PA, to improve the metalworking 100,000
Bucks County Quality Child Care Coalition for Early Care and Education,
Doylestown, PA, to improve the quality of early childhood education
programs.......................................................50,000
Burns Telecommunications Center at Montana State University-Bozeman,
Bozeman, MT, to support the coalition for establishing a National
Teacher Enhancement Network for access to high quality online
professional development for science teachers.................250,000
CableLife Community Enrichment Corporation, Louisville, KY, for after
school programs................................................50,000
Cabrini Mission Foundation, New York, NY, for technology, math and
science resources..............................................50,000
Caddo Parish School Board, Shreveport, LA, for technology enhanc100,000
Calcasieu Parish School Board, Lake Charles, LA, for technology
enhancements..................................................100,000
[[Page 31609]]
Caldwell County Education Consortium, Lenoir, NC, for teacher training
program.......................................................250,000
Canaan Community Development Corporation, Louisville, KY, for after
school programs................................................50,000
Canton City Schools, Canton, OH, for the Genesis math project...250,000
Canton School District in Canton, SD, for a community education p50,000
Canton Symphony Orchestra, Canton, OH, for orchestra education..400,000
Carnegie Science Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, for education programs for
teachers and students as part of the Pittsburgh International Science
and Technology Festival........................................50,000
Carthage Technical Center, Carthage, MO, for equipment..........250,000
Centennial School District, PA, for a payment under subpart 20 of part
D of title V of the ESEA, without regard to the requirements of that
subpart.......................................................450,000
Center for Educational Services, Auburn, ME, to establish the Schools
and Technology for Assessment and Reflection (STAR) program...300,000
Center for Houston's Future, Houston, TX, for early education pr150,000
Center for Integrative Medicine at Inner Harmony, PC, Clarks Summit,
PA, to develop a pilot program to assist children in coping with
stress........................................................200,000
Center for the Improvement of Teacher Education and Schooling (CITES),
Brigham Young University-Public School Partnership, Provo, UT, for
public school reading instruction for intermediate and secondary
grades........................................................300,000
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Carlisle, PA, for an arts in
education program..............................................25,000
Central Valley School District 356 in Greenacres, WA, to purchase and
implement the PLATO system to improve student achievement.....500,000
Centre County AVTS, Pleasant Gap, PA, for technology equipment..100,000
Chambers County Board of Education, Lafayette, AL, for the School
District Internet Access Project...............................50,000
Champions of Caring, Villanova, PA, to support a recognition program
for high school students serving their communities............100,000
Charter School Development Corporation in Las Vegas, NV, to focus on
technology and college preparation............................800,000
Charter School Institute, Philadelphia, PA, for the Shipyard Charter
School to develop curriculum and acquire equipment for apprentice
programs.......................................................50,000
Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR, for a high school equivalency
program........................................................30,000
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Annapolis, MD, in collaboration with the
Living Classrooms Foundation, Baltimore, MD, to provide field and
computer programs about the Chesapeake Bay....................350,000
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Annapolis, MD, for environmental education
programs in Pennsylvania.......................................50,000
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, OH, for fiber optic
data transmission system equipment............................100,000
City of Baker School Board, Baker, LA, for technology enhancement50,000
City of Providence, RI, on behalf of the Providence Public Schools, for
an assessment of the school system, and development and
implementation of a school improvement plan...................150,000
City of San Bernardino, CA Superintendent of Schools to expand the
Schools-to-Careers initiatives................................350,000
City of San Jose, CA, Office of Early Care and Education Services to
enhance training in the Smart Start program...................400,000
City of Stockton, Stockton, CA, for the Stockton After School Pr500,000
City Year Inc., Philadelphia, PA, for the High School Heroes program to
reduce truancy and drop-out rates.............................225,000
Clark County Public Education Foundation in Las Vegas, NV, to support
development of educational and technical activities...........100,000
Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV, to provide support for
academic enrichment activities.................................75,000
Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV, ``Success Through English
Program'' (STEP) to provide intensive English Language instruction
and testing services..........................................150,000
Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV, for intensive math and
reading intervention programs, including equipment costs......100,000
Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV, for teacher quality
improvements................................................1,500,000
Clemson University, Clemson, SC, for Call Me Mister program.....250,000
Cleveland Avenue YMCA, Montgomery, AL, to support an after school
program serving at-risk youth..................................50,000
Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland, OH, for One by One Thousand
Outreach project..............................................250,000
Cleveland Independent School District, Cleveland, OH, to further
implement the Voyager Universal Literacy Program, the Voyager
Passport Program and other Voyager Expanded Learning programs
designed to improve student literacy..........................150,000
Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, OH, for distance learni500,000
Coahoma Community College, Clarksdale, MS, to support improved student
achievement and teacher quality through the Student-Teacher
Enhancement Program............................................50,000
Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center, Inc.,
Philadelphia, PA, to support environmental research conducted at the
center by select high school students.........................100,000
Coconino County School District, Arizona, for teacher quality
improvements..................................................500,000
College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY, for a Teacher Education
and Enrichment Program........................................400,000
College Summit, Inc., Washington, DC, for increasing college enrollment
rate of low income youth....................................3,000,000
Communities in Schools of Virginia, Richmond, VA, to continue to help
children achieve academic success, and to expand its program to more
communities...................................................150,000
Communities in Schools, Alexandria, VA, for national program activities
to coordinate community resources to help youth stay in school800,000
Community Economic Empowerment Corporation, Louisville, KY, for after
school programs................................................50,000
Community Foundation in Decatur, IL, to support science programs and
related academic activities for local high school students....100,000
Community Foundation of Louisville, Louisville, KY, for Lac Viet
reading programs...............................................50,000
[[Page 31610]]
Community of Agile Partners in Education/Pennsylvania Educational
Telecommunications Exchange Network (CAPE/PETE), Bethlehem, PA, for
distance learning programs....................................300,000
Conservatory for the Performing Arts Charter School, St. Paul, MN, for
development and support of educational programs................25,000
Constitutional Foundation, Philadelphia, PA, to develop educational
programming on the history of the Constitution.................50,000
Continuation and expansion of the Iowa Communications Network statewide
fiber optic demonstration...................................1,000,000
County of Charleston, Charleston, SC, for a Charleston Media Technology
Park project..................................................200,000
County of Venango, Franklin, PA, to promote environmental and heritage
education......................................................50,000
Danville Independent Schools, Danville, KY, for Danville Kids'
University....................................................150,000
Dauphin County, PA, for a Truancy and Delinquency Reduction Progr50,000
Delaware Valley Earth Force, Wyncote, PA, for environmental education
programs.......................................................37,500
Delta Greely School District, Delta Junction, AK, to develop
interactive online courses and provide distance education services
(via the Internet) to small schools in rural Alaska...........750,000
Deming Public Schools, Deming, NM, to support the alternative high
school program, district improvement plan and technology enhancement
program.......................................................680,000
DePaul School, Louisville, KY, for educational instructional mate50,000
Discovery Center of Science and Technology, Bethlehem, PA, for
educational programs and exhibits that will demonstrate best
practices for teaching science................................200,000
East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for
technology enhancements.......................................100,000
Eastern. National, Fort Washington, PA, for education programs...50,000
Ed & Ruth Lehman YMCA, Longmont, CO, to support afterschool progr15,000
Educare of Omaha, Inc., NE to promote school readiness among low-income
children......................................................750,000
Education Leaders Council, Washington, DC, for the Following Leaders
project....................................................10,000,000
Educational Service District #101, Spokane, WA for distance lear300,000
El Dorado Public Schools, El Dorado, KS, to extend Project Conne250,000
Encore Series, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, for the Jazz in the Schools
music education program.......................................100,000
Endeavor Academy, Titusville, FL, for professional development
workshops to K-12 teachers in math, science, technology and re200,000
Entrepreneurship Florida, Tampa, FL, for teacher training, student
curriculum/text material, administrative costs................100,000
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, Fairbanks, AK, for the 4
R Children's program..........................................300,000
Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia, for a delinquency
prevention program for students with behavioral and emotional 200,000
Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia, to initiate a course
in Emergency Medical Services for Falls Church High School to respond
to future security and safety incidents.......................100,000
Fairfax Education Foundation, Fairfax, Virginia, to implement a web-
based communications portal, Partnerships to Advance Learning.250,000
Family First Foundation, Erie, PA, for alternative education programs
for at-risk youth..............................................75,000
Family Life Center, Inc., Louisville, KY for after school program50,000
Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, Green Bay, WI, to expand
afterschool programming for minority and at-risk youth........125,000
Father Maloney's Boy's Haven, Louisville, KY for education progra50,000
Field Kindley High School, Coffeyville, KS, for start-up costs for
implementing a Health Careers program.........................250,000
First Book, Washington, DC, to establish a First Book Rural Initiative
in Idaho.....................................................$450,000
First Tee, St. Augustine, FL for a character education program1,000,000
Fisher's Peak YMCA, Trinidad, CO, for afterschool programs and a summer
camping program................................................15,000
Flagship After School Program in Missoula County, MT, for after school
and summer school programs....................................100,000
Florida Orchestra, Tampa, Florida, for a demonstration program..250,000
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, for a Florida reading,
math and science initiative.................................1,500,000
For Us Northwest, Portland, OR, for a mentoring program for children
affected by HIV/AIDS...........................................25,000
Fort Worth Independent School District, Fort Worth, TX, for the ISD
Imagination Station project...................................500,000
Foundation for the Improvement of Mathematics and Science Education, CA
for student assessment, teacher training, and curriculum devel100,000
Foundation for the Improvement of Mathematics and Science Education,
San Diego, CA, to implement the Blueprint for Student Success project
in the San Diego City Schools.................................800,000
Fox Valley Family YMCA, Plano, Illinois, for the Teen Action Agenda
Program.......................................................230,000
Franklin Technology Center, Joplin, MO, for equipment...........250,000
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, PA, to support civic education
programs for students.........................................100,000
Futures For Children, Albuquerque, NM, to support programs that help
American Indian youth stay in school........................1,100,000
Galena School District, Galena, AK, for a distance education pro500,000
Galena School District, Galena, AK, to develop an assets-building
program for transitioning of Rural Alaska Students in boarding school
environments..................................................600,000
Galilee Community Development Corporation, Louisville, KY for academic
tutoring and enrichment........................................30,000
Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, for the development of an arts in
education program to serve K-12 students.......................50,000
Gibson Technical Center, Reeds Spring, MO, for equipment........250,000
Girl Scouts of the USA, Washington DC for a science and math pro500,000
Give Every Child A Chance, Manteca, CA, to provide tutoring services to
children in grades K-12.......................................500,000
[[Page 31611]]
Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, for a Teacher Academy
program to address the unique needs of and demand for teachers in
urban districts................................................50,000
Grant Joint Union High School District, Sacramento, California, for
Maritime Technology Training Program...........................53,000
Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland, OH, to develop educational
program to promote literacy in math, science, and technology..350,000
Great Projects Film Company, Inc., Washington, DC, to produce
``Educating America,'' a documentary about the challenges facing our
public schools.................................................50,000
Greater Cleveland Growth Association, Cleveland, OH for curriculum
development for an advanced manufacturing and engineering technology
academy.......................................................250,000
Green Tree School, Philadelphia, PA, for an educational-based, after
school program for students with serious emotional disturbances50,000
Hartman Home Transitional Living Program, Wilkes-Barre, PA, to support
the development of critical life skills for at-risk youth.....$50,000
Heartland Regional Community Foundation, St. Joseph, MO, to create a
regional youth development program for 12-15 year olds........125,000
Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL, for the Information
Technology, Innovative Teaching, and Instructional Technology (IT-3)
program to develop and implement a technology training program for K-
12 teachers..................................................$500,000
Hollidaysburg Area School District, Hollidaysburg, PA for an
interactive instructional system.............................$100,000
Holton High School, Holton, KS, for equipment and technology
infrastructure................................................150,000
Houston Independent School District, Houston, Texas, for River Oaks
Elementary to set up an International Baccalaureate program....50,000
Humphreys County School District, MS, for curriculum and library
resource improvement...........................................25,000
Huntingdon College, Montgomery, AL, for training K-12 teachers in the
use of education technology...................................200,000
Hurley School District in Hurley, Wisconsin for after school pro250,000
I Can Learn, New Orleans, LA for technology programs..........3,500,000
Idaho Falls School District 91, Idaho Falls, Idaho, to implement an
English as a Second Language instructional program............400,000
Illinois Coalition of Challenger Learning Centers, Bloomington and
Woodstock, Illinois, for science education programs...........500,000
Illinois Math and Science Academy for 21st Century Information Fluency
Project.......................................................500,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, IL for North Chicago SD
#187 for school improvement to low-performing high schools and middle
schools........................................................90,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, IL for the Flora School
District career and technical education.......................125,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, IL for the Robinson
High School computing program.................................165,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, IL for Waukegan CUSD
#60 for school improvement to low-performing high schools and middle
schools........................................................90,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, IL for Wheeling CCSD
#21 for math achievement in the middle grades..................70,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, Illinois, for Aurora
West SD 129, to assist in implementing Career Academies at West
Senior High School............................................250,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, Illinois, for
Carpentersville CUSD 300 for school improvement interventions in
their low-performing high schools and middle schools..........300,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, Illinois, for Elgin U
46 to strengthen and expand the instruction related to the Illinois
Learning Standards in Career and Technical Education..........250,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, Illinois, for Illinois
Virtual High School Project....................................50,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, Illinois, for the Taft
School District 90 to improve student achievement through technology-
based and resource-based instruction..........................150,000
Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, Illinois, to establish
an early learning program in Plainfield CCSD 202..............150,000
Independence USD 446, Independence, KS, for teacher training and
technology curriculum development.............................250,000
Indian River Community College, Fort Pierce, FL, for teacher education
and training..................................................100,000
Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville, VA, for
technology training for educators and students................600,000
Institute for Education and the Arts of the National Music Center and
Museum Foundation, Washington, DC for a music education demons500,000
Institute for Student Achievement, Lake Success, NY, for educational
programs for at-risk students.................................750,000
Institute for Student Achievement, Lake Success, NY, for programmatic
costs at Annandale High School in Virginia....................225,000
Institute for Student Achievement, Lake Success, NY, for programmatic
costs at Glen Cove High School in New York....................140,000
Institute of HeartMath, Boulder Creek, CA for a national demonstration
on student standardized testing.............................1,000,000
Intermediate Unit 17 Technology Improvement Project, Williamsport, PA,
to support school districts and enhance their access to information
technology....................................................200,000
International Music Products Association, Carlsbad, California, to
provide students in San Diego County with music education.....125,000
Iowa Association of School Boards, Des Moines, IA for the Lighthouse
for School Reform project.....................................500,000
Iowa Department of Education to continue and expand a demonstration
program for additional bilingual and English as a Second Language
training....................................................1,000,000
Iowa Department of Education to continue the Iowa School Construction
Demonstration Project.......................................7,000,000
Iowa State Education Association, Des Moines, IA, for an initiative to
educate students on the role of international trade in the U.S.
economy.......................................................155,000
[[Page 31612]]
Iron County Schools, Cedar City, UT, to support the development of the
Student Achievement Management (SAM) information system.......100,000
Isaac Stern Education Legacy in New York, NY, to integrate distance
learning and educational technology with music education progr150,000
JASON Foundation for Education to extend science education and teacher
professional development programs to schools in South Carolina500,000
Jefferson County Public School District, Golden, Colorado, for an
English Language Development Program..........................500,000
Jefferson County-DuBois AVTS, Reynoldsville, PA, to improve the
technical education capacity of the school....................250,000
Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana, Inc., Louisville, KY, for economic
education......................................................40,000
Junior Achievement of Southwest Pennsylvania, Inc., Warrendale, PA, to
implement Exhange City, a nationally recognized, innovative learning
program, in Pittsburgh........................................100,000
Kathleen Elementary School, Lakeland, Florida, for technology
enhancements...................................................30,000
Kids Voting South Dakota in Pierre, SD to expand programming in tribal
schools........................................................60,000
KIPP Foundation, San Francisco, CA for KIPP School Leadership 4,000,000
KNME, Albuquerque, NM, to support the American Indian Literacy p750,000
Knowledge Works, Cincinnati, OH for Ohio High School Transformation
Initiative..................................................1,000,000
L.E.A.D.E.R.S program, Rochester Hills, Michigan for character
education programs............................................150,000
LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program in Los Angeles, CA....400,000
Lafayette Parish School Board, Lafayette, Louisiana, for technology
enhancements..................................................100,000
Lafourche Parish School Board, Thibodaux, Louisiana, for technology
enhancements..................................................100,000
Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force, Erie, PA, for environmental education
programs.......................................................37,500
Lansing Public Schools, Lansing, MI, to implement the Help One Student
to Succeed Reading Centered School program....................198,000
Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Oklahoma City, OK
for the Learning for Life program.............................200,000
Lenawee Agricultural Learning Center, Adrian, MI, for fiber optic
connection and equipment.......................................92,000
Letcher County Board of Education, Whitesburg, Kentucky, for technology
equipment.....................................................300,000
Liberty Memorial Association, Kansas City, MO, to develop education
programs for students..........................................50,000
Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, Kentucky, for Math and Sciences
Career Development Center.....................................350,000
Line Mountain School District, Trevorton, PA, to develop a pilot
project designed to offer specialized curriculum and vocational
training related to careers in volunteer firefighting to high school
students in Pennsylvania.......................................50,000
Livingston Parish Technology and Literacy Center, Denham Springs,
Louisiana, for educational programs............................71,000
Loess Hills Area Education Agency in Iowa for a demonstration in early
childhood education...........................................750,000
Logan City School District, Logan, UT, for support of the Early Reading
Assistance Project............................................100,000
Long Island Philharmonic Orchestra, Melville, New York, for music
educational programs..........................................250,000
Look Up To Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, to encourage the development of
Cleveland's young leaders......................................75,000
Los Angeles County Office of Education, Downey, California, for the
Early Advantage Initiative project............................500,000
Louisiana Department of Education for TAP, a multi-tiered, teacher
staffing model that provide teachers with new career growth paths,
increased salary flexibility and ongoing professional developm200,000
Lycoming County Career Consortium, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to
improve the technical education capacity of the consortium....100,000
Marketplace for Kids for an entrepreneurial education program in North
Dakota........................................................300,000
Marywood University, Scranton, PA, for technology and curriculum
development for the Center for Assistive Technology laboratories to
provide training to K-12 educators on teaching practices......300,000
Maui Economic Development Board for Girls into Science Program..300,000
Medaille College, Buffalo, New York, for literacy program at the
Western New York Center for Literacy and Learning..............50,000
Messiah College, Grantham, PA, to support initiatives to improve
educational opportunities for children in grades K-12.........200,000
MicroSociety, Philadelphia, PA, to further develop and disseminate a
whole school model of reform..................................200,000
Midlands Youth Foundation, Chicago, IL, for the Beat the Streets
Program.......................................................150,000
Military Heritage Foundation, Carlisle Barracks, PA, for the United
States Army Heritage and Education Center for education materials and
programs on military and social history.......................100,000
Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation to continue a demonstration on full-
service schools in Iowa.......................................500,000
Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation to support a full-service community
school in the Tukwila school district in Washington State.....250,000
Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation, Washington, DC, to replicate the full-
service community school program in Pennsylvania..............300,000
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN, in collaboration with the
University of Minnesota, for improving academic achievement through
history education..............................................25,000
Mira Loma High School, Sacramento, California, for the International
Baccalaureate Program..........................................25,000
Mississippi Broadcasting Networks, Jackson, MS, for public radio
broadcast of student writing through the Rural Voices initiati100,000
Monett R-1 School District, Monett, MO, for support of the Southwest
Area Career Center, including acquisition of equipment and tec500,000
Monroe City School District, Monroe, Louisiana, for technology
enhancements...................................................50,000
[[Page 31613]]
Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA, for equipment and
the expansion of the Young Artists Workshop, an arts education
program offered to underprivileged students from the Philadelphia
School District................................................50,000
Motivational Productions, Garden Ridge, TX, to establish a violence/
drug prevention and character education program...............250,000
Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg, Kentucky, to expand its music and
arts program..................................................225,000
Mountain Laurel Center, Bushkill, PA, for equipment and program
development related to the Mountain Laurel Institute..........200,000
Musical Arts Association, Cleveland, OH for education outreach programs
projects......................................................500,000
Naperville Community Unit School District 203, Naperville, Illinois,
for a P.E. 4LIFE Institute to train more physical education teachers
throughout the state on proven methods of innovative physical
education programs............................................200,000
National Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA, for technology for the Flite-Zone
immersive classroom and expansion of nature education programs100,000
National Council of La Raza, Washington, D.C., to develop assessment
guidelines for limited English proficient students and to expand
professional development academies............................500,000
National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship to Handicapped and
Disadvantaged Youth in partnership with Seattle Public Schools to
provide financial literacy and entrepreneurship education to low-
income and minority, youth....................................100,000
National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship to Handicapped and
Disadvantaged Youth, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, to provide financial
literacy and entrepreneurship education to low-income and minority
youth in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh..........................100,000
National History Day for a history competition in Iowa..........100,000
National Maritime Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC, for the Spirit
of Enterprise Maritime Heritage Education Program..............75,000
National Science Center Foundation, Augusta, GA for educational
technology and other purposes...............................1,000,000
National Student Partnerships, Washington, DC, for National Service
Program training activities to improve and evaluate methods of
expansion for national training programs......................100,000
National Ten-Point Leadership Foundation, Boston, MA, for math and
science programs for at-risk youth............................225,000
New Avenues for Youth, Portland, OR, for educational services to
homeless youth.................................................30,000
New Orleans Outreach to expand the programming and administration of
their school based volunteer program..........................200,000
New School University, New York, NY, for a pilot program to provide
supplementary services and support to at-risk, low-income high school
students......................................................250,000
New York University, Child Study Center, NY, for the ``Parent Corps''
initiative....................................................100,000
New Zion Community Development Foundation, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky,
for after school programs......................................50,000
North Carolina Electronics and Information Technologies Association,
Raleigh, North Carolina, for its School Technology Demonstration
Project.......................................................250,000
North Central Regional Education Laboratory, Naperville, IL for a
center to help states implement the No Child Left Behind Legis200,000
North Rockland Central School District for an Early Childhood Center in
Rockland County, NY............................................50,000
North Slope Borough School District, Barrow, AK, for an early childhood
education program.............................................300,000
Northern Illinois University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,
DeKalb, IL, for student support, including stipends, equipment and
computers for a paleontology research project.................100,000
Ohio Board of Regents, Columbus, OH, for a science education n1,700,000
Ohio Department of Education for Teacher Preparation Demonstration--
Charter College and Apprenticeship Model......................800,000
Oil City Area School District, Oil City, PA, to establish a technology
laboratory....................................................100,000
Oklahoma State Department of Education, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to
sustain and expand their handheld computer program............150,000
On line Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, for an on-line project......200,000
Opera Company of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, for the Sounds of
Learning arts education program................................50,000
Oregon Partnership, Portland, OR, for a program to close the
achievement gap for Hispanic students.........................125,000
Ouachita Parish School Board, Monroe, Louisiana, for technology
enhancements...................................................50,000
PACE Juvenile Justice Center in Des Moines, Iowa, to establish the
Director's Council of Des Moines to coordinate youth services.300,000
Pacific Islands Educational Center in American Samoa, to support the
use and application of basic English and math skills..........400,000
Panhandle Area Educational Consortium, Chipley, Florida, to establish a
reading teacher program.......................................500,000
Parent Institute for Quality Education in San Diego, CA, to provide a
parent training program.......................................100,000
Parents as Teachers National Center, St. Louis, MO, to revise the Born
to Learn Curriculum...........................................400,000
Parents, Inc., Anchorage, AK, for expansion of Parents Inc. programs
and activities in Alaska......................................500,000
Parks Unlimited, Inc., Franklin, PA, for environmental education
programs.......................................................50,000
Partners in Economic Progress in Des Moines, IA, for a mentoring and
education support program for disadvantaged children..........400,000
Partnership for Children, Kansas City, MO, for structured before and
after school educational programs...........................1,000,000
Peace Center, Inc., Louisville, KY, for after school programs....20,000
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, for support of an
after-school arts program......................................25,000
Pennsylvania Academy of Music, Lancaster, PA, to develop and conduct a
performance-based, classical music education program...........50,000
Pennsylvania Ballet Association, Philadelphia, PA, for outreach and
education programs............................................100,000
[[Page 31614]]
People for People, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, for programs at the Parent
Information Resource Center...................................100,000
Philadelphia Department of Recreation, Philadelphia, PA, for a
mentoring initiative as part of the Camp William Penn program..50,000
Philadelphia Foundation, Philadelphia, PA, for a Sports and
Entertainment Career Expo to expose high school students to career
opportunities in the sports industry...........................50,000
Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA, in
collaboration with the National Center for Learning Disabilities, to
conduct early childhood literacy training and program development
activities as part of the Get Ready to Read! Initiative.......100,000
Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence Inc.,
Philadelphia, PA, for its College for Teens program............50,000
Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates, Philadelphia, PA, for an after-
school art education program...................................25,000
Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia, PA, for educational progra175,000
Philadelphia Safe and Sound, Philadelphia, PA, to offer comprehensive
youth development activities, including after-school programming, as
part of a full community school approach......................100,000
Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA, for the Zoo School Education
program and the Junior Zoo Apprentice New Ventures program....250,000
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh, PA, to provide
educational programs for students visiting the gardens........200,000
Pinal County School District, Arizona, for teacher quality impro500,000
Pittsburgh Technology Council, Pittsburgh, PA, for technology upgrades
and expansion of the Technology Literacy Initiative to train K-12
teachers and students in the use of computers.................100,000
Pittsburgh Voyager, Pittsburgh, PA, for math and science education
programming for students......................................250,000
Plymouth Community & Renewal Center, Louisville, KY for summer day camp
and managing adolescent problems...............................20,000
Point Hope Daycare Center, Point Hope, AK, to train teachers and
improve programs for young children............................50,000
Presbyterian Community Center, Louisville, KY for youth development
education.....................................................100,000
Presque Isle State Park, Erie, PA, for curriculum development and
environmental education programs...............................25,000
Prince William County Public Schools, Manassas, Virginia, for Middle
School Reading and Math Remediation Program...................200,000
Prince William County Public Schools, Manassas, Virginia, for Bilingual
Literacy Extended Kindergarten Program........................200,000
Project 2000, Washington, DC, for after school programs to provide
academic and mentoring services to inner city youth...........125,000
Project GRAD-USA Inc., Houston, TX, for continued support and expansion
of the program focusing on school reform...................20,000,000
Project H.O.M.E., Philadelphia, PA, for an afterschool program..100,000
Project Rainbow, Philadelphia, PA, to provide early childhood services
and after-school programs.....................................250,000
Provo City Public Schools, Provo, Utah, to develop, purchase and
implement an English language instructional program for training and
certifying ESL teachers.......................................300,000
Public/Private Ventures, Philadelphia, PA, for the Youth Education for
Tomorrow Center, as part of an after-school, literacy initiativ50,000
Rabbit Run Community Arts Association, Madison, OH, for educational
programs.......................................................90,000
Rapides Parish School Board, Alexandria, Louisiana, for technology
enhancements..................................................100,000
ReadNet Foundation, New York, NY, for a web-based educational pr300,000
Recognizing Achievement-Rewarding Excellence Foundation, Troy, MI, for
an award and education program and student leadership services225,000
Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia, for character education
programs in Chesapeake and Suffolk School systems.............350,000
Research for Better Schools, Philadelphia, PA, to provide research-
based technical assistance to school districts to assist in
implementing math and science goals............................50,000
Richmond Public School System, Richmond, Virginia, for technology
upgrades.......................................................62,000
Rio Rancho Public Schools in New Mexico, for the Consortium of Teacher
Excellence....................................................100,000
Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside, CA, for the Riverside
County Achievement Team Program...............................133,000
Robert Morris College to expand its College Excel program that provides
college academic and career skills to high school seniors and 750,000
Rock School, Philadelphia, PA, to support dance education and a school
outreach program..............................................150,000
Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs, Louisville, KY, for Project Learn
and Family Learning Centers...................................200,000
San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino CA, for
vocational training program...................................750,000
San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino, CA, for
developing English skills for English learners................500,000
San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, San Bernardino,
California, for a Virtual High Tech High Program..............500,000
San Juan Unified School District, Carmichael, CA, for Focus on Literacy
project.......................................................326,000
San Juan Unified School District, Carmichael, CA, for Mira Loma High
School Arcade Creek environmental education program............96,000
San Pasqual Academy, Escondido, California, for information technology
infrastructure................................................125,000
School District of La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, for after school pr250,000
School District of Palm Beach County, Florida, to further a
demonstration family literacy education program...............125,000
School District of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, Florida, to
expand curriculum and professional staff development..........200,000
School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, to reduce school
violence by utilizing community partnerships..................250,000
[[Page 31615]]
Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan, for its Pipeline to Science and
Math Program..................................................250,000
Scotland County School District, Laurinburg, North Carolina, to
implement a HOSTS Reading Centered School Program..............70,000
Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton, PA, for educational programs200,000
Seattle Public Schools in partnership with Community Training and
Assistance Center to provide technical assistance in educating and
involving parents in school improvement.......................200,000
Seneca Highlands AVTS, Port Allegany, PA, for technology equipme100,000
Settlement Music School, Philadelphia, PA, to support a community arts
program for students in the City of Chester...................100,000
Shawnee Gardens Tenants Association, Inc., Louisville, KY, for after
school programs................................................35,000
Sioux City Community School District in Sioux City, IA, to continue and
expand the implementation of testing software in Iowa.........500,000
Smethport Area School District, Smethport, PA, for technology up100,000
Sobriety High, St. Paul, MN, for training, curriculum development and
program management............................................400,000
Somerset Community College, Somerset, Kentucky, to develop an enhanced
Next Generation Project to help teachers teach the importance of
financial literacy among youth................................400,000
South Carolina Educational Television, Columbia, SC, to continue the
Bridges Demonstration Project to develop educational curriculum
compatible with digital broadcasting..........................300,000
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, for the Dallas Early
Childhood Reading Initiative..................................500,000
Southwest Area Career Center, Monett, MO, for equipment.........250,000
Springfield Regional Arts Council, Springfield, MO, for arts educ45,000
Spring-Ford Area School District, Collegeville, PA, to assess students
and provide intervention services for students identified in need of
academic improvement...........................................75,000
St. Labre Native American Professional Development Center, Sheridan,
WY, to expand a program to train teachers serving Native American
students in an early literacy learning and math framework.....500,000
Stage One: The Louisville Children's Theatre, Louisville, KY for
education projects.............................................50,000
Stark County Educational Service Center, Canton, OH for Leadership
Skills for NCLB project.......................................500,000
STARS Club Education Program, Jeffersonville, IN, for after school and
Saturday programs..............................................40,000
State of Alaska, Juneau, AK, for the Right Start extended-day
kindergarten program........................................1,000,000
State of Mississippi, Department of Education, Jackson, MS, for the
Mississippi Math Initiative to improve math scores of elementary and
high school students..........................................500,000
Summerbridge Louisville, Louisville, KY for summer tutoring......20,000
Sun Area Career and Technology Center, New Berlin, PA...........100,000
Teach for America, New York, NY...............................2,000,000
Temple Community Development Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky for the
Children Against Negativity (CAN) program......................50,000
Terrebonne Parish School Board, Houma, Louisiana, for technology
enhancements..................................................100,000
The ART of Leadership Foundation, Birmingham, MI, for curriculum
development and training......................................175,000
The Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV, for an outdoor program
used to teach K-12 students about the environment of the Mojave
Desert........................................................100,000
The Landmark School, Prides Crossing, MA, for a collaborative program
with Advocacy Research designed to detect, track, and treat childhood
dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities.......150,000
The Math Forum, Philadelphia, PA, in conjunction with Drexel
University, to support student learning via an interactive Math
website.......................................................100,000
The National Association of Music Education (MENC), Reston, VA, to
develop and disseminate information on model music education pr50,000
The National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg, PA, for the infrastructure
technology components for student outreach and distance learni100,000
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Washington, DC, for development of
its National Jazz Curriculum and teacher training workshops....75,000
Think Together, Santa Ana, California, to assist low-income students
with homework, tutoring, and mentoring........................400,000
Tides Foundation, San Francisco, CA, for the McKelvey entrepreneurial
college scholarships to rural, low income Pennsylvania high school
graduates.....................................................300,000
To provide assistance to low-performing schools, of which $18,200,000
shall be for a grant to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department
of Education to provide assistance, through subgrants, to low-
performing school districts that are slated for potential take-over
and/or on the Education Empowerment List as prescribed by
Pennsylvania State Law; and of which $1,800,000 shall be for a grant
to Lock Haven University for the Philadelphia School District/Lock
Haven Professional Development Partnership for professional
development and related services. The Commonwealth initiative is
intended to improve the management and operations of the school
districts; assist with curriculum development; provide after-school,
summer and weekend programs; offer teacher and principal professional
development and promote the acquisition and effective use of
instructional technology and equipment.....................20,000,000
Today Foundation, Dallas, TX, for the expansion of the Imagination
Station literacy program to deliver reading curriculum over the
internet using animation.......................................50,000
Together! in Olympia, WA, to support after school programs for at-risk
youth..........................................................50,000
Town of Cumberland, RI, to provide after school programming for latch
key and at risk children.......................................50,000
U.S. Dream Academy, Inc., Columbia, MD, to expand after school programs
for at-risk children with a family history of incarceration....75,000
[[Page 31616]]
Unified School District #260, Derby, KS, to develop a central point for
data warehousing in the district..............................250,000
United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI for early
childhood education and after school and summer programs......240,000
United Sports Foundation, Downingtown, PA, for computers and program
support for an after school program............................50,000
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, for the SPARK
initiative and Get Ready to Read!.............................150,000
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, in conjunction with the Zelpha
Well's Cultural Education Center, for music education programs for
economically disadvantaged children............................75,000
University of Alaska at Fairbanks for Alaska System for Early Education
Development (SEED) program to expand early childhood services and to
train Early Head Start teachers with AAS degrees for positions in
rural Alaska................................................1,500,000
University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, AK, for educational programs in
support of the Summer Arts Festival...........................150,000
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, in collaboration with the Alaska
Department of Education, for the Alaska Center for Excellence in
Schools at the University of Alaska to assist Alaska's low-performing
schools.....................................................1,000,000
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the National Office
for Rural Measurement and Evaluation System to improve the
instructional practices and learning possibilities of children from
grades 3-8....................................................225,000
University of Iowa Belin Blank Center for Gifted Education to continue
the AP Online Academy.......................................1,500,000
University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center, Iowa City, IA, for the Iowa
Israel: Partners in Excellence program to enhance math and science
opportunities for rural Iowa students.........................259,000
University of North Florida, Institute of Education, Jacksonville,
Florida, for School Readiness HUBS Project....................500,000
University of Northern Iowa to continue the 2+2 teacher education
demonstration program.........................................600,000
University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, for the Frances A.
Karnes Center for Gifted Studies to support summer gifted and
leadership programs and research..............................125,000
University of West Georgia, Carrollton, Georgia, for technology
upgrade, personnel and equipment for the Advanced Academy of G200,000
Urban League of Lancaster County Inc., Lancaster, PA, for Teen El25,000
US Dream Academy, Columbia, MD, for expanding mentoring and educational
services for children of prisoners and children falling behind in
school........................................................450,000
USD 373 Newton Public Schools, Newton, KS, to help incorporate
technology professional development in the schools............250,000
Utah State Office of Education, Salt Lake City, UT, to improve
qualifications for teachers who teach multiple subjects in rural
areas.......................................................1,000,000
Utah State Office of Education, Salt Lake City, UT, to improve reading
in rural schools..............................................650,000
Valley Youth House, Allentown, PA, for after-school programming for K-
12 students....................................................50,000
Venango County AVTS, Oil City, PA, for technology equipment.....100,000
Villa Maria Education Center, Villa Maria, PA, to provide after-school
programs for at-risk girls.....................................50,000
Virginia Biosciences Development Center, Richmond, VA, for the
Innovative Model for Cognitive Learning program to develop a pilot
project improving children's cognitive skills.................150,000
Virginia Bio-Technology Research Park, Richmond, Virginia, for pilot
program to increase students capacity and interest to learn by
improving cognitive skills....................................250,000
Voyager Expanding Learning, Dallas, Texas, to implement a Voyager
Universal Literacy System demonstration project in the 6th
Congressional District of Texas...............................250,000
Voyager Expanded Learning, Dallas, Texas, to implement a Voyager
Universal Literacy System for kindergarten and first grade children
in the 7th Congressional District of Ohio.....................200,000
Voyager Expanded Learning, Dallas, Texas, to implement a Voyager
Universal Literacy System in the 26th Congressional District o250,000
Voyager Expanded Learning, Dallas, TX, to implement the Voyager
Universal Literacy System in public schools in the 18th Congressional
District of Ohio..............................................100,000
Walla Walla Public Schools in Walla Walla, WA for English as a second
language curriculum...........................................400,000
Walnut Street Theater, Philadelphia, PA, for its Educational and
Outreach program for K-12 schools..............................50,000
War for Empire, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, to develop new programming
focused on media and teacher/student outreach and curriculum
development...................................................185,000
Washoe County School District, Reno, NV, to provide intensive English
language instruction to students who are non-native speakers of
English.......................................................200,000
Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA, to provide teacher training and workshops
for students...................................................50,000
Weber School District, Ogden, UT, for the development of the Classroom
Observation Robotic Interface (CORI), a professional development
program for teachers..........................................500,000
West Philadelphia YMCA, Philadelphia, PA, for educational and
recreational programming to serve at-risk youth...............200,000
WestEd Eisenhower Regional Consortium for Science and Mathematics, San
Francisco, California, to demonstrate and provide independent
evaluation and review of the 24 Challenge and Jumping Levels Math
Programs......................................................150,000
WestEd Eisenhower Regional Consortium for Science and Mathematics,
Tucson, AZ, to implement the 24 Challenge and Jumping Levels program,
in Pennsylvania................................................50,000
Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH, for education
programs......................................................200,000
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA, for education
programs......................................................100,000
Wildlands Conservancy of Eastern Pennsylvania, Emmaus, PA, for the
expansion of hands-on environmental science learning programs..25,000
Wilderness Center, Wilmot, OH, for educational programs..........32,000
[[Page 31617]]
William Penn School District, Lansdowne, PA, to provide professional
development to K-12 teachers and to deliver educational curriculum to
students, as well as assess progress, using computer-based software
and hardware..................................................100,000
Wisconsin Cooperative Educational Service Agency #3, Fennimore, WI, for
alternative education programs at Learning Academies..........150,000
WITF Inc., Harrisburg, PA, to develop an educational curriculum for the
on-line Teach PA History initiative............................50,000
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Vienna, VA, for
developing performing arts and education programs.............200,000
Working in the Schools in Chicago to expand tutoring and mentoring
programs in the Chicago Public Schools........................225,000
WQED Multimedia Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, to develop a music-based,
animated television program and curriculum to assist students.100,000
WQLN Educational Services, Erie, PA, to expand the F.A.M.I.L.I.E.S.
Turn onto Literacy program.....................................25,000
Yavapai County School District, AZ, for teacher quality improvem500,000
Yazoo City Schools, Yazoo City, MS, for curriculum and library resource
improvement....................................................25,000
Yazoo County Schools, Yazoo City, MS, for curriculum and library
resource improvement...........................................25,000
YMCA of Anchorage, AK, for after school activities for at-risk t250,000
YMCA of Boulder Valley, Boulder, CO, for the Breakthrough Arts Pr22,500
YMCA of Easton, Easton, PA, for after-school programming for K-12
students.......................................................50,000
YMCA of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA, to provide mentoring services for
minority youth.................................................50,000
YMCA of McKeesport, McKeesport, PA, to support the Teen LEAD program
serving at-risk, inner city teens..............................50,000
YMCA of Metropolitan Denver, Denver, CO, to develop a strong teens
agenda.........................................................37,500
YMCA of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA, for its Youth in Government
program........................................................50,000
YMCA of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, to offer introductory computer
classes to students as part of an after school initiative......50,000
YMCA of Pueblo, Pueblo, CO, for support of a youth leadership pro15,000
YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, Colorado Springs, CO, to strengthen
academic achievement and character development.................30,000
YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, CO, for a leadership training pr15,000
Youth Alive, Inc., Louisville, KY, for after school programs.....50,000
Youth Development Center, Inc., Winchester, VA, for program development
for at-risk and gang prevention after school programs.........350,000
Yukon Flats School District, Fort Yukon, AK, for development and
application of a vocational education program.................250,000
YWCA of Anchorage, AK, for after school enrichment programs serving at-
risk Anchorage schoolchildren and their mothers...............250,000
Zachary Community School Board, Zachary, LA, for technology
enhancements...................................................50,000
Other programs
The conference agreement includes $23,000,000 for the Ready
to Learn program instead of $22,000,000 as proposed by the
House and $24,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $5,000,000 for dropout
prevention programs as proposed by the Senate. The House did
not propose funding for this program. The conference
agreement includes $1,490,000 for the Close Up program as
proposed by the House. The Senate bill did not propose
funding for this program.
The conference agreement includes $23,674,000 for advanced
placement fees instead of $23,347,000 as proposed by the
House and $24,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
SAFE SCHOOLS AND CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION
The conference agreement includes $862,813,000 for programs
in safe schools and citizenship education account, instead of
$825,068,000 as proposed by the House and $818,547,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $445,483,000 for State
grants instead of $468,949,000 as proposed by the House and
$422,017,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The agreement also includes $154,680,000 for national
programs instead of $160,180,000 as proposed by the House and
$155,180,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement includes funding for the following activities:
School Safety Initiatives...................................$30,000,000
Planning/Needs Assessment/Data for State Grants...............6,000,000
Safe Schools/Healthy Students................................95,000,000
Drug Testing Initiative.......................................2,000,000
Postsecondary Ed Drug and Violence Prevention.................5,000,000
Impact Evaluation.............................................2,000,000
Information and materials.....................................1,420,000
Data collection and analysis..................................2,000,000
Other joint projects with Federal agencies....................1,000,000
Other program improvement activities..........................1,000,000
National Recognition Program....................................850,000
National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities...............300,000
National Coordinator Initiative...............................8,110,000
The conferees also understand that a minimum of $9,000,000
remains available under the Project SERV program to provide
for education-related services to school districts in which
the learning environment has been disrupted due to a violent
or traumatic crisis.
The conferees direct the Department to implement the Act
consistent with their intent, as reflected in the table
above, and request an implementation plan to be submitted to
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 30
days of enactment of the Department of Education
Appropriations Act, 2004. To the extent that the Department
wishes to reprogram funds in order to address other
activities or alter the allocation of funds for activities
listed in the chart above, the conferees expect the
Department to follow the guidance provided in this statement
of the managers.
The conference agreement includes $300,000 for the
continued operation of the National Clearinghouse for
Educational Facilities, the Nation's sole source for
comprehensive information about school planning, design,
financing, construction and maintenance. These funds will be
used to address issues related to school safety and healthy
school buildings, as described in the administration's budget
request. The conference agreement also includes $700,000 for
the Clearinghouse through the Fund for the Improvement of
Education.
The conference agreement includes bill language requiring
the Department to spend $850,000 for the National Recognition
Awards program under the guidelines described in section
120(f) of Public Law 105-244.
The conference agreement includes $30,000,000 for grants to
reduce alcohol abuse as proposed by the Senate. The House did
not propose separate funding for this.
The conference agreement includes $50,000,000 for mentoring
programs as proposed by the House instead of $28,700,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement includes
$34,000,000 for elementary and secondary school counseling as
proposed by the Senate instead of $32,289,000 as proposed by
the House.
The conference agreement includes $70,000,000 for physical
education programs as proposed by the Senate instead of
$60,000,000 as proposed by the House. The funds should be
used for the purpose identified in the No Child Left Behind
Act, which states: ``The purpose of this subpart is to award
grants and contracts to initiate, expand, and improve
physical education programs for all kindergarten through 12th
grade students.'' The conferees are aware that this Act also
requires the Secretary to report to Congress describing the
programs funded under this subpart, documenting the success
of such programs in improving physical fitness, and making
recommendations for the continuation and improvement of such
programs. The conferees would like this data to inform the
fiscal year 2005 budget process and therefore direct the
Secretary to
[[Page 31618]]
provide this report to Congress no later than May 3, 2004.
The conference agreement includes $28,812,000 for the Civic
Education program to support both the We the People programs
and the Cooperative Education Exchange, as proposed by the
House and Senate bills. The conferees intend that $16,890,000
will be provided to the nonprofit Center for Civic Education
to support the We the People programs. Within the total for
the We the People program, the conferees intend that
$2,980,000 be reserved to continue the comprehensive program
to improve public knowledge, understanding, and support of
American democratic institutions which is a cooperative
project among the Center for Civic Education, the Center on
Congress at Indiana University, and the Trust for
Representative Democracy at the National Conference of State
Legislatures, and that $1,490,000 be used for continuation of
the school violence prevention demonstration program,
including $500,000 for the Native American initiative.
The conference agreement also includes $11,922,000 for the
Cooperative Education Exchange program. Within this amount,
the conferees intend that $4,470,750 is for the Center for
Civic Education and $4,470,750 for the National Council on
Economic Education, while the remaining $2,980,500 should be
used to continue the existing grants funded under the
authorizing statute for civics and government education, and
for economic education.
The agreement also includes $25,000,000 for State Grants
for Incarcerated Youth as proposed by the Senate. The House
did not provide funding for this activity.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
The conference agreement includes $685,258,000 for English
Language Acquisition programs instead of $685,515,000 as
proposed by the House and $669,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conference agreement includes language allowing
the Secretary to transfer funding not needed to continue
discretionary activities under antecedent programs to the
formula program line. The conference agreement includes bill
language which allows the Secretary to calculate fiscal year
2004 State allotments using Census data utilized in making
fiscal year 2003 State allotments and the most recent data
reported by States for the number of immigrant children and
youth. It is the intent of the conferees that data from the
previous year only be used for determining allocations for
fiscal year 2004 and that data from the American Community
Survey will be available for determining the fiscal year 2005
and subsequent years, allocations, as required by the No
Child Left Behind Act.
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) calls for school
districts to significantly accelerate English learners'
progress towards achieving the Act's goals that 100 percent
of all students reach proficient status or higher by 2013-
2014. The conferees are concerned that for areas such as
those in California, where the concentration of English
language learners is high, this will be a challenge. The
conferees are also aware that a number of regional
educational offices have collaborated in an effort to ensure
that the goals and requirements of the No Child Left Behind
Act's English proficiency provisions will be met. The
conferees strongly encourage the Department to provide
support for regional educational initiatives that accelerate
the academic progress of English language learners and
recognize that local educational agencies with heavy
concentrations of English learners are particularly
challenged in meeting these requirements, with agencies in
some cases having to double their instructional efforts to
close the academic gap.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
The conference agreement includes $11,307,072,000 for
Special Education instead of $11,049,790,000 as proposed by
the House and $12,227,464,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
agreement provides $5,894,072,000 in fiscal year 2004 and
$5,413,000,000 in fiscal year 2005 funding for this account.
Included in these funds is $10,129,398,000 for Grants to
States part B instead of $9,874,398,000 as proposed by the
House and $11,058,533,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees are concerned that the participation of students
with disabilities in vocational educational programs has led
to confusion regarding who is responsible for providing
services and who is responsible for paying for these
services. The conferees want to remind States and school
districts that they have an obligation to ensure that the
services outlined in a child's individualized education plan
are provided in a timely manner, regardless of where the
services are provided.
The conference agreement includes $51,364,000 for State
Program Improvement as proposed by the House instead of
$44,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $78,589,000 for research
and innovation instead of $77,210,000 as proposed by both the
House and the Senate. Within the amounts provided for Special
Education Research and Innovation, the conference agreement
includes funding for the following:
Best Buddies International, Inc. in Miami, FL to enhance the lives of
people with mental retardation by opportunities for one-to-one
friendships and integrated employment......................$1,000,000
Best Buddies Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, for the expansion of
mentoring programs for individuals with disabilities...........25,000
Center for Development and Learning, Covington, LA, for literacy
initiative....................................................100,000
City of Rocklin, Rocklin, CA, for expansion of programs for learning
disabled and physically disabled preschool children...........150,000
Daeman College, Amherst, NY, for a special after school enrichment
program for students with learning disabilities...............630,000
Eagle Mount, Billings, MT, for Ensuring Success for Youth with
Disabilities program...........................................59,000
Florida School for Deaf and Blind, St. Augustine, Florida, for the
Virtual Reality Based Education and Training Program..........100,000
Hill Top Preparatory School, Rosemont, PA, for the use of ReadSpeak
Action Caption technology as a literacy tool for students with
learning disabilities..........................................50,000
Hoffman Homes for Youth, Gettysburg, PA, for a Therapeutic Horsemanship
Center........................................................175,000
International Center on Deafness and the Arts, Northbrook, IL, for a
teacher extension training program............................100,000
Learning Disabilities Association of America, Pittsburgh, PA, to expand
parent and teacher training programs and to increase resources
available regarding learning disabilities......................25,000
Leg Up Farm, York, PA, to provide comprehensive therapy and
rehabilitation for children...................................175,000
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, for research to improve the lives of
disabled individuals at the Center for Promoting Healthy Development
for Individuals with Disabilities.............................100,000
McComb School District, Mississippi, for an Early Childhood Coalition
Project.......................................................150,000
Ohio School for the Deaf, Columbus, OH to install and support a virtual
reality based education and training for the deaf program.....500,000
Spokane School District, WA for educational technology to serve deaf
and hard of hearing students..................................200,000
Spurwink Institute, Portland, ME, for the Center for Learning and
Technology to provide assistive technology for students with learning
disabilities..................................................250,000
The Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities, Madison, WI for a
pilot project to help teens with disabilities plan for the transition
out of the educational system to adult life...................275,000
U.S. Disabled Athletes Fund, Atlanta, GA, for Blaze Sports Clubs in
Georgia........................................................75,000
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, Center for Instructional
Technology and Learning to help special education teachers integrate
technology into curriculum..................................1,000,000
University of Northern Colorado National Center on Low-Incidence
Disabilities, Greeley, CO, for support to local schools, educational
professionals, families of infants, children, and youth with low-
incidence disabilities........................................525,000
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, for WeBCATT: The National
Institute of Technology for Inclusive Education project.......350,000
[[Page 31619]]
University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS for the Center for
Literacy and Assessment.......................................650,000
Wheelchair Foundation, Danville, CA, to train teachers on how to
integrate children with physical disabilities into the classroo50,000
Winchester Parks and Recreation Department, Winchester, VA, for
playground equipment to assist disabled children...............90,000
Workplace Technology Foundation, King of Prussia, PA to provide
training to special education students to increase employability upon
graduation.....................................................75,000
The conference agreement includes $53,133,000 for technical
assistance as proposed by the Senate instead of $53,481,000
as proposed by the House. The agreement also includes
$39,361,000 for technology and media services as proposed by
the Senate instead of $38,110,000 as proposed by the House.
The agreement includes $11,400,000 for Recordings for the
Blind and Dyslexic.
The agreement also includes $1,500,000 for Public
Telecommunications Information and Training Dissemination as
proposed by the Senate. The House did not contain funds for
this activity.
REHABILITATION SERVICES AND DISABILITY RESEARCH
The conference agreement includes $3,013,305,000 for
Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research instead of
$2,999,165,000 as proposed by the House and $3,004,360,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conferees are disturbed by the Department's actions
with respect to funds appropriated in last year's bill, which
were to be used to improve the quality of applied orthotic
and prosthetic research. The conferees understand that the
Department made a decision to allow these funds to lapse,
instead of obligating them for the specific purpose for which
Congress intended them to be used. The Department's actions
violated the clear, statutory intent of the Congress. The
conferees note that these actions follow the Department's
decision to ignore language in the Statement of the Managers
accompanying the fiscal year 2002 appropriations bill which
provided $1,000,000 for this same purpose. The conference
agreement again includes $1,000,000 to continue the orthotic
and prosthetic initiative that the Congress established in
fiscal year 2002. The conferees intend that $1,000,000
included in the conference agreement shall be awarded to the
American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) for
activities that further the purposes of the grant received by
the Academy for the period beginning October 1, 2003. These
funds are in addition to the original $993,500 grant received
by the AAOP on October 1, 2003.
The agreement also includes $23,930,000 for demonstration
and training programs instead of $20,895,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate. Within the amounts provided
for vocational rehabilitation demonstration and training
programs, the conference agreement includes funding for the
following activities:
Alaska Center for Independent Living, Anchorage, AK, for a Personal
Assistance Services project to bring services to more remote rural
communities..................................................$200,000
Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC) of Madison County, AL, Lowe
Mental Retardation Day Program Facility for equipment and program
support.......................................................100,000
Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas, Wichita, KS, to continue
helping people with disabilities obtain self-sufficient employ350,000
City of Henderson, NV, for Inclusion Recreation Program.........500,000
Crawford County Life Enrichment Achievement Progress (LEAP), Inc.,
Crawford, PA, to create a workshop open to the community that would
demonstrate what life is like for those with disabilities......10,000
Enable America, Inc., Tampa, FL, for civic/citizenship demonstration
project for disabled adults.................................1,000,000
Lakeshore Foundation, Birmingham, AL, to develop a fitness and health
promotion program for the disabled............................200,000
National Federation for the Blind, Baltimore, MD, for text recognition
machines......................................................150,000
National Industries for the Blind, Alexandria, VA, to develop a
business leadership and management skills training program for
individuals who are blind.....................................250,000
National Organization on Disability, Washington, DC, for the emergency
preparedness initiative.....................................1,000,000
National University, La Jolla, CA, for the Institute for Persons Who
Are Hard of Hearing or Deaf...................................625,000
Opportunity Village Association for Retarded Citizens, Las Vegas, NV,
to create the second phase of a school-to-work program for students
with severe disabilities......................................200,000
Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL), Juneau, AK, for a joint
recreation and employment project with the Tlingit and Haida Tribe of
Alaska........................................................200,000
Special Olympics of Iowa for technology upgrades................100,000
Wisconsin Coalition for Independent Living Centers, Madison, WI, to
expand assistive technology services to people with disabilities
seeking employment............................................150,000
The conference agreement includes $22,151,000 for
Independent Living State Grants as proposed by the Senate
instead of $22,296,000 as proposed by the House. The
agreement also includes $74,000,000 for Independent Living
Centers instead of $75,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$69,545,000 as proposed by the Senate. The agreement also
includes $32,000,000 for services for older blind individuals
as proposed by the House instead of $27,818,000 as proposed
by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $107,285,000 for the
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
instead of $110,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$109,285,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $26,097,000 for assistive
technology instead of $11,132,000 as proposed by the House
and $26,824,000 as proposed by the Senate. The agreement also
includes language allowing States which have received
assistive technology extension grants in the past and are
scheduled to be phased out of the program to continue to
receive an award in fiscal year 2004 at the fiscal year 2003
level. This language is provided to allow time for the
authorizing committees of jurisdiction to review the program
in the context of reauthorizing the Assistive Technology Act.
The conferees are aware that this program was originally
designed to be ``seed money'' to develop assistive technology
activities at the State level. The authorizing statute
specifies that the State grant portion of the program would
sunset after ten years, giving States time to develop their
own programs in this area. The conferees note that more than
$36,000,000 was awarded for grants under title III of the
Assistive Technology Act, which will support authorized
activities through at least fiscal year 2004 for all
grantees. This conference agreement does not include
additional funds for such activities, but the conferees
intend to examine the performance outcomes achieved under
this program and evaluate additional funding needed to
continue authorized activities in the fiscal year 2005 budget
process. The conferees support the goal of this program,
which is to maximize the independence and participation in
society by individuals with disabilities through the
establishment or expansion of programs that fund alternatives
to the traditional payment options of public assistance and
self-financing so that individuals with disabilities can
acquire assistive technology devices and services.
SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
American Printing House for the Blind
The conference agreement does not include language proposed
by the Senate regarding acquisition of equipment. The House
bill contained no similar language.
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
The conference agreement includes $53,800,000 for the
National Technical Institute for the Deaf as proposed by the
Senate instead of $53,867,000 as proposed by the House.
Gallaudet University
The conference agreement includes $100,800,000 for
Gallaudet University as proposed by the Senate instead of
$100,600,000 as proposed by the House.
Vocational and Adult Education
The conference agreement includes $2,121,690,000 for
Vocational and Adult Education instead of $2,101,430,000 as
proposed by
[[Page 31620]]
the House and $2,101,490,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
agreement provides $1,330,690,000 in fiscal year 2004 and
$791,000,000 in fiscal year 2005 funding for this account.
The conference agreement includes $1,202,100,000 for
Vocational Education basic State grants instead of
$1,200,000,000 as proposed by the House and $1,192,200,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $7,228,000 for Tribally
Controlled Postsecondary Vocational Institutions instead of
$7,500,000 as proposed by the Senate and $6,955,000 as
proposed by the House. The agreement also includes language
proposed by the Senate notwithstanding any other provision of
law or any regulation that the Secretary of Education shall
not require the use of a restricted indirect cost rate for
grants issued pursuant to the tribally controlled
postsecondary vocational and technical institutions program.
The House did not contain this provision.
The conference agreement includes $4,968,000 for the tech-
prep education demonstration authorized under section 207 of
the Perkins Act as proposed by the Senate. The agreement also
includes $9,438,000 to continue the occupational and
employment information program as proposed by the Senate. The
House did not include funding for these activities.
The conference agreement includes $577,781,000 for adult
education State grants instead of $584,300,000 as proposed by
the House and $571,262,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
agreement also includes $9,223,000 for adult education
national leadership activities and $6,732,000 for the
National Institute for Literacy as proposed by the Senate.
The House proposed funding for these activities at $9,438,000
and $6,517,000, respectively.
The conference agreement also includes $175,000,000 for the
smaller learning communities program as proposed by the House
instead of $160,947,000 as proposed by the Senate. As in past
years, the conference agreement provides the funds on a
forward funding basis and specifies that these funds shall be
used only for activities related to the redesign of large
high schools enrolling 1,000 or more students.
The conference agreement includes $10,000,000 for community
technology centers instead of $20,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The House did not propose funding for this activity.
STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The conference agreement includes $14,090,430,000 for
Student Financial Assistance instead of $14,247,432,000 as
proposed by the House and $14,174,115,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The agreement provides a program level of $12,077,998,000
for Pell Grants instead of $12,250,000,000 as proposed by the
House and $12,176,683,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees continue to be concerned about issues within
the consolidation loan program. The conferees are aware that
some borrowers would like to see the current law changed to
allow for consolidation with any lender or holder, regardless
of how many lenders with whom the borrower has loans. The
conferees are concerned that without change to the current
law governing consolidation loans, some borrowers may not be
permitted to consolidate their loans with any lender they
choose. The leaders of the authorizing committees have
expressed a desire to address this and other issues during
the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act so as to
address the Consolidation Loan Program as a whole. The
conferees strongly urge those committees to take action
quickly to ensure borrowers have the best options available
to them in order to manage their student loan obligations.
The conferees are aware that section 428H(d)(2) of the
Higher Education Act permits the Secretary to increase
unsubsidized loan limits, beyond those limits expressly
contained in the Act, in cases where he determines that a
higher amount is warranted in order to carry out the purpose
of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) with
respect to students engaged in specialized training requiring
exceptionally high costs of education. The conferees are also
aware that in exercising this discretion, the Secretary has
provided increased loan limits for students in numerous
graduate and professional medical programs but has not done
so for the comparable program of doctor of naturopathic
medicine (ND). The conferees direct the Secretary to examine
the borrowing needs of graduate naturopathic medical students
to determine whether they should be given additional
borrowing opportunities under the FFELP.
STUDENT AID ADMINISTRATION
The conference agreement includes $118,010,000 for student
aid administration instead of $120,010,000 as proposed by the
House and $104,703,000 as proposed by the Senate.
HIGHER EDUCATION
The conference agreement includes $2,094,511,000 for Higher
Education instead of $1,974,036,000 as proposed by the House
and $1,969,982,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Aid for Institutional Development
The conference agreement includes $94,551,000 for Hispanic
Serving Institutions as proposed by the Senate instead of
$93,551,000 as proposed by the House. The conference
agreement also includes $11,000,000 for Alaska and Native
Hawaiian Institutions as proposed by the Senate instead of
$8,180,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement includes $23,425,000 for
strengthening tribal colleges and universities, instead of
$22,850,000 as proposed by the House and $24,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees agree that the funds
provided are to be used to support continuation of existing
basic grants and new planning or implementation grant awards.
The remaining funds shall be available for grants for
renovation and construction of facilities to help address
urgently needed facilities repair and expansion.
International Education and Foreign Language Studies
The conference agreement includes $89,740,000 for the
domestic activities of the international education and
foreign languages studies programs instead of $93,240,000 as
proposed by the House and $86,240,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education
The conference agreement includes $155,311,000 for the Fund
for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education instead of
$34,138,000 as proposed by the House and $32,201,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Within the amounts provided for the
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, the
conference agreement includes funding for the following:
AIB College of Business, Des Moines, IA, to continue a program of
recruiting and training students in captioning and court repo$400,000
Alabama College System Microelectronics Consortium, Andalusia, AL, for
the advanced electronics technology project, including the
acquisition of technology and equipment.......................250,000
Alaska Christian College, Soldontna, AK, for scholarships, recruitment,
literacy programs and salaries to support Native student learn400,000
Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK, to support training of Alaska
Natives as teachers through the Rural Alaska Native Adult Prog300,000
Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, for civic education activities.25,000
Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the development of a
collaborative abilities-based Master's program in Nursing Educ160,000
American Academy of Liberal Education, Washington, DC, to develop a
national model for the study of American democracy at colleges and
universities..................................................100,000
Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, for the
Appalachian State College Awareness Program....................75,000
Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas, for an Emergency
Administration and Management Degree Program..................500,000
Ashland University, Ashland, OH for lab equipment...............500,000
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities to establish the Center
for On-Line Bioethics Education...............................250,000
Ball State University, Muncie, IN, for support of the Digital
Middletown Project, including the acquisition of technology...600,000
Bennett College, Greensboro, NC, for professional development
activities for teachers supported through the Curriculum
Instructional Materials Center..............................1,000,000
Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama, for technology
upgrade and equipment.........................................300,000
Brescia University, Owensboro, KY, for technology and teacher tr400,000
Brevard Community College, Cocoa, FL, for instructional equipment to
support a Distributed Learning Center.........................300,000
[[Page 31621]]
Bryant College of Smithfield, RI, for program development, including
acquisition of equipment and technology, and services related to the
Community Communication and Education Center..................200,000
Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York, for expansion of the Center
for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education...................100,000
Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Connecticut for the PARTNERS
Program........................................................50,000
Cabrini College, Radnor, PA, for equipment and educational programming
for the Center for Science, Education and Technology..........200,000
California Institute of Arts, Valencia, California, for an integrated
media program.................................................200,000
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, for a Digital
Media Program.................................................750,000
California State University, San Marcos, California, for nursing
programs to meet the needs of state and county in healthcare..350,000
California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA, for Allied Health
Care Professional Initiative..................................167,000
Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY, for an Associate Degree
in Nursing program............................................300,000
Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory, North Carolina, for the
Higher Education Center Project...............................250,000
Centenary College, Hackettstown, New Jersey, to expand IT
infrastructure................................................200,000
Central Florida Community College, Ocala, FL....................496,000
Chamber Foundation, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Columbus, OH,
for the College Access and Work-based Connection program......350,000
Chattanooga State Technical Community College, Chattanooga, TN, for
Tennessee Valley Workforce Aging Management Program initiative500,000
Cheyney University, Cheyney, PA, to develop educational programming for
the Center for Teacher Preparation............................100,000
City of Lancaster, Lancaster, CA, for equipment for the Lancaster
University Center.............................................400,000
City of Moultrie, GA, for technology upgrades in support of distance
learning projects undertaken by Moultrie Technical College.....25,000
City University, Bellevue, Washington, for technology infrastruc300,000
Clark State Community College, Springfield, Ohio, to implement a degree
program for teachers' aides in Title I classrooms.............100,000
Clatsop Community College, Astoria, OR, for acquisition of computers
and technology equipment.......................................50,000
Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH for technology........300,000
Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH for a transition from
laboratory to the classroom project...........................300,000
Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH for scholarships, equipment
and curriculum development in transportation safety...........250,000
Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH to continue the collaboration
between Cleveland State and the University of Rijeka in Croatia for
the Unger Croatia Center for Local Government Leadship........100,000
Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas for
curriculum development......................................1,000,000
College of Charleston Science Center, Charleston, South Carolina, for
equipment and for the Center for Teacher Leadership...........100,000
College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ for forensic science program...225,000
College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID, to continue implementing and
enhancing distance learning programs..........................300,000
College of Wooster, Wooster, OH for information and instructional
technology upgrade............................................975,000
Columbia College, Chicago, IL for student scholarships in the College
of Film and Video.............................................250,000
Columbia Gorge Community College, The Dalles, OR, for a nurse training
program.......................................................500,000
Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA, for equipment
and educational programs to train court reporters.............200,000
Community College of Beaver County, Beaver Falls, PA, for educational
programs, including the acquisition of technology.............100,000
Community College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, for engineering
and media technologies programs...............................350,000
Concurrent Technologies Corporation, Largo, Florida, for Community
College/Vocational Industry Cluster HUBS initiative.........1,000,000
Crowder College, Neosho, MO, for equipment......................250,000
Cumberland College, Williamsburg, Kentucky, for technology and
equipment.....................................................600,000
Daniel Webster College, Nashua, NH, to acquire technology and 1,000,000
Darton College, Albany, GA, for the rural technology network....200,000
Daytona Beach Community College, Daytona Beach, Florida, for
instructional equipment and technology infrastructure of the Advanced
Technology Center.............................................100,000
Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio, for Information Technology Ini350,000
Delaware County Industrial Development Authority, Media, PA, for
faculty and students of academic institutions to collaborate with
industry on research and development as part of their engineering
programs......................................................100,000
Delta State University, Cleveland, MS, for the Delta Education
Initiative..................................................1,000,000
DeSales University, Center Valley, PA, for computer wiring and
technology upgrades related to training K-12 teachers and stud100,000
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, for program support at the
supercomputing center, with a focus on biotechnology, nanotechnology
and environmental sciences....................................100,000
East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA, for technological
infrastructure related to the Center for Research and Economic
Development...................................................200,000
Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida, to upgrade educational
computing and technology....................................1,000,000
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA, to develop
curriculum and education programs for the Precision Manufacturing
Institute.....................................................100,000
Educational Resources Group, Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education, Harrisburg, PA, for online education programs......100,000
[[Page 31622]]
Eisenhower Fellowships, Philadelphia, PA, for the Philadelphia
International Leadership, which may include support of access to
foreign educational and internship programs...................100,000
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ for archive of
aviation materials..........................................1,000,000
Emerson College in Boston for the Tufte Performance and Production
Center Initiative.............................................500,000
Emmanuel College, Boston, MA, for the procurement of educational and
clinical research equipment...................................475,000
Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY for an emergency management
degree program................................................100,000
Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, North Carolina,
for technology-training program for teachers..................250,000
Fisk University, Nashville, TN, for the Technology Infrastructure
Initiative, which may include the acquisition of technology...250,000
Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO, for curriculum materials and
acquisition of computers in support of the Southwest Studies
Institute......................................................50,000
Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO, for technology upgrades and equi50,000
Frank Phillips College, Borger, TX, for education technology....250,000
Gadsden State Community College, Gadsden, AL, for curriculum
development for the Alabama Institute for Nursing Education and
Emergency Preparedness........................................400,000
Gadsden State Community College, Gadsden, Alabama, for technology
infrastructure development for the Emergency Medical Services 250,000
George Meany Center for Labor Studies--the National Labor College for
curriculum development........................................900,000
Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, GA, for the Paul
Coverdell Institute and Archives..............................100,000
Glendale Community College for K-12 Science Teacher Training at the
Cimmarusti Science Center.....................................100,000
Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, for the inland northwest natural
resources research center.....................................350,000
Govergence, Inc., Ponca City, OK, for curriculum development, computers
and salary.....................................................50,000
Harcum College, Bryn Mawr, PA, for laboratory and clinic equipme500,000
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Harrisburg, PA, for
laboratory equipment and technology and math and science curriculum
development...................................................100,000
Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA, for education programs to
prepare post-secondary students for careers in biomedical research,
public health and biotechnology...............................200,000
Hilbert College, Hamburg, NY, for curriculum development, equipment and
training......................................................250,000
Hillsborough Community College, Plant City Campus, Florida, for
veterinarian technician training program......................250,000
Hinds Community College, Raymond, MS, for a pilot program to provide
English as a Second Language to adults........................200,000
Hiram College, Hiram, OH, for a comprehensive environmental education
center........................................................500,000
Hobart and Williams Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York, for equipm250,000
Holy Family University, Philadelphia, PA, for teacher training and
teacher certification programs.................................50,000
Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA, for Business and Technology
Center educational equipment and programs.....................350,000
Hood River Integrated Technology Center, Hood River, OR, for an
integrated technology center...................................50,000
Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, Connecticut, for the urban
multicultural access and success program......................150,000
Houston Community College System, Houston, Texas, for the Accelerated
Nursing Proficiency Center.....................................50,000
Husson College, Bangor, ME, for support of the Occupational Therapy
Program........................................................50,000
Hutchison Community College, Hutchinson, Kansas, for equipment and
technology acquisition........................................250,000
Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, for a Masters degree program
in Dental Hygiene.............................................400,000
Illinois State University, Normal, IL, to support curriculum
development, mentoring and recruitment programs to bring registered
nurses into long term care....................................300,000
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA, for the Computing
Services Center to train K-12 teachers and for the National Institute
for Corrections Education to provide professional development for
corrections education teachers.................................50,000
Indiana University-Purdue University, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, for
collaboration with WFWA PBS-39................................150,000
Institute of Gerontology/Ruby Gerontology Center, California State
University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, to upgrade the technological
infrastructure and distance education capabilities............500,000
Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge, IA, for the ICN distance
learning pilot program........................................250,000
Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation for a scholarship
program........................................................50,000
Iowa Student Aid Commission to continue a program of loan forgiveness
for teachers..................................................500,000
Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, for the Project Urban
Mississippi, Teachers, Technology, Research and Reading projec300,000
James A. Rhodes State College, Lima, Ohio, for technology and eq250,000
Jamestown Community College, Jamestown, NY, for access for rural
students.......................................................50,000
Johnson and Wales University, Charlotte, North Carolina, for initial
development, on site start-up and staff recruitment costs for the
establishment of a new campus in downtown Charlotte...........200,000
Kansas Technology Center, Pittsburgh State University, Pittsburgh, KS,
for technology infrastructure improvements....................500,000
Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield, ME, to develop a
healthcare career training initiative designed to increase the number
of skilled workers in the areas of Nursing and Radiology......300,000
Kent State University, Kent, OH, for GED Scholars project.......500,000
Kent State University, Kent, OH, for Institute for Library and
Informational Literacy Education project......................750,000
[[Page 31623]]
Keystone College, LaPlume, PA, for instructional technology for the
Education Curriculum Laboratory to strengthen early childhood
education programming.........................................100,000
Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL, for computer systems.............250,000
Knoxville College, Knoxville, TN, for acquisition of equipment and
computer upgrades in support of improved student learning.....200,000
La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA, for program and tuition support
that will advance math and science instruction for teachers...250,000
La Sierra University, Riverside, CA, for the purchase of scientific
educational equipment.........................................133,000
Lander University, Greenwood, South Carolina, for a Montessori p250,000
Langston University, Langston, OK for a Thurgood Marshall Scholarship
endowment.....................................................100,000
Le-Moyne Owen College, Memphis, TN, to enhance and improve a computer
network infrastructure........................................200,000
Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, ID, to establish an American
Indian Students in the Leadership of Education (AISLE) Program450,000
Lincoln University, Lincoln University, PA, for campus-wide technology
upgrades and wiring...........................................100,000
Long Island University for literacy education in Westbury, New Y500,000
Lorain County Community College, Elyria, OH, for course development,
instructional and operational technology support, technological
upgrades, and distance learning capacity......................500,000
Louisiana State University Center, Baton Rouge, LA, for a Latin
American Commercial Law Program and a Biotechnology and Medicine
project.......................................................550,000
Lourdes College, Sylvania, OH, to improve science education.....100,000
Luther College, Decorah, IA for lab equipment...................300,000
Macon State University, Macon, GA, for educational programs in
information technology.........................................50,000
Maricopa County Community College District, Phoenix, AZ, for the
National Center for Teacher Preparation and Education to address the
national teacher shortage and for the Hispanic Bilingual Nursing
Fellow program................................................300,000
Maryland Association of Community Colleges to improve instruction in
Information Technology for nursing and allied health training
programs....................................................1,000,000
Mercer University, Macon GA for a critical personnel development
program.......................................................200,000
Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA, for an intelligence-related academic
program that will identify and propagate intelligence best practices
and create generic intelligence education courses.............300,000
Mesa State College, Grand Junction, Colorado, for the Western Colorado
Rural Teacher Initiative......................................150,000
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, for technology upgrades and equipment
for the McGuffey School of Education..........................650,000
Michigan Jewish Institute, Oak Park, MI for cooperative computing
program.......................................................500,000
Michigan Virtual University/Michigan Virtual High School, Lansing
Michigan, continued development of the virtual Mathematics, Science
and Technology Academy........................................100,000
Midstate College in Peoria, Illinois, for captioning training pro75,000
Millersville University, Millersville, PA, for curriculum development
for environmental education, occupational safety and health education
programs......................................................100,000
Minnesota State University, College of Allied Health & Nursing,
Mankato, MN, for development and implementation of a curriculum
related to allied health professions..........................100,000
Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS, for the Center for
Creative Learning.............................................980,000
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS, for curriculum
development...................................................500,000
Missouri Southern State College, Joplin, Missouri, for computers and
equipment for distance learning courses.......................321,000
Mitchell Technical Institute in Mitchell, South Dakota for technology
center equipment..............................................480,000
Montana State University-Billings College of Technology, Billings, MT,
for health care degree and certificate training programs......441,000
Montana State University-Billings College of Technology, Billings, MT,
to develop and initiate a power plant operator training degree
program.......................................................750,000
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA, for equipment and
technology acquisition in support of the Advanced Center for
Technology.....................................................75,000
Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA, for computer wiring and technology
upgrades related to training K-12 teachers and students.......100,000
Morehead State University, Institute for Regional Analysis and Public
Policy, Morehead, Kentucky, for the development of a program,
including student scholarships, to study the implementation and
effects of homeland security policy at the state and local levels of
government....................................................500,000
Morgan County Ohio, McConnelsville, OH, for a feasibility study on
community college services....................................100,000
Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, for curriculum and
technology enhancements.......................................975,000
Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota for forensic science lab
equipment.....................................................150,000
Mount Union College, Alliance, OH for the Center for Public Service,
including student scholarships..............................1,000,000
Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR, for a nurse training pro50,000
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, to develop a program for advanced
discovery in the exploration of the physical and life sciences at the
secondary and post-secondary grade levels.....................100,000
National Articulation and Transfer Network, San Francisco, CA to
facilitate the enrollment and completion of postsecondary education
by minority students..........................................100,000
National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, Silver
Spring, MD, for an initiative to increase minority access to higher
education and to assist historically black colleges and universities
in the acquisition and use of technology......................100,000
National Center on Rural Early Childhood Learning Initiatives,
Mississippi State University to collect current research and lead new
research in the unique learning problems and conditions of rural
preschoolers................................................2,200,000
Nevada State College, Henderson, NV, for a visual media and computing
laboratory....................................................200,000
[[Page 31624]]
Nevada State College, Henderson, NV, to establish an accelerated
nursing baccalaureate degree program..........................500,000
New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL, for Merging Arts and Sciences
project.......................................................150,000
Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA, for an Advanced Technology
Center........................................................200,000
North Florida Community College, Madison, Florida, for a Registered
Nursing Program...............................................250,000
Northern Essex Community College, Lawrence, MA, for technology training
center equipment and technology infrastructure................200,000
Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, for acquisition of
equipment and program support of the Vibration and Acoustics C100,000
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, for equipment,
personnel and salaries........................................500,000
Northwest Shoals Community College, Phil Campbell, Alabama, for
technology upgrades............................................50,000
Northwestern College, Orange City, IA, for equipment.............50,000
Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana, for technology
upgrade and replacement.......................................250,000
Norwalk Community College, Norwalk, CT for Nursing Center of Exc150,000
Oakland Community College, Auburn Hills, MI for emergency first
responder training............................................150,000
Oklahoma Regents of Higher Education, Oklahoma City, OK, to support
Ponca City's internet Hub project..............................50,000
Oregon, Health Sciences University, Portland, OR, for the Nanobio
Technology Program............................................300,000
Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, OR, for the Center for
Health Professions.............................................50,000
Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, MO, for equipme250,000
Palmer Chiropractic College in Florida..........................400,000
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, for the Penn State
Washington Internship Program..................................25,000
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, for the
Pennsylvania Rural Leadership Program.........................125,000
Perseverance Theatre, Douglas, AK to provide an educational program for
Juneau School District students and the University of Alaska--
Southeast in the theater arts..................................50,000
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), Philadelphia, PA
for a Comprehensive Clinical Teaching and Assessment Center...100,000
Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA, to acquire and update campus
wide technology and wiring....................................600,000
Pierce College, Philadelphia, PA, technology upgrades and course
development for the Pierce Online Four-Year Distance Learning
initiative....................................................200,000
Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse, Pittsburgh, PA, to facilitate work
between research universities.................................250,000
Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Pittsburgh, PA, to better link
research to technology........................................100,000
Point Park College, Pittsburgh, PA, for support of a biotechnology
internship program and for equipment associated with science
laboratories..................................................100,000
Project Women, Louisville, KY, to support postsecondary educational
opportunities for single mothers in poverty, through financial,
educational, social, and other support programs...............400,000
Regional Learning Alliance, Marshall Township, PA, to acquire
instructional technology and to develop programming as part of a
life-long education services initiative for Pittsburgh regional
industry and community residents..............................200,000
Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, for the Rhodes College Learning Corridor
project to expand an educational outreach and partnership program
between the University and the Shelby County public school sys500,000
Rhodes State College, Lima, OH, for wiring, computer hardware and other
infrastructure needs related to an information technology init250,000
Robotics Foundry, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for curriculum devel150,000
Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, FL, for Corporate to Classroom
Transition....................................................300,000
Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Florida, for distance learning and
video conferencing education..................................500,000
Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT, to continue to develop
the technology infrastructure for Smart Classrooms............200,000
Santa Clarita Community College District, California, for equipm400,000
Savannah State University, Savannah, GA for environmental sciences and
mass communications programs..................................200,000
Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia, to improve the attainment
of degrees.....................................................50,000
Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan, for student support systems,
equipment, faculty development and curriculum.................350,000
Seminole State College, Seminole, OK, for equipment acquisition in
support of a technology center................................300,000
Seminole State College, Seminole, Oklahoma, for the Fast Track program
at the School of Nursing for student support, scholarships and other
services and assistance........................................50,000
Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA, for a series of training
workshops to develop and implement Seton Hill's National Education
Center for Women in Business..................................150,000
Sheldon-Jackson College, Sitka, AK, for teacher training and training
of human services professionals...............................500,000
Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, to expand and enhance the
programming of the John O. Marsh Institute for Government and Public
Policy........................................................250,000
Shepherd Community and Technical College, Martinsburg, West Virginia,
for equipment for the Shepherd CTC paramedic program..........100,000
Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, for educational programs at
the Center for Land Use, which may include technical, educational and
research assistance to municipal officials in surrounding area100,000
Southeast Missouri State University River Campus, Cape Girardeau, MO,
for technology equipment....................................1,500,000
Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, for its
Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for registered nurses in the
Bootheel Region of Missouri...................................250,000
[[Page 31625]]
Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, for the
Polycom Program, which utilizes technology to prepare rural Missouri
students for teaching careers..................................98,000
SouthEastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education, PA, for the
Institute for Mathematics and Science to provide professional
development to K-12 teachers..................................750,000
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, for the Institute for
Engineering Education.........................................550,000
Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH, to support distance
education and technological enhancements in classrooms........500,000
Southern Oregon University AuCoin Institute for Ecological, Economic,
and Civic Studies will serve as an educational training resource for
federal employees and students to prepare them to intermediate
effectively between private property owners and policy makers..75,000
Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, for the Round Rock
Higher Education Center.......................................500,000
Spellman College, Atlanta, GA, for the Teacher as Leader Educational
Initiative.....................................................50,000
St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Florida, for Project E1,500,000
St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Florida, to establish the
Center for Teaching Transformation............................500,000
Stark State College of Technology, Canton, OH for health technology
programs and equipment upgrade................................235,000
Stark State College of Technology, Canton, OH, for equipment....500,000
State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY, to
establish the Geneseo Cluster Computing Facility..............150,000
State University of New York, College at Oneonta, New York, for a
literacy teaching center......................................160,000
State University of NY at Albany to train students for their work on
New Energy New York Consortium's Capital Region project........50,000
Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX, in collaboration with
the City of Nacogdoches to support a Center for Biotechnology.100,000
Stonehill College, Easton, MA, for Center for Non-Profit Management
educational programs and equipment............................275,000
Strom Thurmond Institute, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, for the
Campbell Leadership Project...................................100,000
Syracuse University in New York to establish the Daniel Patrick
Moynihan Global Affairs Institute, including support for an 5,000,000
Talladega College, Talladega, AL, for systems technology, curriculum
and distance learning development.............................100,000
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, to develop and disseminate best
practices for teacher recruitment and retention programs......200,000
Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, for the minority engineering
program within the College of Science and Technology..........300,000
Texas State University System, Austin, TX, for a teacher certification
initiative....................................................250,000
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, to support a higher education
center........................................................200,000
Texas Tech University, Hill Country Campus, to expand and continue the
Expanding Opportunities in Math and Science Education Initiati250,000
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, for the Geriatric Education and
Training Academy..............................................200,000
Thiel College, Greenville, PA, for campus-wide technology
infrastructure upgrades.......................................200,000
Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, NJ for distance learning
technology infrastructure......................................40,000
Trident Technical College, Charleston, South Carolina, to equip the
hospitality, tourism and culinary arts program..............1,000,000
Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY for the nursing program............50,000
Troy State University, Montgomery, AL, for the Virtual University of
the Armed Forces and Others...................................500,000
Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, NV, for a pilot program to
respond to the shortage of nurses.............................750,000
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, for the development of an Aviation
Science and Aero-Technology Program............................50,000
Union County College, Cranford, New Jersey, for Technology for Tomorrow
initiative....................................................100,000
United Negro College Fund Special Programs Foundation, Fairfax, VA, for
a capacity building project benefiting historically black colleges
and universities, including instrumentation acquisition and
professional development for faculty..........................100,000
University Center, Greenville, South Carolina, for equipment....200,000
University of Akron, Akron, OH for the ``Exercise in Hard Choice500,000
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, for applied research at the
Tuscaloosa Culverhouse Center for Information Technology......250,000
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, for the Tuscaloosa Science
Education Technology Initiative...............................400,000
University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, to develop the
Leadership Institute and associated programs..................100,000
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, in conjunction with the Alaska
Department of Education and the State of Alaska, for the Alaska
Digital Archives and Digital Library and to digitize their
information resources.........................................250,000
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, to develop and deliver distance
learning courses in areas of high demand health care careers..250,000
University of Arizona Health Science Center, Tucson, AZ, for the
combined family practice residency/integrative medicine fellowship
training program..............................................200,000
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to develop the Mid America
Genetics Distance Education Consortium......................1,300,000
University of Arkansas, School of Social Work, Fayetteville, Arkansas,
for the School of Social Work Research Center.................225,000
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL for the Lou Frey Institute
of Politics...................................................250,000
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH for Ohio Partnership for
Accountability--The Impact of Teacher Education...............300,000
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, for the Institute for Micro/Nano
Technology for Engineering and Life Sciences for equipment and
technical administrative support..............................600,000
University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, for Child Care, Training and
Applied Research Center.......................................500,000
[[Page 31626]]
University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa for the establishment of a
nursing education program.....................................500,000
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, for equipment for the
Norman Hall project...........................................100,000
University of Hawaii at Hilo for the Applied Rural Science Progra50,000
University of Idaho, Boise Campus, for the Advanced Computing and
Modeling Laboratory to support expansion and further development of
educational technology programs...............................800,000
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL for teacher
training in mathematics.......................................250,000
University of Louisiana at Monroe to expand its early childhood
programs for children in the Twin Cities......................375,000
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, Metropolitan Workforce
Education Research Center for further development of a successful
education and business partnership model......................285,000
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, for the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute
for Social Change, including support for an endowment.........500,000
University of Mississippi, University, MS, for a forensic chemistry
program and equipment.........................................580,000
University of Montana-Helena, College of Technology for equipment
acquisition and program development...........................100,000
University of Montana-Missoula, School of Law for upgrades to the
technology infrastructure and equipment acquisition.........1,000,000
University of Montevallo Ebenezer Swamp Wetland Interpretive Research
Center, Montevallo, AL for monitoring and laboratory equipment400,000
University of Nevada-Reno, to establish a Latino Institute for Advocacy
in Education, Research and Policy.............................300,000
University of Nevada, Las Vegas for the Nevada Test Site Oral History
Project.......................................................250,000
University of Nevada-Las Vegas, College of Health Sciences, Las Vegas,
NV, for equipment and curriculum development associated with the
development of a Center for Excellence in Women's Health......300,000
University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, for student
scholarships related to the Maritime Safety Program...........250,000
University of North Texas and Paul Quinn College, Denton, TX, for a
Science and Math (SAM) Teacher Academy........................250,000
University of North Texas, Denton, TX, for the Laboratory Experience
and Development of Early Researchers..........................300,000
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
for a Bioinformatics program..................................200,000
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, for the School of Music........50,000
University of Redlands, Redlands, CA for technology enhancement.250,000
University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, for an education program,
utilizing technology, that also demonstrates a web-based model for
dissemination of information to faith- and community-based
organizations.................................................100,000
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, for equipment and
technology for the Multidisciplinary Science Center.........1,200,000
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, for the Strom Thurmond
Fitness and Wellness Center.................................5,000,000
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, for a ``Globalization
Research Network..............................................750,000
University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, to acquire and upgrade
laboratory equipment..........................................650,000
University of Southern Mississippi, National Center for Excellence in
Economic Development and Entrepreneurship for purposes including
equipment, technology infrastructure, and telecommunications systems
in support of the center's programs.........................4,000,000
University of St. Thomas Interprofessional Clinic for Counseling and
Legal Services, St. Paul, MN...................................75,000
University of Texas at Austin, Texas Engineering and Technical
Consortium, Austin, TX, for technical research and degree pr3,000,000
University of Texas at Brownsville for the Student Leadership Retention
Program.......................................................100,000
University of the Pacific/McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento,
California, for the Feather River Facility....................250,000
University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, for the New Nursing Faculty Initi50,000
University of Virginia's Center for Governmental Studies,
Charlottesville, VA, for the Youth Leadership Initiative....1,300,000
University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL, for acquisition of
technology and equipment in support of a comprehensive upgrade of the
technological environment for all students, faculty, and professional
staff.........................................................300,000
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee School of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI for
clinical nursing faculty......................................220,000
University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, for Student Information System
(SIS) Replacement project for technological infrastructure
improvements..................................................200,000
Urban College of Boston in Massachusetts to support higher education
programs serving low-income and minority students.............900,000
Utah Valley State College, Orem, UT, to expand support services for
single parent students........................................200,000
Utah Valley State College, Orem, UT, to support the Center for the
Advancement of Leadership.....................................150,000
Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah, for Turning Point program200,000
Valencia Community College, Orlando, FL for nurse education.....375,000
Vanguard University of Southern California, Costa Mesa, CA, for
computers, equipment, and staffing............................250,000
Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, Va, for Virginia Tech Learning
Technologies to prepare at-risk high school students to pursue
advanced education related to science, technology, engineering, or
mathematics...................................................400,000
Wahpeton State School of Science and North Dakota State University to
recruit, retain and train pharmacy technicians................800,000
Wallace Community College, Dothan, Alabama, for the 21st Century
Electronic Classroom project..................................500,000
Wenatchee Valley College Foundation in Washington State to support
their nursing education program...............................250,000
Wesleyan College, Macon, GA, for the Willet Memorial Library and
Learning Center Initiative.....................................50,000
[[Page 31627]]
West Chester University, West Chester, PA, for technology
infrastructure upgrades.......................................150,000
Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah for workforce
development in South Dakota via distance education............200,000
Western Iowa Tech Community College, Sioux City, IA for equipmen200,000
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, Center for Engineering
and Biological Sciences for equipment.......................1,165,000
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, for the nursing faculty
accelerated development program...............................400,000
Western Nevada Community College, Carson City, NV, for the Jack C.
Davis Observatory to acquire technology and offer related educational
programming....................................................50,000
Western New England College, Springfield, MA, for virtual classroom
educational equipment and program development.................200,000
Westminster College, Fulton, MO, for staff and curriculum development
for the Center for Leadership and Service.....................750,000
Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia for the Math and Science
Education Initiative........................................3,600,000
Widener University, Chester, PA, for operations and technology
improvements for the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychol1,974,000
Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA, for development of a public policy
College, Chambersburg, institute to address the needs of single
mothers.......................................................100,000
Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities,
Madison, WI, for the WAICU Collaboration Project..............800,000
Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, for the Springfield Alliance
for Minority Teacher Recruitment and Preparation Program......200,000
Wright State University, Dayton, OH, for the Information Technology
Research Institute............................................250,000
Wright State University, Dayton, OH, to provide funding for a Nursing
Institute of West Central Ohio................................200,000
York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA for technology upgrades for the
Schmidt Library...............................................100,000
Other Programs
The conference agreement includes $837,500,000 for TRIO
instead of $835,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$840,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
With regard to the GEAR UP program, the conferees concur in
the administration's request to provide a sixth and final
year award to grantees first funded in 1999, while continuing
all other funded projects. The conferees also have provided
funds above the fiscal year 2003 level and the budget request
for the Department to fund a new grant competition under the
GEAR UP program. The conferees believe that grants should not
be ``front-loaded'', but instead should be awarded on an
annual basis from the fiscal year 2004 and subsequent
appropriations during the period of the grant, contingent
upon grantee performance. The conferees note that grants were
awarded using this approach during the first several years of
the program. The conferees expect the Department to consult
with them prior to the announcement of any new grant
competition.
The agreement also includes $41,000,000 for Byrd Honors
Scholarships as proposed by the Senate instead of $40,734,000
as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement also includes $89,415,000 for
Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants as proposed by the Senate
instead of $90,000,000 as proposed by the House. The
conference agreement includes $16,194,000 for the child care
access program as proposed by the Senate instead of
$15,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement does not include funding for
Thurgood Marshall Scholarships as proposed by the Senate
instead of $4,968,000 as proposed by the House. The agreement
also includes $994,000 for Olympic Scholarships as proposed
by the House. The Senate bill did not provide funding for
this program.
Howard University
The conference agreement includes $240,180,000 for Howard
University instead of $242,770,000 as proposed by the House
and $238,440,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Institute of Education Sciences
The conference agreement includes $478,717,000 for
Education Research, Statistics and Improvement instead of
$500,599,000 as proposed by the House and $532,956,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conferees provide $166,500,000 for research instead of
$185,000,000 as proposed by the House and $144,090,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees have provided at least
$24,362,000 for the National Research and Development Centers
program in recognition of the need for the Department of
Education to implement the Education Sciences Reform Act of
2002. The funding is sufficient to provide continued funding
for current centers' awards as requested by the
administration and an additional $5,000,000 to begin awarding
new research and development centers in fiscal year 2004 in
accordance with the requirements of section 133(c) of Public
Law 107-279. The conferees expect the Department to implement
the law by addressing the topics required in the statute,
with particular attention to rural education.
The conferees strongly support the premise that developing,
identifying and implementing scientifically based research is
critical to the success of the No Child Left Behind Act and
to the increased effectiveness generally of education
programs and interventions. In particular, the conferees
believe that a greater focus must be placed on the use of
randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and other
research that meets the standards set by the National
Research Council. The development of an enhanced research
infrastructure will help build a base of research-proven
interventions that can be used by educational institutions to
help improve the educational outcomes of our Nation's student
population. The conferees note that there is a lack of
scientifically based education research, such as randomized
research trials.
The conferees direct the Assistant Secretary for the
Institute of Education Sciences to contract with the National
Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies of Science
to undertake a study of teacher preparation programs in the
United States. The conferees expect this study to synthesize
data and research on the academic preparation and educational
characteristics of candidates in pre-service, graduate, and
alternative certification programs; the specific content and
experiences that are provided to candidates for degrees and
alternative certification in education; the consistency of
the required course work and experiences in reading and
mathematics across teacher preparation programs; and the
degree to which the content and experiences are based on
converging scientific evidence. If the NRC determines that
there is insufficient information and research from which to
generate a useful synthesis, it may engage in data
collection, either by directly contracting with one or more
organizations to design and implement surveys and other data
collection activities, or by working collaboratively through
the National Center for Education Statistics of the Institute
of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education,
and/or the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services to enable data collections to support the work of
the NRC.
The NRC also should develop a model for collecting
information on the content knowledge, pedagogical competence
and effectiveness of graduates from teacher education
programs and teachers trained in alternative certification
programs, and review the needs of schools for high quality
teachers, as called for in the No Child Left Behind Act. The
conferees expect this work to be conducted for K-12 teachers
with a focus on reading, mathematics, and science
instruction.
The conferees strongly urge the Department to launch a
competition for new comprehensive centers, in accordance with
title II, sections 203 and 205, of the Education Sciences
Reform Act of 2002, as soon as possible. The competition
cannot be held until the 10 regional advisory committees
described in section 206 conduct needs assessments.
Therefore, the conferees urge the Department to ensure that
the committees complete their work by September 1, 2004.
The conference agreement does not include funding for
statewide data systems as proposed by the House. The Senate
bill included $80,000,000 for this activity.
The conference agreement also includes $92,208,000 for
statistics instead of $95,000,000 as proposed by the House
and $89,415,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The agreement includes $90,235,000 for National Assessment
activities as proposed by the Senate instead of $90,825,000
as proposed by the House. The agreement also includes
$5,090,000 for the National Assessment Governing Board as
proposed by the House instead of $4,532,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
Departmental Management
The conference agreement includes $425,000,000 for
Departmental program administration instead of $434,494,000
as proposed by the House and $349,730,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The agreement also includes $89,275,000 for the
Office for Civil
[[Page 31628]]
Rights, instead of $91,275,000 as proposed by the House and
$77,884,000 as proposed by the Senate. The agreement also
includes $47,137,000 for the Office of the Inspector General
instead of $48,137,000 as proposed by the House and
$37,661,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees strongly support the Buy American Act, which
was enacted in 1933 to ensure that the Federal government
supports domestic companies and domestic workers by buying
American-made goods. The Act includes a number of waiver
provisions that allow Federal agencies to buy foreign goods
in some circumstances, but there is little disclosure or
accountability in the waiver process. The conferees,
therefore, direct the Secretary to issue a report not later
than 60 days after the last day of fiscal year 2004 on the
amount of acquisitions made by the Department during such
fiscal year of articles, materials, or supplies that were
manufactured outside the United States. Such report shall
separately indicate the dollar value of any articles,
materials, or supplies purchased by the department that were
manufactured outside the United States, an itemized list of
all waivers under the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a et
seq.) that were granted with respect to such articles,
materials, or supplies, and a summary of total procurement
funds spent on goods manufactured in the United States versus
funds spent on goods manufactured outside of the United
States.
The conferees are concerned that Federal tax dollars not be
spent to compete with private-sector businesses. The
conferees expect the Department to be prepared to answer
questions regarding this issue during the fiscal year 2005
budget hearings.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Advance Adjustment
The conference agreement does not include language proposed
by the Senate adjusting the amount of education funding
advanced in the fiscal year 2003 appropriations bill. The
House bill included similar language as a title V general
provision.
Federal Need Analysis
The conference agreement modifies language proposed by the
Senate prohibiting the Department of Education from
implementing annual updates to the tax tables used in Federal
Need Analysis Methodology. The House bill contained no
similar provision.
IDEA
The conference agreement does not include a provision
proposed by the Senate regarding funding for IDEA, offset by
an extension in customs user fees. The House bill contained
no similar provision. Funding for this program is provided
elsewhere in title III of this bill.
Economic Education
The conference agreement does not include a provision
proposed by the Senate relating to funding for economic
education programs. The House bill contained no similar
provision. Funding for this program is provided elsewhere in
title III of this bill.
Underground Railroad
The conference agreement does not include a provision
proposed by the Senate relating to funding for the
Underground Railroad program. The House bill contained no
similar provision. Funding for this program is provided
elsewhere in title III of this bill.
Statewide Data Systems
The conference agreement does not include a provision
proposed by the Senate relating to funding for section 208 of
the Education Science Reform Act of 2002 (statewide data
collection systems), offset by a reduction to management and
administration accounts at the Department of Education. The
House bill contained no similar provision.
Dropout Prevention
The conference agreement does not include a provision
proposed by the Senate regarding funding for dropout
prevention programs. The House bill contained no similar
provision. Funding for this program is provided elsewhere in
title III of this bill.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan Institute
The conference agreement does not include a provision
proposed by the Senate authorizing an endowment for the
Daniel Patrick Moynihan Global Affairs Institute. The House
bill contained no similar provision.
Migrant Education
The conference agreement does not include a provision
proposed by the Senate relating to funding for migrant
education programs. The House bill contained no similar
provision. Funding for these programs is included elsewhere
in title III of this bill.
Study of Need Analysis Formula
The conference agreement includes a provision directing the
Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to conduct
a thorough study of the feasibility of simplifying the need
analysis methodology for all Federal student financial
assistance programs and the process of applying for such
assistance. The provision includes a postponement of any tax
table updates pending this report. Neither the House nor the
Senate bills contained this provision.
Impact Aid
The conference agreement includes a provision relating to
the timely filing of an Impact Aid application from a school
district. Neither the House nor the Senate bills contained
this provision.
TITLE IV--RELATED AGENCIES
Corporation for National and Community Service
Domestic Volunteer Service Programs, Operating Expenses
The conference agreement includes $356,443,000 for the
Domestic Volunteer Service programs instead of $352,836,000
as proposed by the House and $355,187,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
The conference agreement includes $94,287,000 for VISTA as
proposed by the Senate instead of $93,674,000 as proposed by
the House.
Volunteers in Homeland Security
The conference agreement includes $9,935,000 for Volunteers
in Homeland Security as proposed by the Senate instead of
$5,000,000 as proposed by the House.
National Senior Volunteer Corps
The conference agreement includes $46,260,000 for the
Senior Companion Program (SCP) as proposed by the House
instead of $46,563,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
agreement also includes $58,501,000 for the Retired Senior
Volunteer Program (RSVP) as proposed by the House instead of
$58,884,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Funds appropriated for fiscal year 2004 may not be used to
implement or support service collaboration agreements or any
other changes in the administration and/or governance of
national service programs prior to passage of a bill by the
authorizing committees of jurisdiction specifying such
changes. The conference agreement does not include funding
for senior demonstration activities. Both the House and the
Senate funded this program at $397,000.
Program Administration
The conference agreement includes $36,685,000 for program
administration instead of $38,229,000 as proposed by the
House and $34,346,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees have included funds to provide training and
technical assistance to local projects in performance
measurement as envisioned by the Government Performance and
Results Act. The conferees are aware of concerns relating to
performance measurements, and therefore direct the
Corporation to continue to gather feedback for the Senior
Corps national associations in order to develop the most
appropriate and useful criteria.
The conferees are aware of the Corporation's recent
decision to make the director of the Iowa State office
responsible for administration of the Nebraska State office
as well. Over the past two years, the Senate Committee on
Appropriations has clearly indicated its concern over such
proposed consolidations, but the Committee was nonetheless
informed that the consolidation was necessary due to
budgetary constraints. The conferees are aware that employee
bonuses in the Corporation's headquarters have more than
doubled during the year this consolidation took place. In
fact, the increase in bonuses was almost triple the amount
needed to prevent this consolidation. The conferees are
concerned that grantees and constituents in Iowa and Nebraska
may receive a lowered level of service because of the
distance and time involved in managing two State offices. For
this reason, the conferees have included sufficient funding
to maintain a separate State director in the Nebraska State
office.
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The conference agreement provides $400,000,000 in funding
for fiscal year 2006, as proposed by the Senate instead of
$330,000,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees strongly urge the CPB to allocate a minimum
of $100,000 in a Community Service Base Grant to each of the
14 public radio stations around the Nation that provide the
sole source of radio news and information in their
communities. The additional funds would permit these stations
to extend their broadcast hours and improve service to their
listeners. Recipients of these grants should not be denied
eligibility for any other CPB grant programs.
The conference agreement also includes $50,000,000 for
digital conversion instead of $55,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The House had proposed providing authority for CPB to
utilize previously appropriated funds for this purpose.
The conference agreement also includes $10,000,000 as the
first installment of a three-year project to replace the
satellite interconnection system. This amount is the same as
the Senate. The House had proposed providing authority for
CPB to utilize previously appropriated funds for this
purpose.
Institute of Museum and Library Services
The conference agreement provides $262,596,000 for the
Institute of Museum and Library Services instead of
$238,126,000 as proposed by the House and $243,889,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Within the total for the Institute, the conference
agreement includes funding for the following activities in
the following amounts.
[[Page 31629]]
Program [dollars in thousands]
Museums for America/Assessment..................................$16,889
Conservation Project Support/Assessment...........................3,619
National Leadership Grants for Museums............................6,932
State Grants....................................................161,788
Native American Library Services................................(3,225)
National Leadership Grants for Libraries.........................11,330
21st Century Librarian Initiative................................20,000
Administration...................................................10,450
The conference agreement also specifies funding for the
following:
Alabama School of Math and Science at the University of Alabama for
technology upgrades and library resources....................$125,000
Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association, Anchorage, AK to digitize
files/photos/videos of Alaskan history.........................50,000
Alex Haley House Museum, Henning, TN for care and preservation of
collection.....................................................25,000
Allen County Historical Society, Lima, OH, for the ``Move Our Past
Forward'' project to expand and develop exhibits for their Children's
Discovery Museum Center.......................................500,000
Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA, for educational programming for
school districts...............................................75,000
Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak, AK to support programs to teach students and
adults how to develop traditional Native arts.................100,000
American Village Citizenship Trust, Montevallo, AL for a national
initiative for teaching American history and civics...........200,000
Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS),
Dearborn, MI, for exhibits and museum programs................100,000
Ashland Community Arts Center, Ashland, OH, for Arts in Downtown
project.......................................................100,000
Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, to preserve library
materials and access to information in the form of digital images on
the Internet...................................................75,000
Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood, NJ, for equipment and exhibits for the
Holocaust Library.............................................500,000
Bishop Museum in Hawaii for activities to preserve the culture of
Native Hawaiians..............................................400,000
Bishop Museum in Hawaii to develop Native Hawaiian cultural projects in
collaboration with the Peabody Museum of Massachusetts and an Alaskan
museum........................................................400,000
Burpee Museum of Natural History, Rockford, IL, for community outreach
and educational activities....................................900,000
Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies, Mount Carroll, IL,
for community outreach and program planning...................100,000
Chaldean Community Culture Center, West Bloomfield, MI, for programs
that promote Chaldean language, history, culture and teacher t200,000
Chapman University, Orange, California, for technological
infrastructure................................................250,000
Chartiers Valley Partnership, Inc., Carnegie, PA, for technological and
educational programs at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library......250,000
Children's Museum at La Habra, California, for a Hands On English
Program.......................................................113,000
Children's Museum of History, Natural History, Science and Technology,
Utica, New York, for technology improvements, staffing and tra144,000
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio, to
develop and implement an integrated curriculum that will utilize its
resources in art, science, and history when visiting the museu400,000
City of Hemet, California, for Hemet Public Library, for library
materials and technological equipment.........................150,000
City of Whittier, California, for the Whittier Public Library
Children's Area and History Room..............................387,000
Cleveland Health Museum, Cleveland, OH, for exhibits............250,000
College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, to preserve
medical library and art collection............................100,000
Davenport Music History Museum in Davenport, IA.................400,000
Delaware County Historical Society, Media, PA, for educational programs
highlighting historical themes and sites relating to Delaware C75,000
East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA to preserve and
develop exhibits for their Vintage Radio Programs and Jazz Muse75,000
Elmwood Zoo, Norristown, PA for student education programs......100,000
Erie County, Erie, PA, for technology upgrades for the Erie County
Library........................................................75,000
Fender Museum of the Arts Foundation, Corona, CA, for the Kids Rock
Free educational program......................................100,000
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco for the De Young Museum's Art
Education Program.............................................200,000
Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida, for school outreach
program.....................................................1,500,000
Florida International Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida, for professional
activities....................................................750,000
Folger Library, Washington, DC for exhibits, operations, and public
programs including education and outreach...................1,600,000
Forsyth County Public Library, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for
salaries, supplies, personnel and materials....................50,000
Gault Family Learning Center, Wooster, OH, for PALS/Parenting Resource
Center/Growing Together........................................50,000
General George S. Patton Jr National Museum of Cavalry and Armor, Ft.
Knox, KY......................................................250,000
George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Virginia, for exhibit
design and development and collection preservation............500,000
Grout Museum, Waterloo, IA, for exhibits and design of the Sullivan
Brothers Veterans Museum and Research Center..................500,000
Heritage Harbor Museum of Providence, RI for exhibit design and
development relating Rhode Island and American history........200,000
Hernando County Library System, Florida, for technology improvements at
West Hernando Branch Library, Brooksville Main Library, Spring Hill
Library, and East Hernando Branch Library.....................150,000
Hesperia Community Library, Hesperia, CA........................250,000
Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA, for exhibit
and curriculum development for the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center..200,000
Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA for exhibit
design and development for the Meadowcraft Museum of Rural Lif150,000
Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, for a Virtual Idaho Museum of
Natural History project.......................................250,000
[[Page 31630]]
Imaginarium Science Center, Anchorage, AK to develop science exhibits
and distance delivery modules..................................50,000
International Museum of Women to develop exhibits on the history of
women's lives worldwide.......................................100,000
International Storytelling Center, Jonesborough, TN.............100,000
James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History, Minneapolis, MN, to produce
detailed exhibit design and development.......................100,000
Kishacoquillas Valley Historical Society, Allensville, PA for care and
preservation of collection....................................100,000
Lafayette College, Easton, PA for technology updates to the Skillman
Library.......................................................100,000
Madera County Resource Management Agency, Madera, CA............166,000
Magic House, Kirkwood, MO for the development and design of interactive
exhibits and software to be used within The Magic Library to support
family literacy................................................21,000
Mary Meuser Memorial Library, Easton, PA for library upgrades...100,000
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in conjunction with the Fairbanks
Museum of Art and the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, for costs
of mounting the exhibit and for costs associated with bringing the
exhibit to Alaska.............................................250,000
Michigan Space and Science Center, Jackson, MI, for development of the
strategic plan, operational costs and personnel...............350,000
Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS, to
complete the preservation and restoration of the Eudora Welty 450,000
Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL for equipment and supplies, and for
exhibit design and development.................................75,000
Morehouse College Library, Atlanta, GA for historical preservation of
documents and records.........................................100,000
Mother Bethel Foundation, Philadelphia, PA for care and preservation of
collection at the Richard Allen Museum........................100,000
Museum of Aviation Foundation Inc, Warner Robins, GA............225,000
Museum of Broadcast Communications, Chicago, IL for educational
programming...................................................250,000
Museum of Science in Boston, MA, for technology upgrades and equipment
for the National Center for Technology Literacy.............1,000,000
Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea, Mystic, Connecticut
to support collections........................................100,000
National Canal Museum, Easton, PA, for educational programming and
exhibits on the use of transportation and industrial technology along
the Lehigh Canal...............................................50,000
National Center for American Revolution, Wayne, PA, for exhibit design
and curriculum development for the Museum of the American Revolution
at Valley Forge National Historic Park........................400,000
National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American
Culture, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, for support of
events leading into the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus
Boycott........................................................50,000
National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis for exhibit design and
development, and for educational programs.....................500,000
National Distance Running Hall of Fame, Utica, New York, for display
cases and to establish new interactive displays................16,000
National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA for a teacher training
program to assist educators in addressing violence in schools.500,000
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, IA for
exhibits......................................................650,000
National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, PA for online
educational programming and technology modernization..........200,000
National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.........1,000,000
Native American Cultural and Educational Authority, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, for the Oklahoma Native American Culture Center and Museum,
to be expended only upon meeting the matching requirements in Title
III, section 301(b)(2)(B) of P.L. 107-331...................1,000,000
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas City, MO, for exhibits for the
Double Play Action Center.....................................300,000
New York Botanical Garden's Virtual Herbarium imaging project in Bronx,
New York......................................................400,000
New York Hall of Science to develop, expand, and display science-
related educational materials.................................900,000
Niagara County Historical Society, Lockport, NY, to create a state-of-
the art interpretive museum...................................420,000
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane, WA for the Star Nations
Program project................................................50,000
O. Winston Link Museum, Roanoke, Virginia, for displays and
digitization..................................................210,000
Piper's Opera House Programs, Inc., Virginia City, NV for exhibit
design and development, educational programming, and technology
modernization.................................................150,000
Pittsburgh Children's Museum, Pittsburgh, PA, to expand arts and after-
school programs for at-risk children..........................100,000
Placer County Library, Auburn, CA, to enhance library collection
through the purchase of library materials......................50,000
Plano Community Library District, Plano, Illinois, for expenses related
to the library................................................977,000
Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia, PA, to develop educational programs
focusing on hands-on learning experiences.....................725,000
Plumas County Library, Quincy, CA, for library materials........100,000
Putnam County Commissioners, Winfield, West Virginia, for technology
for the public library system in Putnam County.................25,000
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland, OH for the Rockin'
the Schools education program.................................200,000
Saint Tikhon's Theological Seminary, South Canaan, PA, for care and
preservation of Russian artifacts..............................50,000
San Bernardino County, San Bernardino, CA, for the San Bernardino
County Museum.................................................250,000
Serra Cooperative Library System, San Diego, California, to provide
Live Homework Help Project to help students with expert tutors for
real-time online instructions.................................100,000
Simon Wiesenthal Center's Los Angeles Museum for Tolerance, Los
Angeles, CA, for the Tools for Tolerance for Educators program to
provide teacher training in diversity, tolerance and cooperati100,000
Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc., Manchester, New Hampshire, for
exhibit acquisition for SEE Science Center.....................25,000
Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY................................400,000
[[Page 31631]]
Standing Bear Museum and Learning Center, Ponca City, OK........100,000
State Historical Society of Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa for the
development of exhibits for the World Food Prize............1,000,000
Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati, OH for educational programming and
exhibits......................................................200,000
Tennessee State University African American History Museum, Nashville,
TN to enhance the library facilities which will include new exhibits,
expanded archives, and research programs....................1,000,000
The Arts Guild of Old Forge, Old Forge, New York, for the new exhibits
spaces and educational programs................................24,000
Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton-Tift, GA...............50,000
Tillamook County Library, Tillamook, OR for design and development of
exhibits and educational programs..............................60,000
Town of Greece, Rochester, NY, for the Greece Public Library Security
program.......................................................100,000
Tuskegee Multicultural Center, Tuskegee, AL, to provide for technology
enhancements and installation of exhibits......................50,000
University of Idaho for digital archiving and preservation of
historically significant American music and facilitating its access
to students and scholars nationwide...........................400,000
Vietnam Archives Center at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, for
technology infrastructure.....................................500,000
Virginia Historical society, Richmond, VA, to assist with educational
programmatic development and for cataloging and archiving of business
history records...............................................250,000
Virginia Living Museum for the expansion of its educational programs in
its capital campaign project..................................100,000
Westminster College Library, New Wilmington, PA for technology upgrades
and computers and community programming.......................100,000
WWII Victory Memorial Museum, Auburn, Indiana, for interpretive
dioramas, education, research library and visual documentary..600,000
Zimmer Children's Museum, Los Angeles, CA to expand the youTHink
education program.............................................100,000
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
The conference agreement provides $1,000,000 for the
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science as
proposed by the House and the Senate.
National Council on Disability
The conference agreement includes $3,039,000 for the
National Council on Disability instead of $2,830,000 as
proposed by the House and $3,339,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees direct the Council to develop and submit to
the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate an
operating plan detailing the activities the Council plans for
fiscal year 2004. The conferees request that the plan detail
the programs, projects, and activities proposed to be
undertaken during this fiscal year and/or planned to be
supported in fiscal year 2005, including those outlined
within object class 25. The conferees request that the
Council submit the plan within 30 days of enactment of this
Act.
National Labor Relations Board
The conference agreement provides $244,073,000 for the
National Labor Relations Board instead of $239,429,000 as
proposed by the House and $246,073,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
The conference agreement provides $9,863,000 for the
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission instead of
$10,115,000 as proposed by the House and $9,610,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Railroad Retirement Board Limitation on Administration
The conference agreement includes $101,300,000 for the
Railroad Retirement Board Limitation on Administration
Expenses as proposed by the House instead of $99,350,000 as
proposed by Senate.
The conferees understand that the Railroad Retirement Board
has an obligation under the Railroad Retirement and
Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001 to enter into an
arrangement with a nongovernmental financial institution to
serve as disbursing agent for benefits payable under the
Railroad Retirement Act. The conferees understand that
implementation of this requirement is a time consuming
process and that the Board may need up to a year to complete
this requirement.
Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General
The conference agreement includes a limitation on transfers
from the railroad trust funds of $6,600,000 for
administrative expenses of the Office of Inspector General as
proposed the House instead of $6,322,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees do not include language proposed by the
Senate that allows the Office of the Inspector General to
conduct audits, investigations, and reviews of the Medicare
programs.
Social Security Administration Supplemental Security Income Program
The conference agreement includes $26,349,300,000 for the
Supplemental Security Income Program instead of
$26,341,300,000 as proposed by the House and $26,410,000,000
as proposed by the Senate. Within the funds provided, the
conference agreement includes $8,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate for outreach efforts and assistance to homeless
persons and other underserved populations. Also within the
total, $2,973,300,000 is included for the administrative
costs of the program as proposed by the House. The Senate
included $3,034,000,000 for administrative costs.
Limitation on Administrative Expenses
The conference agreement includes $8,361,800,000 for the
limitation on administrative expenses as proposed by the
House rather than $8,530,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Within the total, $15,000 is provided for the Social Security
Commissioner's official reception and representation expenses
as proposed by the House. The Senate had proposed $20,000 for
these expenses.
The conference agreement does not include a provision as
proposed by the Senate that delays $107,000,000 in
obligations until September 30, 2004. The House bill did not
contain a similar provision.
Office of the Inspector General
The conference agreement includes $88,200,000 for the
office of the inspector general as proposed by the House
rather than $82,460,000 as proposed by the Senate.
United States Institute of Peace
The conference agreement provides $17,200,000 for the
United States Institute of Peace the same level as proposed
by both the House and Senate.
The conferees direct the Institute to increase direct
support for programs to improve textbooks, materials and
other means of educational reform to teach Middle Eastern
youth about nonviolent approaches to resolving
intergenerational cycles of conflict and hatred, and ways
that these cycles can be broken. The conferees direct the
Institute to report to the Committees on Appropriations, by
March 1, 2004, on their efforts in this area.
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Adjustment of Advances
The conference agreement does not include language
adjusting the amount of education funding advanced in the
fiscal year 2003 appropriations bill as proposed by the
House. The Senate bill contained a similar provision in title
III.
Limitation on Libraries
The conference agreement includes a limitation on the
ability of a library to access library funding provided under
this Act unless the library is in compliance with the
Children's Internet Protections Act, as proposed by the
House. The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
Limitation on Schools
The conference agreement includes a limitation on the
ability of an elementary or secondary school to access
technology funding provided under this Act unless the school
is in compliance with the Children's Internet Protections
Act, as proposed by the House. The Senate bill contained no
similar provision.
Across-the-Board Salaries and Expenses Reduction
The conference agreement includes a modified provision
proposed by the Senate to reduce salaries and expenses of the
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education. The House bill contained no similar provision.
Additional Funding for Volunteer Programs
The conference agreement does not include a provision
proposed by the Senate to provide additional funding for
volunteers in homeland security under the Corporation for
National and Community Service. The House bill contained no
similar provision. Funding for this program is included in
title IV of this bill.
Conference Agreement
The following table displays the amounts agreed to for each
program, project or activity with appropriate comparisons:
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Conference Total--With Comparisons
The total new budget (obligational) authority for the
fiscal year 2004 recommended by the Committee of Conference,
with comparisons to the fiscal year 2003 amount, the 2004
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 2004
follow:
[In thousands of dollars]
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003......$430,990,470
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal yea469,697,348
House bill, fiscal year 2004................................478,406,936
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004...............................473,552,979
Conference agreement, fiscal year 2004......................480,345,954
Conference agreement compared with:
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003.....+49,355,484
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal y+10,648,606
House bill, fiscal year 2004...............................+1,939,018
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004..............................+6,792,975
DIVISION F--DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION AND TREASURY, AND INDEPENDENT
AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004
Congressional Directives
The conferees agree that Executive Branch propensities
cannot substitute for Congress's own statements concerning
the best evidence of Congressional intentions; that is, the
official reports of the Congress. The committee of conference
approves report language included by the House (House Report
108-243) or the Senate (Senate Report 108-146) that is not
changed by the conference. The statement of the managers,
while repeating some report language for emphasis, is not
intended to negate the language referred to above unless
expressly provided herein.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $80,903,000 for the
salaries and expenses of the office of the secretary instead
of $94,077,000 as proposed by the House and $91,276,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Bill language is included that
specifies amounts by office, consistent with actions in prior
years, and limits transfers among each office to no more than
5 percent. The bill language specifies that any transfer
greater than 5 percent shall be submitted for approval to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. Bill language,
as proposed by both the House and the Senate, allows the
Department to spend up to $60,000 for official reception and
representation activities, and credits to the appropriation
up to $2,500,000 in user fee receipts.
The following table summarizes the appropriation for each
office:
Immediate office of the Secretary............................$2,210,000
Immediate office of the Deputy Secretary........................700,000
Office of the General Counsel................................15,403,000
Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy.................12,312,000
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs.....8,536,000
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs....2,300,000
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration.........24,612,000
Office of Public Affairs......................................1,915,000
Executive Secretariat.........................................1,447,000
Board of Contract Appeals.......................................700,000
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization........1,268,000
Office of the Chief Information Officer.......................7,500,000
Office of Intelligence and Security...........................2,000,000
Implementation of Air Transportation Safety and System
Stabilization Act for cargo carriers.--The conferees expect
that the Department would administer funds made available
under title I of the Air Transportation Safety and System
Stabilization Act without discrimination among directly
competitive air carriers and note that comparable percentages
of the notional maximum amount of compensation payable under
section 103(b)(2) of that Act provides a credible check on
the Department's allocation decisions. Further, the conferees
expect that the Secretary will defer any final determination
on disputed claims until the Comptroller General's review is
completed, and would refer any remaining disputed claims to
an administrative law judge upon an affected claimant's
request. In addition, the Department is directed to provide
the report requested by the Senate.
Congressional justification materials.--The conferees
direct the office of the secretary to submit its
congressional justification materials in support of the
individual offices of the offices of the secretary at the
same level of detail provided in the congressional
justifications presented in fiscal year 2003, and to submit
annual Congressional budget justifications for each modal
administration to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations on the date on which the President's budget is
delivered officially to Congress.
Office of Intelligence and Security.--The conferees
acknowledge the mission of this office has changed
significantly since enactment of the Aviation and
Transportation Security Act. Consequently, the conferees
direct the Secretary to submit, not later than March 1, 2004,
a report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
describing in detail the organization, mission, and
responsibilities of this office, as well as a five year
projection of staffing and budget resources.
Outstanding reports.--The conference agreement continues
the longstanding policy expressed in the Senate report
directing the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget
and Programs to report quarterly on the status of all
outstanding Congressional reports and reporting requirements,
including the degree of delinquency of Congressionally
requested reports and an estimated date for delivery. The
conferees note that not only are many reports themselves
late, but in fiscal year 2003, the quarterly compilation
described herein was itself only submitted in one of four
quarters required. The conferees will work with the office of
the secretary to ensure that this situation improves in the
coming year.
Cyber threat intelligence.--The conferees recognize the
importance of utilizing proactive cyber threat intelligence
to protect the critical infrastructure assets of the
department. The conferees encourage the department to deploy
a performance-based cyber threat intelligence service that
contains the aggregation of known technical vulnerabilities,
original technical vulnerability research, geopolitical cyber
threat analysis, malicious code research and predictive cyber
threat analysis. The conferees also recognize that many
serious cyber attacks originate from non-English-speaking
regions of the world. As such, the cyber threat intelligence
services described above must include a demonstrated ability
to collect cyber threat intelligence in multiple languages,
including Arabic.
Grant notifications to Congress.--The conferees agree that
the report, directed by the Senate, submitting options for
providing grant notifications in electronic format should be
submitted to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations not later than December 31, 2003.
Office of Civil Rights
The conference agreement provides $8,569,000 for the office
of civil rights as proposed by the House and the Senate.
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT
The conference agreement provides $20,864,000 for
transportation planning, research, and development instead of
$8,336,000 as proposed by the House and $15,836,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Adjustments to the budget request are
as follows:
Conference agreement
Aviation and international policy studies...................-$2,472,000
Circumpolar infrastructure task force, Artic Council and Northern
Forum, AK...................................................1,000,000
Center for Integrated Transportation & Traffic Systems, AZ......600,000
Center for Spatial Technologies, MS.............................700,000
Integrated data query sharing system for maritime domain aware1,100,000
Regional Interstate Commerce and Transportation Policy Harmonization
Project, SD...................................................250,000
UA Transportation Hybrid Electric Vehicle & Fuel Cell Research Program,
AL..........................................................1,250,000
WestStart Vehicular Flywheel Project, WA......................1,000,000
Worcester Polytechnic University Center for Human Impact Protection
System, MA....................................................350,000
Interstate digital image exchange project.....................2,000,000
Northern Illinois University Transportation Fuel Cell Research,
Illinois......................................................750,000
Data Exchange Technology Demonstration, NH......................500,000
PVTA Hydrogen Battery and Electric Bus Program, MA............1,000,000
NC State University Center for Transportation and the Environm1,000,000
National Transit Institute, Rutgers Univ.--TELLUM Project, NJ...500,000
San Francisco Muni Alternative Fuels New Technology Consortium, 500,000
Interstate digital image exchange project and online
verification of birth records.--The conference agreement
provides $2,000,000 to expand the interstate digital image
exchange
[[Page 31685]]
and for pilot projects to conduct online verification of
birth and death records nationwide. Amounts shall be made
available by contract or by grant to the American Association
of Motor Vehicle Administrators, states, or other appropriate
entities the Secretary deems necessary.
WORKING CAPITAL FUND
The conference agreement includes a limitation of
$116,715,000 for working capital fund activities as proposed
by the House and the Senate. The conferees further agree to a
general provision proposed by the Senate reducing funds for
this account.
MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAM
The conference agreement provides an appropriation of
$900,000 for the minority business resource center program
and limits loans under the program to $18,367,000, as
proposed by both the House and the Senate.
MINORITY BUSINESS OUTREACH
The conference agreement provides $3,000,000 for minority
business outreach as proposed by the House and the Senate.
PAYMENTS TO AIR CARRIERS
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement provides $52,000,000 for payments
to air carriers, to be derived from the airport and airway
trust fund, as proposed by the Senate. The House proposed
$63,000,000 from the airport and airway trust fund under the
Federal Aviation Administration. In addition to these funds,
the program will receive $50,000,000 in mandatory spending
pursuant to the Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996,
resulting in a program budget of $102,000,000. Funding is to
be derived from the airport and airway trust fund and is
available until expended, as proposed by both the House and
Senate.
Cost-sharing pilot program.--The conference agreement
includes language proposed by the Senate prohibiting the
implementation of a mandatory cost-sharing pilot program.
Federal Aviation Administration
OPERATIONS
The conference agreement includes $7,530,925,000 for
operations of the Federal Aviation Administration, instead of
$7,532,000,000 proposed by the House and $7,535,648,000
proposed by the Senate. Of the total amount provided,
$4,500,000,000 is to be derived from the airport and airway
trust fund instead of $4,043,000,000 proposed by the House
and $6,000,000,000 proposed by the Senate. Funds are
distributed in the bill by budget activity, as proposed by
the Senate.
Contract tower cost-sharing.--The bill specifies $6,500,000
for continuation of the contract tower cost-sharing program
as proposed by the Senate instead of $7,500,000 as proposed
by the House.
Rule implementing exemption process for mandatory
retirement.--The conference agreement includes language
proposed by the House requiring the Secretary of
Transportation to issue, not later than March 1, 2004, final
regulations establishing an exemption process for individual
air traffic controllers to delay mandatory retirement until
not later than age 61. The Senate bill included no similar
provision.
Level of operational air traffic control supervisors.--The
conference agreement includes language proposed by the House
specifying that $4,000,000 of funds under this heading are
available only to raise the level of operational air traffic
control supervisors to 1,726. The Senate bill included no
similar provision.
Memoranda of understanding.--The conference agreement
modifies language proposed by the House related to the
implementation of memoranda of understanding or memoranda of
agreement between FAA and its bargaining units. The
modification would prohibit funds from continuing to
implement an existing MOU or MOA if such documents are not
filed in a central registry after January 1, 2004.
Administration of government credit cards.--The agreement
includes language proposed by the House related to FAA
management of government credit cards. The Senate bill
included no similar provision.
The following table compares the conference agreement to
the President's budget and the levels proposed in the House
and Senate bills by budget activity:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Traffic Services................................... $6,096,800,0001 $6,096,800,000 $6,096,800,000
Adjustments to the budget estimate:
Delete additional controller staffing.............. -14,095,000 ................. -14,095,000
Controller in charge payments...................... -1,250,000 ................. -1,250,000
First line supervisory staffing.................... 4,000,000 ................. 4,000,000
Contract tower cost-sharing........................ 7,500,000 6,500,000 6,500,000
NAS handoff........................................ -16,231,000 ................. -16,231,000
Medallion program.................................. ................. 4,000,000 3,000,000
Unspecified........................................ ................. -60,000,000 -25,000,00
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended..................................... 6,076,724,000 6,047,300,000 6,053,724,000
========================================================
Aviation Regulation and Certification.................. 873,374,000 873,374,000 873,374,000
Adjustments to the budget estimate:
Alien species action plan.......................... -3,000,000 ................. 0
Medallion program.................................. -1,500,000 ................. 0
Transfer of staffing from Office of Policy......... 1,321,000 ................. 0
Transfer from F&E CFMSS and ASIS................... 1,120,000 ................. 1,120,000
Drug and alcohol compliance testing................ -810,000 ................. -810,000
Non-precision GPS approaches....................... ................. 5,000,000 3,000,000
Unspecified........................................ ................. -5,000,000 0
System approach for safety oversight............... ................. ................. 3,000,000
ASKME project...................................... ................. ................. 1,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended..................................... 870,505,000 873,374,000 880,684,000
========================================================
Research and Acquisitions.............................. 218,481,000 218,481,000 218,481,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Adjustments to the budget estimate: Amount recommended. 218,481,000 218,481,000 218,481,000
========================================================
Commercial Space Transportation........................ 12,601,000 12,601,000 12,601,000
Adjustments to the budget estimate: Reduction on -825,000 ................. -825,000
staffing..............................................
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended..................................... 11,776,000 12,601,000 11,776,000
========================================================
Financial Services..................................... 49,783,000 49,783,000 49,783,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Adjustments to the budget estimate: Amount recommended 49,783,000 49,783,000 49,783,000
========================================================
Human Resource Management.............................. 82,029,000 82,029,000 82,029,000
Adjustments to the budget estimate:
Organizational development staff................... -375,000 ................. 0
Additional reduction to assumed base............... -6,287,000 -5,000,000 -5,500,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended..................................... 75,357,000 77,029,000 76,529,000
========================================================
Regions and Centers.................................... 84,749,000 84,749,000 84,749,000
Adjustments to the budget estimate: Restore base 3,000,000 ................. 2,000 000
reduction.............................................
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended..................................... 87,749,000 84,749,000 86,749,000
========================================================
Staff Offices.......................................... 143,150,000 143,150,000 143,150,000
Adjustments to the budget estimate:
International program--staffing reduction.......... -1,000,000 ................. 0
Transfer of Policy staff to AVR.................... -1,321,000 ................. 0
Office of Public Affairs staffing.................. -200,000 ................. -200,000
Office of Civil Rights............................. -200,000 ................. -200,000
Unallocated........................................ ................. -500,000 -500,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended..................................... 140,429,000 142,650,000 142,250,000
========================================================
[[Page 31686]]
Information Services................................... 29,681,000 29,681,000 29,681,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Adjustments to the budget estimate: Amount recommended. 29,681,000 29,681,000 29,681,000
========================================================
Accountwide Adjustments:
Official time savings.............................. -6,500,000 ................. -6,500,000
Janitorial and guard services...................... -2,504,000 ................. -2,504,000
TASC costs......................................... -6,275,000 ................. -2,000,000
Cash awards........................................ -3,228,000 ................. -3,228,000
Civil aviation security positions.................. -500,000 ................. -500,000
Improved mgmt of govt. credit cards................ -500,000 ................. 0
Travel............................................. -8,988,000 ................. -4,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended..................................... -28,495,000 ................. -18,732,000
========================================================
Total recommended................................ 7,532,000,000 7,535,648,000 7,530,925,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deployable flight incident recorders.--The conferees are
aware of technology that makes flight data recorders, cockpit
voice recorders, and emergency locator transmitters more
survivable and recoverable, such as through systems
integrating these devices into one unit combined with crash
sensors, allowing them to eject automatically from an
aircraft upon impact and thus delivering them safely away
from the impact site. The conferees encourage the FAA to
investigate and consider implementing regulations that
incorporate such systems into the commercial air traffic
fleet.
Commercial space launch regulations.--For over four
decades, the U.S. Air Force has supervised commercial space
launch operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and
other federal ranges, resulting in an impeccable safety
record. The conferees have been advised that the FAA is
considering commercial space launch regulations, and are
concerned that the FAA not introduce new regulations that are
unnecessary, duplicative, or which introduce undue costs
relative to existing Air Force regulations on this industry.
Non-precision GPS approaches.--The conference agreement
provides an additional $3,000,000 to continue work to develop
and publish an increased number of non-precision instrument
approaches for airports that are not part 139 certified.
International Summit on Aviation Safety and Security.--The
conferees acknowledge the success of the International Summit
on Aviation Safety and Security established by the George
Washington University, and urge the FAA to continue funding
as long as the agency believes that it enhances aviation
safety and security.
Administration of potential shortfall due to essential air
service transfer.--The conferees agree that the FAA
Administrator has the flexibility to propose the use of funds
in either the ``Operations'' or ``Facilities and equipment''
appropriations to address any shortfalls in essential air
service funding for which FAA resources are required under
existing law. The Administrator is directed to advise the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on the
appropriations and programs from which these funds would be
drawn.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT (AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement includes $2,910,000,000 for
``Facilities and equipment'', instead of $2,900,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $2,916,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Of the total amount available, $420,841,200 is
available for one year, and $2,489,158,800 is available for
three years. The bill specifies that, of the total funding
provided, $3,000,000 is for audit services to be performed by
the Defense Contract Audit Agency, instead of $7,000,000 as
proposed by the House; and $25,000,000 is for the Houston
area air traffic system, instead of $20,000,000 as proposed
by the House. The conference agreement does not include the
$100,000,000 proposed by the Senate for transfer to the
``Grants-in-aid for airports'' program. Funds for this
program are provided in their entirety under ``Grants-in-aid
for airports''.
The following table provides a breakdown of the House and
Senate bills and the conference agreement by program:
a25no7.446
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2004 Conference
Item estimate House Senate agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category 1: Improve Aviation Safety..... $273,900,000 $274,180,000 $266,800,000 $280,780,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Terminal Business Unit.................. 137,600,000 135,600,000 112,500,000 122,100,000
Aviation Weather Services Improvements.. 13,200,000 13,200,000 22,200,000 22,200,000
Low Level Windshear Alert System 3,900,000 3,900,000 2,700,000 2,700,000
(LLWAS)--Upgrade.......................
Aviation Safety Analysis System (ASAS).. 13,900,000 12,100,000 6,900,000 6,900,000
Integrated Flight Quality Assurance 2,100,000 0 500,000 0
(IFQA).................................
Safe Flight 21.......................... 30,300,000 30,300,000 30,300,000 30,300,000
Advanced Technology Development and 42,800,000 52,600,000 76,600,000 70,100,000
Prototyping............................
Aircraft Related Equipment Program...... 13,700,000 12,580,000 9,200,000 12,580,000
National Aviation Safety Data Analysis 1,900,000 1,900,000 1,900,000 1,900,000
Center (NASDAC)........................
Louisville, KY technology demonstration. 0 8,000,000 0 8,000,000
Volcano Monitoring...................... 0 0 4,000,000 4,000,000
System Approach for Safety Oversight.... 12,000,000 3,000,000 0 0
Aviation Safety Knowledge Management 2,500,000 1,000,000 0 0
Environment............................
=======================================================================
Category 2: Improve Efficiency of the 934,128,300 926,773,300 1,010,003,300 1,005,895,000
Air Traffic Control System.............
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Terminal Business Unit.................. 458,128,300 0 479,978,300 0
Standard Terminal Automation System 0 119,800,000 ................ 119,800,000
Replacement............................
ARTS/DBRITE Sustainment................. 0 30,000,000 ................ 25,000,000
Terminal Interim Remote Tower Displays.. 0 2,500,000 ................ 2,500,000
Tower Datalink Services (TDLS).......... 0 2,500,000 0 2,500,000
ATCBI-6................................. 0 20,000,000 ................ 20,000,000
ATC En Route Radar Facilities 0 2,700,000 ................ 2,700,000
Improvements...........................
Terminal ATC Facilities Replacement..... 0 151,245,000 ................ 158,245,000
ATC'TRACON Facilities Improvement....... 0 38,478,300 ................ 42,000,000
Terminal Digital Radar (ASR-11)......... 0 80,000,000 ................ 75,000,000
ASR-9 SLEP.............................. 0 21,950,000 ................ 23,000,000
Terminal Applied Engineering............ 0 3,400,000 ................ 4,000,000
Precision Runway Monitors............... 0 8,000,000 ................ 8,000,000
Houston Area Air Traffic System......... 0 20,000,000 ................ 25,000,000
PCS Moves............................... 0 200,000 ................ 200,000
New York Integrated Control Complex..... 0 2,000,000 ................ 5,000,000
ARSR-4 Automated Technical Documentation 0 0 0 3,000,000
Aeronautical Data Link (ADL) 23,150,000 6,550,000 13,000,000 10,000,000
Applications...........................
Free Flight Phase 2..................... 113,100,000 100,000,000 105,100,000 100,000,000
Air Traffic Management (ATM)............ 13,000,000 13,000,000 37,500,000 37,500,000
Free Flight Phase 1..................... 37,400,000 27,000,000 37,400,000 32,000,000
Automated Surface Observing System 11,800,000 11,800,000 11,800,000 11,800,000
(ASOS).................................
Next Generation VHF Air/Ground 85,850,000 85,850,000 85,850,000 85,850,000
Communications System (NEXCOM).........
En route Automation Program............. 173,900,000 165,000,000 223,575,000 200,000,000
Weather and Radar Processor (WARP)...... 8,500,000 8,500,000 8,500,000 8,500,000
ATOMS Local Area/Wide Area Network...... 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000
NAS Management Automation Program 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,200,000
(NASMAP)...............................
IDS--Flight Service Stations............ 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 0
IDS--Terminal Facilities................ 5,000,000 2,000,000 5,000,000 2,000,000
=======================================================================
Category 3: Increase Capacity of the NAS 328,500,000 369,623,800 390,935,000 396,190,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 31687]]
Navigation and Landing Aids............. 222,700,000 0 278,835,000 0
Local Area Augmentation System.......... ................ 28,100,000 ................ 34,400,000
Wide Area Augmentation System........... ................ 117,923,800 ................ 100,000,000
VOR/DME................................. ................ 8,600,000 ................ 8,600,000
Approach Lighting System Improvement ................ 19,200,000 ................ 48,975,000
Program (ALSIP)........................
Instrument Landing System (ILS) ................ 36,000,000 ................ 48,615,000
Establishment..........................
Runway Visual Range..................... ................ 7,000,000 ................ 7,000,000
DME Sustainment......................... ................ 4,000,000 ................ 4,000,000
NDB Sustainment......................... ................ 1,100,000 ................ 1,100,000
Visual Navaids (PAPI/REIL).............. ................ 5,000,000 ................ 5,000,000
VASI Replace With PAPI.................. ................ 5,900,000 ................ 5,900,000
Navigation and Landing Aids Service Life ................ 0 ................ 0
Extension Pgm..........................
Loran-C................................. ................ 25,000,000 ................ 22,500,000
Transponder Landing System (TLS)........ ................ 6,000,000 6,300,000 6,300,000
Oceanic Automation System............... 69,000,000 69,000,000 69,000,000 67,000,000
Voice Switching and Control System 32,800,000 32,800,000 32,800,000 32,800,000
(VSCS).................................
Instrument Approach Procedures 4,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000
Automation.............................
=======================================================================
Category 4: Improve Reliability of the 472,710,000 456,240,000 268,210,000 359,440,000
NAS....................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Guam Center Radar Approach Control 2,600,000 2,600,000 2,600,000 2,600,000
(CERAP)--Relocate......................
Terminal Voice Switch Replacement/ 12,000,000 14,200,000 18,500,000 16,000,000
Enhance TVS............................
Airport Cable Loop Systems--Sustained 5,000,000 5,000,000 6,500,000 6,500,000
Support................................
En Route Automation Program............. 173,800,000 163,800,000 0 107,000,000
ARTCC Building Improvements/Plant 34,200,000 34,200,000 34,200,000 28,000,000
Improvements...........................
Air Traffic Management (ATM)............ 29,000,000 22,000,000 0 0
Critical Telecommunication Support...... 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000
FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure 51,200,000 51,200,000 51,200,000 51,200,000
(FTI)..................................
Air/Ground Communications Infrastructure 24,100,000 24,100,000 24,100,000 24,100,000
Voice Recorder Replacement Program 3,300,000 3,300,000 3,300,000 3,300,000
(VRRP).................................
NAS Infrastructure Management System 22,100,000 22,100,000 22,100,000 22,100,000
(NIMS).................................
Flight Service Station (FSS) 5,800,000 5,800,000 5,800,000 5,800,000
Modernization..........................
FSAS Operational and Supportability 19,710,000 19,710,000 19,710,000 19,710,000
Implementation System (OASIS)..........
Weather Message Switching Center 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000
Replacement............................
Flight Service Station Swtich 5,400,000 5,400,000 5,400,000 2,000,000
Modernization..........................
Alaskan NAS Interfacility Communications 900,000 900,000 900,000 900,000
System (ANICS).........................
Electrical Power Systems--Sustain/ 51,000,000 51,000,000 45,000,000 45,000,000
Support................................
NAS Recovery Communications (RCOM)...... 12,000,000 12,000,000 11,600,000 9,400,000
Aeronautical Center Infrastructure 13,000,000 13,000,000 11,700,000 13,000,000
Modernization..........................
Frequency and Spectrum Engineering...... 3,600,00 1,930,000 2,600,000 1,930,000
NAS Interference, Detection, Location 1,000,000 1,000,000 0 0
and Mitigation.........................
=======================================================================
Category 5: Improve the Efficiency of 458,221,700 452,341,700 444,571,700 446,853,800
Mission Support........................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NAS Improvement of System Support 2,700,000 2,700,000 0 0
Laboratory.............................
Technical Center Facilities............. 14,000,000 11,000,000 3,300,000 13,000,000
Technical Center Building and Plant 3,500,000 3,500,000 3,500,000 3,500,000
Support................................
En Route Communications and Control 1,203,390 1,203,390 1,203,390 1,203,390
Facilities Improvements................
DOD/FAA Facilities Transfer............. 1,200,000 1,200,000 3,250,000 3,250,000
Terminal Communications--Improve........ 1,012,000 1,012,000 112,000 112,000
Flight Service Facilities Improvement... 1,276,890 1,276,890 476,890 476,890
Navigation and Landing Aids--Improve.... 5,929,420 5,929,420 5,929,420 5,929,420
FAA Buildings and Equipment............. 11,200,000 11,200,000 11,200,000 11,200,000
Air Navigational Aids and ATC Facilities 2,200,000 2,200,000 2,200,000 2,200,000
(Local Projects).......................
Computer Aided Eng and Graphics (CAEG) 2,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
Modernization..........................
Information Technology Integration...... 1,600,000 0 1,600,00 0
NAS Aeronautical Info Management 10,300,000 10,300,000 10,300,000 10,300,000
Enterprise System......................
Logistics Support Systems and Facilities 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000
(LSSF).................................
Test Equipment--Maintenance Support For 4,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000
Replacement............................
Facility Security Risk Management....... 41,600,000 30,000,000 36,900,000 30,000,000
Information Security.................... 11,500,000 8,000,000 11,500,000 8,000,000
Distance Learning....................... 1,400,000 1,400,000 1,400,000 1,400,000
National Airspace System (NAS) Training 4,200,000 4,200,000 4,200,000 4,200,000
Facilities.............................
System Engineering and Development 28,300,000 28,300,000 25,300,000 25,300,000
Support................................
Program Support Leases.................. 41,100,000 41,100,000 41,100,000 41,100,000
Logistics Support Services (LSS)........ 7,900,000 7,900,000 7,900,000 7,900,000
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center-- 14,600,000 14,600,000 14,600,000 14,600,000
Leases.................................
In-Plant NAS Contract Support Services.. 2,800,000 9,800,000 0 0
DCAA Audits............................. 0 0 0 3,000,000
Transition Engineering Support.......... 39,800,000 39,800,000 35,000,000 35,000,000
FAA Corporate Systems Architecture...... 1,000,000 1,000,000 0 0
Technical Support Services Contract 47,600,000 47,600,000 46,700,000 42,562,400
(TSSC).................................
Resource Tracking Program (RTP)......... 3,600,000 3,600,000 3,600,000 3,600,000
Center for Advanced Aviation System 90,800,00 84,620,000 82,000,000 84,620,000
Development............................
Operational Evolution Plan.............. 2,000,000 0 26,000,000 21,000,000
NAS Facilities OSHA and Environmental 28,300,000 28,300,000 28,300,000 28,300,000
Standards Compliance...................
Fuel Storage Tank Replacement and 5,600,000 5,600,000 7,500,000 5,600,000
Monitoring.............................
Hazardous Materials Management.......... 19,000,000 19,000,000 19,000,000 19,000,000
Research Aircraft Replacement........... 0 15,000,000 0 10,000,000
=======================================================================
Category 6: PCB&T Only.................. 448,540,000 420,841,200 435,480,000 420,841,200
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel and Related Expenses.......... 448,540,000 420,841,200 435,480,000 420,841,200
=======================================================================
Category 7: Accountwide Adjustments..... 0 0 100,000,000 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Airports Grants......................... 0 0 100,000,000 0
=======================================================================
Totals............................ 2,916,000,000 2,900,000,000 2,916,000,000 2,910,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terminal air traffic control facilities replacement.--The
conference agreement provides $158,245,000 for this program.
Funds shall be distributed as follows:
Location Conference agreement
Atlanta, GA..................................................4,159,900
Cleveland, OH.................................................4,000,000
Morristown, NJ................................................1,300,000
Dayton, OH....................................................4,000,000
Wilkes Barre, PA................................................920,000
Oshkosh, WI.....................................................385,000
Toledo, OH......................................................975,000
Abilene, TX...................................................1,760,000
Cahokia, IL.....................................................625,000
Memphis, TN...................................................5,000,000
Baltimore, MD...................................................600,000
Deer Valley, AZ...............................................5,658,300
Oakland, CA..................................................21,636,600
Manchester, NH................................................8,300,000
St. Louis, MO (Tracon)........................................1,195,500
Addison Field, Dallas, TX.....................................2,005,000
Reno, NV......................................................2,000,000
Seattle, WA...................................................2,000,000
Seattle, WA (Tracon)..........................................5,280,000
Fort Wayne, IN................................................1,220,000
Newark, NJ......................................................500,000
Port Columbus, OH...............................................700,000
Billings, MT..................................................3,000,000
Savannah, GA..................................................1,000,000
Newburgh, NY..................................................1,500,000
Richmond, VA..................................................1,000,000
Vero Beach, FL..................................................750,000
Everett, WA...................................................2,000,000
Roanoke, VA...................................................1,500,000
Merrimack, NH (Tracon)........................................3,217,700
Phoenix, AZ...................................................3,027,000
[[Page 31688]]
Warrenton, VA.................................................4,110,000
Dulles International, Chantilly, VA...........................4,500,000
Topeka, KS....................................................1,500,000
Newport News, VA..............................................2,000,000
Battle Creek, MI..............................................1,000,000
Mathis, CA....................................................4,300,000
Huntsville International 8,000,000
Front Range Airport, CO.......................................2,920,000
McCarran International, NV....................................4,000,000
Cherry Capital Airport, MI....................................4,000,000
Spokane International, WA.....................................8,000,000
Boise Airport, ID.............................................4,000,000
Phoenix Sky Harbor, AZ........................................2,000,000
Tulsa International Airport, OK...............................2,500,000
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Intl, MI...............................2,500,000
Palm Beach International, FL..................................1,600,000
Provo, UT.....................................................1,000,000
Missoula, MT..................................................3,000,000
Las Cruces, NM................................................1,100,000
Traverse City, MI.............................................2,000,000
Long Island, NY...............................................1,000,000
John C. Stennis, Pascagoula, MS...............................2,000,000
________________
Total...................................................158,245,000
Precision runway monitors.--The conferees expect the FAA to
proceed with the acquisition, installation, and operation of
a precision runway monitor at Cleveland Hopkins International
Airport. The City of Cleveland has devoted significant time
and effort to facilitate the acquisition of a PRM system to
complement runway improvements at the airport. Because the
PRM is a key component of the overall modernization effort,
the conferees expect FAA to proceed expeditiously with this
project to ensure the PRM is operational when the new runway
opens in the year 2004.
Advanced technology development and prototyping.--The
conference agreement includes $70,100,000 for advanced
technology development and prototyping instead of $52,600,000
as proposed by the House and $76,600,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The following table compares the conference agreement
to the House and Senate bills by budget activity:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Runway incursion................................................ $8,200,000 $8,200,000 $8,200,000
Aviation system capacity improvement............................ 6,500,000 6,500,000 6,500,000
Separation standards............................................ 2,500,000 2,500,000 2,500,000
Airspace management laboratory.................................. 7,000,000 0 0
GA/vertical flight technology................................... 1,400,000 1,400,000 1,400,000
Operational concept validation.................................. 2,700,000 2,700,000 2,700,000
Software engineering............................................ 1,500,000 0 0
NAS requirements development.................................... 3,000,000 3,000,000 3,000,000
Domestic RVSM................................................... 1,900,000 1,900,000 1,900,000
Safer skies..................................................... 3,400,000 3,400,000 3,400,000
Lithium technologies to mitigate ASR............................ 1,000,000 0 1,000,000
Wind/weather research, Juneau, AK............................... 0 6,000,000 6,000,000
Phased array radar technology................................... 3,000,000 0 3,000,000
Airport research................................................ 7,500,000 15,000,000 12,000,000
Fogeye.......................................................... 0 0 2,000,000
Required navigation performance (RNP)........................... 2,000,000 0 0
NAS safety assessment........................................... 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
Automated airborne flight alert system.......................... .............. 3,500,000 3,000,000
Cabin air quality research...................................... .............. 8,500,000 8,500,000
Pulsed fast neutron analysis (PFNA)............................. .............. 7,500,000 4,000,000
Unspecified..................................................... .............. 5,500,000 0
-----------------------------------------------
Total..................................................... 52,600,000 76,600,000 70,100,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airport research.--Of the $12,000,000 provided, $4,000,000
is for the airfield improvement program under section 905 of
Public Law 106-181 and to expand the program to include
asphalt; and $1,500,000 is to continue evaluation of the
runway obstruction warning system at Gulfport-Biloxi Airport,
MS, as proposed by the Senate.
Automated airborne flight alert system.--The conference
agreement provides $3,000,000 for the Automated Airborne
Flight Alert System (AAFAS). The AAFAS program is a
demonstration of a prototype rapid response capability to
transmit flight data from commercial-type aircraft using data
management and communications equipment already installed on
most modern aircraft through software modernization. The
conferees agree that the funding is a continuation of
previous AAFAS work presently underway.
Pulsed fast neutron analysis.--The conferees agree to
provide $4,000,000 for a demonstration of pulsed fast neutron
analysis technology at George W. Bush Intercontinental
Airport in Houston, Texas, instead of $7,500,000 proposed by
the Senate. The conferees direct FAA to provide a status
report on this demonstration to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations no later than July 1, 2004.
Standard terminal automation replacement system (STARS).--
In a recent audit, the Inspector General has raised several
concerns over the deployment strategy for the STARS system,
and has recommended that the FAA perform detailed life cycle
cost analyses justifying the costs and benefits of replacing
the common ARTS sites with STARS. While the conferees support
the STARS program, it is not clear at this time whether the
most cost-effective strategy would result in an all-STARS
deployment, or one where common ARTS and STARS are both
maintained in the national airspace system. The conferees
direct the agency not to obligate the government
contractually during fiscal year 2004 to actions which would
involve replacement of common ARTS systems or ARTS color
displays until the Inspector General reviews and validates
the life cycle cost studies and other relevant analyses
provided to FAA's Joint Resources Council to justify and
rebaseline the program. However, this does not prohibit the
agency from including such activities in contract options
that the agency could exercise after full review and approval
is received. The conferees are neutral on the issue of STARS
deployment, and await the FAA's detailed analyses and the
Inspector General's review.
En route automation.--The conferees provide $307,700,000
for en route automation, a reduction of $40,000,000 below the
budget estimate. The conferees agree that this program
requires close scrutiny, including the IG review directed by
the Senate.
Approach lighting system improvement program.--The
conference agreement for this program shall be distributed as
follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
Location Item agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Items included in budget....... ....................... $14,200,000
Max Westheimer Airport, OK..... Install MALSR with REIL 800,000
and ILS.
Gary/Chicago Airport, IN....... Replace naviad; upgrade 1,200,000
RVR; centerline
lighting.
Baton Rouge Metro, LA.......... Category II runway 1,000,000
lighting.
North Las Vegas and Henderson REILs.................. 500,000
Executive, NV.
Lambert St. Louis Intl, MO..... Navaids; ASDE-X; ATCT; 2,000,000
PRM; ALSF-2 relocate.
Hartsfield International, GA... Install ALSF-2 on 2,000,000
runway 26R and 27L.
Cincinnati International, OH... Navaids for new north- 2,000,000
south runway, 17/35.
Wichita Mid-Continent, KS...... Instrument approach 500,000
lighting, runway 19L.
Colonel James Jabara Airport, Instrument approach 600,000
KS. lighting.
Various nationwide............. National procurement of 5,000,000
MALSR systems.
Alaska statewide-rural lighting Airfield lighting...... 8,000,000
phase III.
Bessmer Regional, AL........... Lights and navigation 250,000
aids.
Cleveland Hopkins Precision approach path 175,000
International, OH. indicators (PAPI).
False Pass, AK................. Navigational lighting.. 2,000,000
Green County Regional, GA...... MALSR.................. 250,000
Hartsfield International, GA... ALSF-2 approach 2,000,000
lighting system (5th
runway).
Rhode Island Airport REIL and PAPI.......... 2,500,000
Corporation.
Seattle-Tacoma International, Approach lighting for 4,000,000
WA. runway 16.
---------------
Total.................... ..................... 48,975,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instrument landing system establishment.--The conference
agreement for this program shall be distributed as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
Location Item agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Items in President's budget.... Various nationwide..... $20,700,000
Reduction to President's budget Various nationwide..... -2,700,000
Gadsden Airport, AL............ Purchase and install 2,000,000
ILS.
McCook Municipal, NE........... Purchase and install 910,000
ILS.
Leesburg Executive, VA......... Purchase and install 1,000,000
ILS/glideslope.
Baxter County Regional, AR..... Purchase and install 1,000,000
ILS.
Logan Airport, UT.............. Purchase and install 1,750,000
ILS with MALSR.
[[Page 31689]]
Lee Gilmer Memorial, GA........ Purchase and install 1,000,000
ILS.
Eugene Airport, OR............. Install category I ILS 750,000
with ALS, PAPI, REILs.
Harnett County Airport, NC..... Purchase and install 700,000
ILS.
Eagle River Union A/P, WI...... Install localizer, ALS, 625,000
and DME.
Anson County Airport, NC....... ILS and AWOS........... 1,500,000
Freeman Municipal Airport, IN.. Glidescope and AWOS.... 355,000
Bishop Airport, CA............. Purchase and install 800,000
ILS.
Stevens Point Municipal, WI.... Install ILS, DME, 1,500,000
glideslope, localizer,
MALSR and outer marker.
Cleveland Hopkins Intl, OH..... Purchase and install 1,500,000
ILS on runway 10; 2
PAPIs.
Big Sandy Airport, KY.......... Purchase and install 300,000
ILS.
Williamsburg/Whitley Cty, KY... Purchase and install 1,000,000
ILS.
Baraboo-Wisconsin Dells, WI.... Unspecified............ 375,000
Baton Rouge Municipal, LA...... Unspecified............ 500,000
Cincinnati/N. Kentucky Intl, OH Unspecified............ 1,500,000
Craig SPB, AK.................. Unspecified............ 2,000,000
Eagle County Regional, CO...... Unspecified............ 2,000,000
North Little Rock Municipal, AR Unspecified............ 1,200,000
Eastern Iowa, IA............... Unspecified............ 1,500,000
O'Hare International, Chicago, Unspecified............ 1,500,000
IL.
Olive Branch, MS............... Unspecified............ 850,000
Sumter Municipal, SC........... Unspecified............ 1,500,000
Western Nebraska Regional/ Unspecified............ 1,000,000
William B. Helig Field, NE.
---------------
Total.................... ..................... 48,615,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oceanic automation system.--The conferees agree to an IG
audit of this program, as proposed by the Senate, but direct
the IG to compare FAA's pursuit of oceanic automation
capabilities not only to the experience of NavCanada, but to
Airservices Australia and other major oceanic ATC service
providers.
New York integrated control complex.--I The conferees agree
to provide $5,000,000 for continued analysis of a New York
integrated control complex as proposed by the Senate instead
of $2,000,000 proposed by the House. While the conferees
support further analysis of this potential consolidation,
such project should not receive higher funding or schedule
priority than the Houston area air traffic system, which
preceded it in time and is projected to provide significant
benefit to air traffic in that region. Given future budget
constraints, it is likely that the agency will have to phase
consolidation projects, no matter how meritorious. First
funding priority should be given to the Houston project,
which is already underway.
Determination of operations versus capital budgeting.--The
House and Senate Committees have noted several instances this
year of activities budgeted in the capital appropriation that
appear to be ongoing operating expenses. In many cases, these
expenses have been either denied or transferred to the
operations budget. While the conferees understand there is
significant pressure on FAA's operating budget, those
pressures should be addressed by controlling or avoiding the
expenses directly, rather than by transferring them to
another account. To gain further insight into this issue, the
conferees direct the U.S. General Accounting Office to
conduct an audit of FAA's policies for determining when an
expense should be budgeted in the operating budget or the
capital budget. This should include a detailed look at
policies and practices for budgeting personnel compensation,
benefits, travel, and related expenses in the capital budget.
In addition, the conferees request the GAO to compare these
policies to those of the Department of Defense and other
civilian agencies with large acquisition budgets. This report
should be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations by April 15, 2004.
Free flight phase one.--The conferees believe that some of
the activities presented under this program appear to be for
sustaining engineering or similar operating expenses. The
conferees encourage FAA to include those expenses in the
agency's operating budget in future budget requests.
Global communication, navigation, and surveillance systems
initiative.--The conference agreement includes $20,000,000
for the global communication, navigation, and surveillance
systems (GCNSS) initiative. The conferees direct the FAA to
submit a report on this initiative to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations no later than March 31, 2004.
The report should detail the status of planned fiscal year
2004 activities for the program as well as the anticipated
future funding requirements for this initiative.
VOR/DME.--The conferees agree that, of the funds provided
for VOR/DME, the following allocations shall be made, as
proposed by the House: Sarasota/Bradenton International
Airport, FL (relocate VORTAC, including land acquisition),
$4,500,000; John F. Kennedy Memorial Airport, WI (install VOR
and DME), $400,000; and Rice Lake Regional Airport, WI
(install VOR and DME), $400,000.
Facilities at the FAA Technical Center.--The conferees
request the FAA Administrator to submit a report to the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations, no later than
February 15, 2004, concerning the status of civil aviation
security research and development facilities at the FAA
Technical Center. The report should address any facilities or
space formally transferred to the Department of Homeland
Security as well as cost savings attributable to such
transfer. The responsibilities for civil aviation security
were largely transferred to DHS in 2001. Although the FAA had
several security-related facilities at the FAA Technical
Center, it is not yet clear from budget documentation whether
appropriate facilities costs and support costs have been
adjusted to reflect the transfer of this mission.
Facility security risk management.--The conferees are not
clear why this program has such a large unobligated balance,
given the agency's internal reprogramming of funds to
accelerate these projects in late 2001 and supplemental
funding provided in the same year. The FAA is directed to
provide a report, no later than January 15, 2004, to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations explaining the
cause of the unobligated balance and the agency's plan to
eliminate it. Considering this backlog, the conference
agreement provides $30,000,000 as proposed by the House
instead of $36,900,000 as proposed by the Senate.
DCAA audits.--The conferees share the concern of the House
that FAA should not be curtailing Defense Contract Audit
Agency (DCAA) audits when ongoing programs still suffer major
cost overruns and billing disputes. When this responsibility
was transferred to individual modes from the Office of
Inspector General a few years ago, the IG warned that
agencies should not be allowed to reduce or eliminate those
audits. Unfortunately, due to lax management the agency has
done just that. The conferees re-emphasize to FAA that these
valuable audits should be increased and used on most, if not
all, major acquisition programs of the agency. The conference
agreement includes $3,000,000 solely for this purpose.
Facilities and Equipment
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)
(RESCISSION)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
unobligated balances from ``Facilities and equipment'' of
$30,000,000. The Secretary is directed to advise the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations on the distribution
of this rescission prior to its implementation.
Research, Engineering, and Development
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement provides $119,439,000 for
research, engineering, and development instead of
$108,000,000 as proposed by the House and $118,939,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The following table compares the
conference agreement to the budget estimate and the House and
Senate bills by budget activity:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
Program House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Improve Aviation Safety:
Reduce commercial aviation fatalities:
Fire research and safety.......................... $8,458,000 $8,725,000 $9,725,000
Propulsion and fuel systems....................... 802,000 4,802,000 4,802,000
Advanced materials/structural safety.............. 1,244,000 5,244,000 5,744,000
Flight safety/atmospheric hazards................. 3,217,000 4,217,000 3,217,000
Aging aircraft.................................... 18,336,000 17,036,000 17,036,000
Aircraft catastrophic failure prevention.......... 762,000 762,000 762,000
[[Page 31690]]
Flightdeck safety/systems integration............. 6,782,000 6,782,000 6,782,000
Reduce general aviation fatalities:
Propulsion and fuel systems....................... 344,000 1,344,000 1,844,000
Advanced materials/structural safety.............. 1,522,000 1,522,000 1,522,000
Flight safety/atmospheric hazards................. 1,378,000 1,378,000 1,378,000
Aging aircraft.................................... 3,584,000 3,584,000 3,584,000
Flightdeck safety/systems integration............. 1,612,000 1,612,000 1,612,000
Aviation System Safety:
Aviation safety risk analysis..................... 6,926,000 7,898,000 7,898,000
ATC/AF human factors.............................. 8,899,000 8,899,000 8,899,000
Aeromedical research.............................. 6,382,000 9,382,000 8,882,000
Weather research.................................. 20,852,000 20,852,000 20,852,000
Improve Efficiency of the ATC System: Weather research 5,000,000 3,000,000 3,000,000
efficiency...............................................
Reduce Environmental Impacts: Environment and energy...... 7,975,000 7,975,000 7,975,000
Improve Mission Efficiency:
System planning and resource mgmt..................... 500,000 500,000 500,000
Technical laboratory facilities....................... 3,425,000 3,425,000 3,425,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total........................................... 108,000,000 118,939,000 119,439,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reduce Commercial Aviation Fatalities
Fire research and safety.--Of the funds provided for fire
research and safety, $1,000,000 is for an advanced cargo
monitoring system, and $1,000,000 is for advanced reticulated
polyurethane safety foam.
Propulsion and fuel systems.--Of the funds provided for
propulsion and fuel systems, $3,000,000 is to study molecular
markers designed to detect the adulteration or dilution of
jet fuel and $1,000,000 is for the Specialty Metals
Processing Consortium.
Advanced materials/structural safety.--Of the funds
provided for advanced materials/structural safety, $4,000,000
is for the National Institute for Aviation Research and
$500,000 is for the FAA Center for Excellence for Applied
Research and Training in the Use of Advanced Materials in
Transport Aircraft.
Reduce General Aviation Fatalities
Propulsion and fuel systems.--Of the funds provided for
propulsion and fuel systems, $1,000,000 is for ethanol fuel
research as proposed by the Senate, and $500,000 is for
continued research into technologies for modifications to
existing general aviation piston engines to enable their safe
operation using lower octane unleaded fuel.
Aviation System Safety
Aeromedical research.--Within the amount provided for
aeromedical research, the conference agreement includes
$2,500,000 for the studies and analysis called for in the
National Research Council's study on the impact of cabin air
quality on crew and passenger health.
Grants-in-Aid for Airports
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement includes a liquidating cash
appropriation of $3,400,000,000, as proposed by the Senate.
The House had no similar appropriation.
Obligation limitation.--The conferees agree to an
obligation limitation of $3,400,000,000 for the ``Grants-in-
aid for airports'' program as proposed by the Senate. The
House bill contained no similar limitation.
Administration.--The conference agreement includes a
limitation on administrative expenses of $66,254,000 instead
of $66,638,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement distributes funding as follows:
Activity Amount
FY03 base amount............................................$63,207,000
Mandatory adjustments.........................................2,907,000
Discretionary adjustments:
Airport financial reporting system...........................-500,000
PFC program analysis.........................................-300,000
Environmental streamlining....................................225,000
Airport data system modification................................400,000
Wildlife hazard mitigation......................................315,000
________________
Total....................................................66,254,000
Small community air service development pilot program.--The
bill includes $20,000,000 under the obligation limitation to
continue the small community air service development pilot
program, as proposed by the Senate. The House had no similar
funding. This is consistent with actions taken in fiscal
years 2002 and 2003.
Installation of bulk explosive detection systems.--The bill
includes a provision proposed by the Senate prohibiting funds
for the replacement of baggage conveyor systems,
reconfiguration of terminal baggage areas, or other airport
improvements necessary to install bulk explosive detection
systems. Funding responsibility for these activities has now
transferred to the Department of Homeland Security.
San Diego Airport.--The conferees remain concerned over the
Air Transportation Action Plan (ATAP) site selection process
being conducted by the San Diego County Regional Airport
Authority. The authority has selected sites for review
without considering whether the potential sites are even
available. Of particular concern, most of the selected sites
are important active military installations which are
unavailable for civilian use.
Priority consideration for letters of intent.--The
conferees agree that FAA should give priority consideration
to letter or intent applications for improvement projects at
Gary/Chicago Airport and Birmingham International Airport
during fiscal year 2004.
High priority projects.--Of the funds covered by the
obligation limitation in this bill, the conferees direct FAA
to provide not less than the following funding levels, out of
available resources, for the following projects in the
corresponding amounts. The conferees agree that state
apportionment funds may be construed as discretionary funds
for the purposes of implementing this provision. To the
maximum extent possible, the administrator should work to
ensure that airport sponsors for these projects first use
available entitlement funds to finance the projects. However,
the FAA should not require sponsors to apply carryover
entitlements to discretionary projects funded in the coming
year, but only those entitlements applicable to the fiscal
year 2004 obligation limitation. The conferees further direct
that the specific funding allocated above shall not diminish
or prejudice the application of a specific airport or
geographic region to receive other AIP discretionary grants
or multiyear letters of intent.
Airports to receive priority consideration for grant
funding.--The conferees agree that Slidell Airport, LA and
Paulding County Airport, GA are to be given priority
consideration for discretionary grant funding by the FAA
during fiscal year 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
Airport Project description agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. L. Mangham, Jr. Regional Various improvements... $2,000,000
Airport, TX.
Abbeville Regional Airport, AL. Runway Extension....... 1,000,000
Abilene Regional, TX........... Various improvements... 2,000,000
Alaska statewide airports...... Runway and related 3,000,000
improvements.
Albany International, NY....... Runway extension....... 750,000
Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional, Infrastructure 500,000
OK. improvements.
Andrews Municipal Airport, SC.. Pavement reconstruction 1,000,000
Andrews Murphy Airport, NC..... Various improvements... 1,521,900
Anoka County-Blaine Airport, MN Runway Extension....... 2,000,000
Arnold Palmer Regional, PA..... Extend runway 5-25..... 2,500,000
Atka Airport, AK............... Runway Extension....... 1,500,000
Augusta Regional Airport at Terminal Construction, 2,500,000
Bush Field, GA. Runway Rehabilitation,
Various improvements.
Austin Straubel International Various improvements... 2,500,000
Airport, WI.
Bastrop-Morehouse Memorial Various improvements... 800,000
Aviation Park, LA.
Baton Rouge Metropolitan, LA... Noise mitigation; 2,100,000
various improvements.
Bert Mooney Airport, MT........ Airport Improvements... 750,000
Bessemer Airport, AL........... Runway improvements, 1,500,000
security improvements,
and other improvements.
Birmingham International Land Acquisition, 2,000,000
Airport, AL. Runway Extension.
Bowman Field, KY............... Apron & Taxiway 1,500,000
Reconstruction.
Bremerton National Airport, WA. Runway & Taxiway 4,000,000
Lengthening &
Strengthening.
Brunswick County Airport, NC... Runway and taxiway 500,000
improvements.
Burlington-Alamance, NC........ Runway extension....... 1,000,000
[[Page 31691]]
Cape May Airport, NC........... Drainage system 1,080,000
rehabilitation;
obstruction study/
removal.
Central Nebraska Regional Rehabilitate Runway 17- 2,000,000
Airport, NE. 35 and Connecting
Taxiway.
Central Wisconsin Airport, WI.. Primary air carrier 6,000,000
runway/parallel
taxiway reconstruction.
Chattanooga Metropolitan, TN... Rehabilitate runway 15/ 3,500,000
33.
Chickasha Municipal, OK........ Planning/justification 100,000
for runway extension.
Chippewa County International, New terminal........... 1,000,000
MI.
Cincinnati Lunken Airport, OH.. Apron construction..... 250,000
Clarion County Airport, PA..... Runway expansion....... 1,500,000
Cold Bay Airport, AK........... Terminal Facilities.... 1,000,000
Concord Regional Airport, NC... Runway Extension....... 2,750,000
Connellsville Airport, PA...... Runway expansion....... 850,00
Council Bluffs Municipal Runway expansion....... 2,000,000
Airport, IA.
Dane County Regional Airport- Runway 14 Safety Area 4,000,000
Truax Field, WI. Construction.
Dekalb Taylor Municipal, IL.... MALSR; easements; 4,555,000
glidseloope; land
acquision for RPZ.
Denton Municipal Airport, TX... Airport Improvements... 2,000,000
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne Various improvements... 3,500,000
County Airport, MI.
Double Eagle II Airport, NM.... Runway 17-35 2,000,000
Reconstruction.
Egegik Airport, AK............. Runway Improvements.... 1,500,000
Elton Hensley Memorial Airport, New Runway............. 2,900,000
MO.
Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport, Various improvements... 1,500,000
OH.
Fairbanks International, AK.... Terminal redevelopment. 1,000,000
Fairfield County Airport, SC... Runway extension....... 440,000
False Pass Airport, AK......... Various Improvements... 1,500,000
Fort Dodge Airport, IA......... Extension of runway 12/ 734,000
30.
Gallatin Field Airport, MT..... Various Improvements... 1,000,000
Galveston Scholes Taxiway Improvement.... 2,500,000
International, TX.
General Mitchell International, Taxiway construction, 2,400,000
WI. taxiway rehab, and
apron rehab.
Glacier Park International Various Improvements... 750,000
Airport, Kalispell, MT.
Goshen Municipal, IN........... ALP update, land and 1,000,000
road relocation.
Greene County Regional Airport, Runway lengthening and 1,000,000
GA. improvement.
Gulfport-Biloxi Regional General Aviation & 2,850,000
Airport, MS. Cargo Development.
Guntersville Municipal, AL..... Various Improvements... 500,000
Halifax-Northampton Regional, Airport construction... 1,000,000
NC.
Hammonton Airport, NC.......... Security fencing; 585,000
construction of new
apron; EA.
Hancock International, NY...... Various improvements, 750,000
including acquisition
of jetways.
Harnett County Airport, NC..... Phase 2 runway and 1,000,000
taxiway extension.
Hector International Airport, Runway Reconstruction.. 6,000,000
ND.
Helena Regional Airport, MT.... Terminal Remodeling & 1,000,000
Expansion Project.
Hickory Regional Airport, NC... Runway lighting and 1,000,000
apron pavement overlay.
Houma Terrebone Airport, LA.... Upgrade runway......... 3,000,000
Indiana County-Jimmy Stewart Runway extension....... 810,000
Airport, PA.
Jackson International Airport, Terminal, Apron & 1,500,000
MS. Taxiway Replacement,
and other improvements.
Juneau Harbor Seaplane Base, AK Snow Removal Equipment. 1,000,000
Kay Larkin Municipal, FL....... Update airport layout 750,000
plan, perform
environmental analysis.
Ketchikan International Various Improvements... 500,000
Airport, AK.
Killeen/Fort Hood Joint Use Safety improvements.... 2,750,000
Airport, TX.
Kodiak Airport, AK............. Terminal Improvements.. 1,000,000
La Crosse Municipal, WI........ Taxiways............... 2,400,000
Lafayette Regional, LA......... Taxiway and runway 750,000
improvements.
Lampson Airport, CA............ Wastewater collection 750,000
system.
Lawrence Municipal, KS......... Various improvements... 1,000,000
Lehigh Valley International Various Improvements... 1,000,000
Airport, PA.
Long Island Islip MacArthur Various improvements... 1,000,000
Airport, NY.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airfield Safety 3,000,000
International Airport, LA. Improvement Program,
Various improvements.
Louisville International, KY... Extension of west 2,000,000
runway; upgrade runway
safety area.
Mahlon Sweet Field, OR......... Parallel Runway 2,250,000
construction and other
improvements.
Marion-Crittenden County Runway Paving.......... 800,000
Airport, KY.
Maryville Memorial Airport, MO. Terminal Facility, 500,000
Various improvements.
McKinney Municipal Airport, TX. Runway & Taxiway 4,000,000
Rehabilitation.
McMinn County Airport, TN...... Lengthen/widen runway; 2,000,000
extend taxiway; land
acquisition.
Meadows Field, CA.............. Apron, taxiway 5,000,000
improvements.
Midway Airport, IL............. Various improvements... 4,000,000
Minneapolis-St. Paul Pavement rehabilitation 2,500,000
International, MN. and de-icing pad.
Missoula International Airport, Land Acquisition....... 4,000,000
MT.
Mobile Downtown Airport (BFM), Rehabilitate Ramp and 1,000,000
AL. other improvements.
Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Terminal Expansion & 2,000,000
Field) Airport, AL. Renovation.
Monticello Airport, KY......... Parallel taxiway 650,000
extension.
Mt. Pleasant Municipal, MI..... Planning for upgrades.. 150,000
Nashville International Taxiway Widening, 2,225,000
Airport, TN. Airfield
Reconstruction.
New Castle County Airport, DE.. Rehabilitation of 2,000,000
Runway 1-19 & Taxiway
M.
Niagara Falls International, NY Apron expansion and 1,000,000
taxiway.
North Pickens Airport, AL...... Land Acquisition, RSA 500,000
Improvements, Runway
Overlay.
Northwest Arkansas Regional, AR Construction of cargo 2,500,000
apron and taxiway.
Oakland County International, Design of crosswind 3,000,000
MI. runway; upgrade
lighting; noise
program.
Ohio University, OH............ Airport Improvements... 1,000,000
Orlando Sanford International 9R/27L Runway Extension 500,000
Airport, FL.
Owensboro-Daviess County Various Improvements to 1,000,000
Airport, KY. Terminal, Parking &
Runway Areas.
Paragould Municipal, AR........ Master plan and 1,000,000
parallel taxiway.
Paulding County Airport, GA.... Runway construction.... 1,000,000
Pellston Regional Airport, New Passenger Terminal 1,000,000
Emmet County, MI. Building.
Philadelphia International, PA. Various improvements... 2,250,000
Phoenix Sky Harbor Noise mitigation 2,500,000
International, AZ. program.
Pittsburgh International Runway and taxiway 2,000,000
Airport, PA. improvements and
terminal building
modifications.
Plattsburgh International Redevelopment and 2,500,000
Airport, NY. Capital Improvements.
Port Authority of New York & School soundproofing... 1,000,000
New Jersey, NJ.
Pryor Field Regional, AL....... Various improvements... 3,000,000
Redlands Municipal, CA......... Security enhancements: 200.000
lighting, cameras,
intrusion sensors.
Reno/Stead Airport, NV......... Runway Reconstruction, 2,000,000
Taxilane Construction,
Overlay.
Rhode Island Airport Various Improvements... 1,000,000
Corporation.
Richard B. Russell Airport, GA. Environmental 200,000
assessment for runway
extension.
Romeoville Lewis University Runway construction, 2,500,000
Airport, IL. including ILS and land
acquisition.
Rowan County Airport, KY....... Runway extension to 3,000,000
5,500 feet.
San Bernardino International, Runway improvements.... 500,000
CA.
Sand Point Airport, AK......... Terminal Improvements.. 1,000,000
Santa Teresa Airport, NM....... Extension of runway and 2,000,000
taxiway.
Seattle-Tacoma International Various Improvements... 5,000,000
Airport, WA.
Seward Airport, AK............. Master plan phase 2.... 125,000
Slidell Airport, LA............ Various improvements... 1,000,000
Somerset Airport, KY........... Design/build passenger 3,500,000
terminal; construct
maint hanger.
Southern California Logistics Engine rune up runway 1,000,000
Airport, CA. infrastructure
improvements.
Spirit of St. Louis Airport, MO Taxiways............... 1,500,000
Springfield Branson Regional, Midfield terminal 4,000,000
MO. design; ramps and
access taxiways.
Springfield Municipal, OH...... Land acquisition....... 150,000
St. Paul Island Airport, AK.... Runway Paving.......... 1,000,000
St. Petersburg/Clearwater Runway extension....... 3,240,000
International, FL.
Statesville Municipal, NC...... Extension of runway 10/ 1,500,000
28; ILS installation.
Stockton Airport,CA............ Air Cargo Center....... 500,000
Sugar Land Regional, TX........ Construct apron and 3,600,000
taxiway.
Troy Municipal Airport, AL..... Runway & Taxiway 1,000,000
Extension, Apron
Improvements.
[[Page 31692]]
Tulsa International, OK........ Various improvements... 5,000,000
Tunica Airport, MS............. Airfield construction 1,000,000
and expansion.
Twentynine Palms Airport, CA... Runway parking skirt 250,000
renovation.
Twin County Airport, VA........ Runway and lighting 900,000
rehabilitation.
Unalaska Airport, AK........... Terminal Facility...... 1,000,000
Upshur County Airport, WV...... Runway extension and 660,000
apron construction.
Virginia Highlands Airport, VA. Apron, taxiways and 750,000
road construction.
Walnut Ridge Regional, AR...... Various improvements... 250,000
Wayne County Airport, OH....... Various improvements... 3,000,000
West Virginia Statewide........ Various Improvements... 8,000,000
Wichita Mid-Continent, KS...... Construct taxiway L, 2,000,000
taxiway R, and a
compass route.
Williams Gateway Airport, AZ... Runway Construction, 2,250,000
Taxiway Repair.
Willmar Municipal, MN.......... Runway improvements, 1,000,000
lighting, and fencing.
Wilmington International, NC... Runway and drainage 1,000,000
improvements.
Wright Army Airfield, GA....... Runway rehabilitation.. 1,950,000
Yucca Valley Airport District, Floor control 400,000
CA. protection along north
side of runway.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska statewide airport improvement program.--The
conferees are aware of plans for a floatplane airport to be
located in the Matanuska Susitna Borough. Within the funds
provided to the State of Alaska for various airport
improvements, the managers expect $2,000,000 to be made
available for this facility once it has received the
necessary approvals.
AVIATION INSURANCE REVOLVING FUND
The conference agreement deletes language proposed by the
Senate authorizing funds for aviation insurance activities
under 49 U.S.C. 443 (``war risk insurance''). This
authorization is no longer needed for the orderly execution
of the program.
General Provisions--Federal Aviation Administration
The conference agreement includes a provision proposed by
the House prohibiting funds for engineering work related to
an additional runway at Louis Armstrong New Orleans
International Airport in Louisiana.
The conference agreement includes a provision proposed by
the House prohibiting funds for FAA to mandate without-cost
space, utilities, or other items in airport sponsor-owned
buildings. The Senate had a nearly identical provision with a
technical difference in wording.
The conference agreement includes a provision proposed by
the House prohibiting funds to change weight restrictions or
prior permission rules at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.
The Senate bill contained a nearly identical provision under
section 534.
The conference agreement includes a provision proposed by
the Senate authorizing the FAA Administrator to accept funds
from an airport sponsor, subject to certain conditions, for
environmental reviews related to a project to add critical
airport capacity.
The conference agreement deletes language proposed by the
Senate requiring FAA to give priority consideration to
airport improvement projects at Paulding County, Georgia.
The conference agreement includes a provision proposed by
the Senate prohibiting funds to establish a pilot program
where essential air service communities would be required to
cost-share in the program.
The conference agreement deletes a provision proposed by
the Senate authorizing FAA to give priority consideration to
a letter of intent for extension of the main runway at the
Gary/Chicago Airport, and requiring the Administrator to
consider the application within 90 days of receiving it from
the airport sponsor.
The conference agreement deletes a provision proposed by
the Senate expressing the sense of the Senate that the
Secretary of Transportation must consider the impact of
aircraft noise on northern Delaware as part of the capacity
enhancement program at Philadelphia International Airport.
The conference agreement deletes a provision proposed by
the Senate specifiying that, of funds provided for FAA
``Facilities and equipment'', $2,000,000 is for air traffic
control facilities at the John C. Stennis International
Airport in Mississippi. Funding for this project has been
provided under ``Facilities and equipment''.
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Limitation on Administrative Expenses
The conference agreement limits administrative expenses of
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to $337,604,000
instead of $359,458,000 as proposed by the House and
$337,834,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides that $7,000,000 shall be
made available under section 104(a)(1)(A) of title 23, U.S.C.
to carry out environmental streamlining activities.
The conferees recommend the following adjustments to the
budget request by program and activity:
Employee development........................................-$4,606,000
Employee multidisciplinary development program...............+4,606,000
Information technology.........................................-500,000
Additional staff...............................................-646,000
FECA administrative costs.......................................-84,000
Employee multidisciplinary development program.--Instead of
providing $4,606,000 for the employee development program,
the conference agreement provides these funds for the
employee multidisciplinary development program, as directed
in the House report. The conference agreement directs FHWA to
provide a report to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations by March 15, 2004 on this new program. The
report should include the goal of the program, what
activities it will support, how many employees are expected
to participate, how employees are selected for the program,
and how it is different from the employee development program
funding in prior years.
Information technology planning.--The conference agreement
provides $20,869,000 for information technology equipment,
security, and support, instead of $21,369,000 as provided by
the House and $20,369,000 as provided by the Senate.
Consistent with the Senate, the conference agreement directs
FHWA to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that IT
security and equipment upgrades are compatible and that any
equipment acquisition is flexible and upgradeable. This
report is to be transmitted to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations by February 15, 2004.
Federal staff to oversee large projects.--The conference
agreement provides $646,000 for six full time equivalents to
help oversee FHWA major projects. The House did not include
funding for this purpose, and the Senate proposed $1,292,000
for twelve full time equivalents.
FECA costs.--The conference agreement does not provide
funds for workers compensation administrative costs, as
proposed by the House.
Federal-Aid Highways
The conference agreement limits obligations for the
federal-aid highways program to $33,843,000,000, as proposed
by the Senate, instead of $33,385,000,000 as proposed by the
House.
Intelligent Bridge Systems.--As proposed by the House, the
conference agreement directs FHWA to provide a report to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on intelligent
bridge systems no later than March 1, 2004.
Public lands.--The conference agreement includes language
directing that funds allocated to FHWA's public lands
discretionary program be derived from that program and not
from funds allocated to the National Park Service's regions,
as proposed by both the House and the Senate. In addition,
the conferees direct that these funds not come from funds
allocated to the Fish and Wildlife Service's regions, as
proposed by the House.
I-66 westbound widening from Rosslyn Tunnel to Dulles
Connector, Virginia.--The conference agreement provides that
as of June 1, 2004, unobligated funds for the I-66 westbound
widening from Rosslyn tunnel to Dulles Connector under the
National Corridor Planning and Border Development Program
shall be available to the Route 7 Widening project in Fairfax
County, Virginia.
Miller Creek Bridge project.--The conference agreement
directs FHWA to apply remaining funds provided in P.L. 107-87
for the environmental clearance process for the Miller Creek
Bridge Project in Montana to final design, right of way
acquisition, construction and construction engineering
activities.
Alaskan Way Viaduct, Washington.--The conference agreement
includes Senate language encouraging FHWA to work with state
and local officials to determine the amount of emergency
relief funds that should be committed to the Alaskan Way
Viaduct project.
I-80 Colfax Narrows project.--The conference agreement
includes $2,000,000 for the rehabilitation and reconstruction
of a portion of the Interstate highway connecting eastern
California and western Nevada in Placer County, CA. The
states have been advancing the project and this funding will
move the multi-year project into the next stage of
development. The funds will be provided to the project by
agreement with Nevada to improve the safety and reduce
congestion on this section of Interstate highway.
U.S. Highway 67/167, North Little Rock, Arkansas.--The
conferees recognize the potential for economic development in
the North Hills area of North Little Rock. In order to
alleviate congestion problems that would hinder that
development, the conferees direct the Federal Highway
Administration to
[[Page 31693]]
work with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department
and the City of North Little Rock to develop a plan for
southbound access from U.S. Highway 67/167 near the
intersection of Interstate 30 and Interstate 40 in North
Little Rock, AR no later than March 1, 2004.
Limitation on Transportation Research
The conferees provide a general limitation on
transportation research of $462,500,000, as proposed by both
the House and the Senate.
Surface Transportation Research
Within the funds provided for surface transportation
research, the conference agreement includes $103,000,000 for
highway research and development for the following
activities:
Environmental, planning, real estate........................$16,000,000
Research and technology program support.......................9,000,000
International research..........................................400,000
Structures...................................................14,000,000
Safety.......................................................11,500,000
Operations...................................................13,000,000
Asset management..............................................2,750,000
Pavements research...........................................16,000,000
Long term pavement project (LTPP)............................10,000,000
Advance research................................................600,000
Policy research...............................................9,000,000
R&T strategic planning and performance measures.................750,000
Environmental, planning, and real estate.--The conference
agreement provides $16,000,000 for environmental, planning,
and real estate research. Within the funds provided for this
research activity, the FHWA is encouraged to provide
$1,000,000 for the completion of the dust and persistent
particulate abatement research in Kotzebue, Alaska, $250,000
for the Sacramento Region Blueprint, and $250,000 for the
Central California Ozone Study.
Research and technology.--The conference agreement provides
$9,000,000 for research and technology program support.
Within the funds provided for this activity, the FHWA is
encouraged to provide $750,000 for the University of Illinois
Transportation Center, $750,000 for the Center on Coastal
Transportation Research at the University of South Alabama,
and $750,000 for the electromagnetic transportation research
project at the University of Vermont to continue research
into advanced ground penetrating radar systems.
International research.--The conferees have provided
$400,000 for international research activities. Further, FHWA
is directed by the conferees to consult the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees before any international agreements
are consummated that are likely to require financial support.
Structures.--The conference agreement provides $14,000,000
for structures research. Within the funds provided for
structures research, the conferees encourage FHWA to provide
$750,000 for the deployment of lithium technologies to
prevent and mitigate alkali silica reactivity, $1,000,000 for
the New York City Bridge Corrosion Monitoring Project,
$250,000 for a demonstration project to evaluate the use of
battery-powered cathodic protection to extend the life of
concrete bridges located in extreme cold weather conditions,
$1,000,000 to the Constructed Facilities Center at West
Virginia University for the rapid deployment and durability
of bridge structures constructed with advanced composite
materials, $250,000 for the University of Delaware's Center
for Innovative Bridge Engineering, $1,500,000 for the
Infrastructure Renewal Research project at Washington State
University, and $500,000 to support non-destructive
structural evaluation technology at the New Mexico State
University's Bridge Research Center.
Safety.--The conference agreement provides $11,500,000 for
safety research. Within the funds provided for this activity,
the conferees encourage FHWA to provide $250,000 to conduct a
waterborne road marking evaluation at the Pennsylvania State
University to understand the safety and environmental impacts
of several pavement marking systems, and $500,000 to
Washington State Department of Transportation for pilot
projects to test Level-2 Warning/Positive protection gates
for highway railroad grade crossings.
Operations and asset management.--The conference agreement
provides $13,000,000 for operations and $2,750,000 for asset
management. Within the funds provided for these activities,
the conferees encourage FHWA to provide $750,000 for the
National Steel Bridge Alliance, $200,000 for the Northwestern
University Highways 2008, $100,000 for Wisconsin's critical
vulnerability assessment and countermeasure plan, $750,000
for the University of Idaho's National Institute for Advanced
Transportation Technology, working with the Northwest
Transportation Training and Education Alliance, to develop
and deliver training and education for transportation
professionals in Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and $2,000,000
for the Oklahoma Transportation Center to conduct research
addressing freight flows throughout Oklahoma.
The conference agreement does not provide funds for
statistical analysis of the National Quality Initiative under
any FHWA research program, as proposed by the House. Such
analysis shall be performed by the Bureau of Transportation
Statistics.
Pavements.--The conference agreement provides $16,000,000
for pavements research. Within the funds provided for this
activity, the conferees encourage FHWA to provide $350,000 to
Florida Atlantic University for the material integrity
project, $1,500,000 for the National Center for Asphalt
Technology at Auburn University, Alabama, $1,000,000 for the
Center for Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Technology at
Iowa State University, $500,000 to continue evaluating GSB-88
emulsified binder treatment application, and $250,000 to
support the Institute for Aggregates Research at Michigan
Technological University.
Policy.--The conference agreement provides $9,000,000 for
policy research. Within the funds provided for this activity,
FHWA is encouraged to provide $300,000 to Boston University
Infrastructure Investment Research Initiative, $300,000 to
the City College of San Francisco Transportation Academy, and
$500,000 to the University of Kentucky Academy for Community
Transportation Innovation for innovation of transportation
facilities into rural communities.
Within the funds provided, the conferees encourage FHWA to
conduct a high performance/low emission asphalt test project
in consultation with the National Center for Asphalt
Technology as proposed by the Senate.
INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
The conference agreement provides a limitation on
Intelligent Transportation Systems of $232,000,000. Funds are
available for the following activities:
Research and development....................................$52,000,000
Operational tests............................................12,000,000
Evaluations...................................................7,000,000
Architecture and standards...................................18,000,000
Integrations.................................................11,500,000
Program support..............................................11,500,000
________________
Subtotal................................................110,000,000
________________
ITS Deployment incentive program.............................122,000,00
Total...................................................232,000,000
Joint Program Office.--In the early 1990s, the
appropriations committees expressed strong support for the
formulation of a Joint Program Office (JPO) within the DOT to
oversee the federal role in the National Intelligent
Transportation system (ITS) effort. This office, which is
located within the Federal Highway Administration, now
provides overall program direction and budget coordination
among the multiple DOT offices conducting ITS activities. The
success of the federal investment in ITS has been due partly
to the effective functioning of the JPO. For example, the
JPO's close association with FHWA's research, headquarters
staff, and regional offices has ensured a unified approach to
providing training, implementing and testing standards, and
adhering to a national systems architecture. The conferees
maintain that the JPO's positive working relationship with
the FMCSA and FTA has facilitated progress in advancement of
technologies and the deployment of activities.
The appropriation for ITS provided by the conferees is
predicated on the continuation of the JPO conducting the
functions identified previously. Maximum efficiencies are
most likely to be obtained by retaining the current
administrative structure of the JPO within the FHWA with a
reporting function to the Deputy Secretary. If there is any
change in the administrative structure or responsibilities of
the JPO, the Secretary is directed to inform the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations and to justify in detail
such changes.
Intelligent transportation systems deployment projects.--
Within the funds available for intelligent transportation
systems deployment, the conference agreement provides that
not less than the following sums shall be available for
intelligent transportation projects in these specified areas:
Project Amount
City of Huntsville, Alabama, ITS.............................$4,500,000
511 Traveler Information Program in North Carolina..............400,000
Advanced Ticket Collection and Passenger Information Systems, New
Jersey........................................................750,000
Advanced Traffic Analysis Center, North Dakota..................200,000
Advanced Transportation Management Systems (ATMS), Montgomery County,
Maryland......................................................500,000
Alameda Corridor-East Gateway to America Project Phase II, Los Angeles,
CA..........................................................1,200,000
Alexandria ITS Real-Time Transit Enhancement Pilot Project......410,000
Altarum Restricted Use Technology Study.......................1,750,000
Altoona, Pennsylvania, ITS......................................800,000
Amber Alert Multi-Regional Strategic Plan.......................400,000
ATR Transportation Technology/CVISN, New Mexico.................175,000
[[Page 31694]]
Auburn, Auburn Way South ITS, Washington......................1,600,000
Bay County Area Wide Traffic Signal System......................750,000
Cargo Watch Logistics Information System, New York............2,500,000
Carson Passenger Information System.............................300,000
CCTA Intelligent Transportation Systems, Vermont................300,000
City of Baltimore, Maryland Traffic Congestion Management.......200,000
City of Boston Intelligent Transportation Systems, Massachuset1,000,000
City of New Rochelle, NY Traffic Signal Replacement Program.....500,000
City of Santa Rosa: Intelligent Transportation System...........300,000
Clark County Transit, VAST ITS, Washington....................1,600,000
Computerization of traffic signals in Ashtabula, OH..............14,000
Corona City-wide automated traffic management system..........1,000,000
DelTrac Statewide Integration, Delaware.......................1,000,000
Demonstration project to deploy Geospatial Emergency & Response System
(GEARS) for transportation....................................150,000
Detroit Metro Airport ITS.......................................350,000
DuPage County Signal Interconnection Project....................300,000
Elk Grove Traffic Operations Center.............................960,000
Fairfax County Route 1 Traffic Synchronization ITS Pilot Project500,000
FAST Las Vegas (ITS-Phase 2)--Construction..................... 300,000
Fiber Optic Signal Interconnect System, Tuscon, Arizona.......3,500,000
George Washington University, Virginia Campus...................500,000
Germantown Parkway ITS Project, Tennessee.....................3,000,000
GMU ITS Research, Virginia......................................500,000
Great Lakes ITS, Michigan.....................................3,000,000
Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce ITS System, Pennsylva1,500,000
Harbor Boulevard Intelligent Transportation.....................800,000
Hawthorne Street Public Access Improvements, New Bedford, MA....150,000
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit: Bus Tracking, Communication and
Security, Florida.............................................750,000
Houma, Louisiana..............................................1,250,000
Houston ITS...................................................1,500,000
I-70 Incident Management Plan Implementation, Colorado........2,500,000
1-87 Highway Speed E-Z Pass at the Woodbury Toll Barrier......1,750,000
1-87 Smart Corridor...........................................1,000,000
I-90 Phase 2 Connector ITS Testbed--Town of North Greenbush--Rensselaer
County, NY....................................................200,000
Illinois Statewide ITS........................................3,000,000
Implementation of Wisconsin DOT's Fiber Optics Network........1,000,000
Integration and Implementation of DYNASMART-X, RHODES and CLAIRE in
Houston, TX...................................................500,000
Intelligent Transportation System (Kansas City metro area)......200,000
Intelligent Transportation Systems--Phases II and III, Ohio.....700,000
Intelligent Transportation Systems Deployment Project, Inglewood500,000
Intelligent Transportation Systems, City of Wichita Transit Auth750,000
Intelligent Transportation Systems, Statewide and Commerical Vehicle
Information Systems Network, Maryland.........................750,000
Intelligent Transportation Systems, Washington, DC Region.......500,000
Intersection Signalization Project for the City of Virginia Beach,
Virginia......................................................500,000
Iowa Transportation Systems.....................................750,000
ITS Baton Rouge, LA...........................................1,250,000
ITS Expansion in Davis and Utah Counties, Utah................1,250,000
ITS Logistics and Systems Management for the Gateway Cities.....250,000
ITS Technologies, San Antonio, Texas............................200,000
ITS, Cache Valley, Utah.......................................1,000,000
Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Intelligent Transportation
Initiative--Regional Planning, Florida........................750,000
King County, County-wide Signal Program, Washington...........1,500,000
Lincoln, Nebraska StarTran Automatic Vehicle Locator System...1,000,000
Los Angeles MTA Regional Universal Fare System..................500,000
Macomb County ITS Integration, Michigan.........................600,000
Maine Statewide ITS...........................................1,000,000
Market Street Signilazation Improvements........................100,000
MARTA Automated Fare Collection/Smart Card System, Georgia......700,000
Metrolina Transportation Management Center....................1,750,000
Mid-America Surface Transportation Water Research Institute, North
Dakota........................................................500,000
Minnesota Guidestar...........................................1,250,000
Missouri Statewide Rural ITS..................................4,000,000
Mobile Data Computer Network Phase II (MDCN), Wisconsin.......2,200,000
Monroe County ATMS ITS Deployment Project.......................800,000
Montachusett Area Regional Transit (MART) AVLS, MA..............240,000
Multi Region Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) for the IH-20
Corridor--Phase 1 in Texas....................................550,000
Nebraska Statewide Intelligent Transportation System Deploymen1,000,000
New York State Thruway Authority Traffic Operation Package for 1-95 and
1-87........................................................1,676,000
North Bergen, New Jersey Traffic Signalization Replacement....1,000,000
Oklahoma Statewide ITS........................................4,000,000
Palm Tran, Palm Beach County, FL--Automated Vehicle Location and Mobile
Data Terminals..............................................1,000,000
Portland State University Intelligent Transportation Research
Initiative....................................................400,000
Program of Projects, Washington...............................2,000,000
Project Hoosier SAFE-T........................................2,000,000
Real Time Transit Passenger Information System for the Prince George's
County Dept. of Public Works, Maryland......................1,000,000
Regional Intelligent Transportation System, Springfield, Misso2,000,000
Regional ITS Architeture and Deployment Plan for the Eagle Pass Region
and Integrate with Laredo.....................................300,000
Roosevelt Boulevard ITS Enhancement Pilot Program...............750,000
Rural Freeway Management System Implementation for the IH-20 Corridor
in the Tyler Region--Phase 1................................. 200,000
Sacramento Area Council of Governments--ITS Projects, Californ1,175,000
San Diego Joint Transportation Operations Center................400,000
Seacoast Intelligent Transportation System Congestion Relief P1,000,000
Seattle City Center ITS, Washington............................2,500,00
Shreveport Intelligent Transportation System, Louisiana.......1,000,000
South Carolina DOT Inroads Intelligent Transportation System..3,500,000
Spotswood Township, NJ; Expand and improve traffic flow with road
improvements..................................................250,000
SR 924 ITS Integration Project................................1,000,000
SR112 ITS Integration Project...................................300,000
Statewide AVL Initiative, Nebraska..............................300,000
Swatara Township, Pennsylvania--Traffic Signalization Improvemen100,000
TalTran ITS Smartbus Program, Florida.........................1,750,000
Texas Medical Center EMS Early Warning Transportation System..1,000,000
Texas Statewide ITS Deployment and Integration, City of Lubbock.400,000
Texas Statewide ITS Deployment and Integration, Port of Galvesto400,000
[[Page 31695]]
Town of Cary Computerized Traffic Signal Project, North Carolina800,000
Traffic Signal Controllers & Cabinets, District of Columbia.....400,000
TRANSCOM Regional Architecture & TRANSMIT project, NJ, NY, & CT.500,000
Transportation Research Center (TRC) for Freight, Trade, Security, and
Economic Strength, Georgia....................................500,000
Tukwila, Signalization Interconnect and Intelligent Transportation,
Washington..................................................1,400,000
Twin Cities, Minnesota Redundant Communications Pilot.........1,000,000
Tysons Transportation Association--ITS..........................250,000
University of Kentucky Transportation Center..................1,000,000
Ventura County Intelligent Transportation System..............1,000,000
West Baton Rouge Parish Joint Operations Emergency Communications
Center........................................................800,000
Wisconsin CVISN Level One Deployment............................800,000
Wyoming Statewide ITS Initiative..............................4,000,000
Ferry Boats and Ferry Terminal Facilities
Within the funds available for ferry boats and ferry
terminal facilities, funds are to be available for the
following projects and activities:
Project Amount
Akutan Ferry Planning and Design, Alaska.....................$1,000,000
Canal Corridor Association--Port of LaSalle Project, Illinois...400,000
Capital Cost of Contracting for Water Bus Service, Florida,.....500,000
City of Palatka Ferry Service, Florida..........................650,000
Coffman Cove/Wrangell/Petersburg Ferries and Ferry Facilities,2,000,000
Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority Ferry Vessel Acquisitio800,000
Ferry service from Rockaway Peninsula to Manhattan (Jamaica Bay
Transportation Hub), New York.................................500,000
Fire Island Ferry Terminal, Saltaire, New York..................450,000
Fort Morgan-Dauphin Island Ferry, Alabama.....................2,500,000
Governor Curtis Ferry Boat Replacement, Maine...................400,000
Hatteras Ferry Project, North Carolina..........................500,000
High Speed Ferry Terminal, Bridgeport, Connecticut..............750,000
Ocean Gateway Development, Maine................................500,000
Oyster Point Ferry Vessel, San Francisco, California..........1,000,000
Passenger Ferry, Port of Corpus Christi, Texas..................500,000
Pittsburgh Water Taxi, Pennsylvania.............................500,000
S-236 Claggett Road/Lewis & Clark Ferry Boat Facilities on Missouri
River, Montana................................................800,000
Southworth and Vashon Terminal Improvements, Washington.......1,000,000
Stamford High Speed Ferry, Stamford, Connecticut................500,000
Staten Island Ferry Kennedy Class Replacement Program, New Yor1,950,000
Swans Island Ferry Terminal Improvements, Swans Island, Maine...500,000
Winthrop, Massachusetts Ferry...................................300,000
TEA-21 Set-asides (Alaska, Washington, New Jersey)...........20,000,000
National Corridor Planning and Border Development Program
Within the funds available for the national corridor
planning and border development program, funds are to be
available for the following projects and activities:
Project Amount
146th Street 1-69 Access Project, Hamilton County, Indiana...$1,000,000
172nd Street/I-5 Interchange and Bridge Expansion, Washington.3,000,000
34th Street Corridor completion, Minnesota....................1,000,000
Aiken Road Bridge, Kentucky...................................1,000,000
Alameda Corridor-East Gateway to America Project Phase II, Los Angeles,
California..................................................2,000,000
Anacostia Crossings and Freeway Study, Maryland.................750,000
Anniston East Bypass, Alabama.................................3,000,000
Arch-Sperry Road Improvements, California.......................250,000
Arctic Winter Games Transportation Improvements, Alaska.......1,000,000
Auburn Ravine Bridge--City of Lincoln, California...............250,000
Bayfield County bridge projects, Wisconsin......................410,000
California, State Route 75 (City of Coronado) Tunnel Project Report and
Environmental Document, California............................500,000
Cameron Street Bridge, Shamokin/Coal Townships, Northumberland County,
Pennsylvania................................................1,000,000
Canal Road Intermodal Connector, Harrison County, Mississippi.1,000,000
City of Forsyth Frontage Road, Illinois.........................200,000
City of Seminole, US 377 upgrades and creation of a spur, Okla2,000,000
Coalfields Expressway, Virginia.................................500,000
Columbus, Mississippi Highway 45 Bypass.........................750,000
Construct Madison Street Interchange 1-29 in Sioux Falls, Sout5,000,000
Corridor V construction along SR-6, Mississippi...............1,000,000
Donna-Rio Bravo International Border Crossing, Texas............800,000
Elk Grove Sheldon 99 Interchange, California....................300,000
Falls to Falls Corridor, Minnesota............................1,000,000
Flintlock Road Overpass, City of Liberty, Missouri............1,000,000
Ft. Wainwright Alternative Access & Chena River Crossing, Alas5,700,000
Garden Parkway Bypass (US 321/74), North Carolina.............2,000,000
Georgia S.R. 316 Improvements--Gwinnett County, Georgia.........100,000
Highway 101 Implementation Plan, California.....................600,000
Highway 22/Cordon Road interchange--Environmental Impact Study, 500,000
Highway 431 Modification, Alabama.............................1,200,000
Highway 71, Alma to Greenwood, Arkansas.......................1,450,000
Highway 71: Louisiana State Line, DeQueen, Arkansas.............850,000
I-5 Interregional Arterials Improvement Project, California.....700,000
I-565 to Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, Alabama................5,000,000
1-65 and County Road 24 Interchange, Limestone County, Alabama1,000,000
1-66 westbound widening from Rosslyn Tunnel to Dulles Connector,
Virginia....................................................1,000,000
1-675 Corridor Improvements, Ohio...............................500,000
1-69 Indianapolis to Evansville...............................1,000,000
I-73 Corridor Project...........................................250,000
I-75/Austin Road Interchange, Ohio..............................650,000
Interchange/overpass at highway K-7 and 55th St. and Johnson Dr. in
Shawnee, Kansas.............................................1,000,000
Intercounty Connector (ICC), Maryland...........................500,000
Interstate 5 Riverfront Reconnection, California................500,000
Jasper Airport Road, Jasper, Alabama..........................1,000,000
Jim Thorpe Bridge Renovation Project, Pennsylvania..............500,000
Kauffman Ave Roadway Improvements, Greene County, Ohio..........500,000
KY750 from US 23 to KY 3105 in Raceland, Greenup County, Kentuck300,000
LA 1 Port Fourchan to US 90...................................2,000,000
LA 18 from Avondale to US 90, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.......350,000
LA 37/US 190, Central Thruway Connector, Louisiana............1,000,000
LA Hwy 820 Improvements, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana............1,500,000
Loop 201 Expansion Project, Texas...............................750,000
Missisquoi Bay Bridge, Vermont................................4,000,000
Murchison Road, Cumberland County, North Carolina...............500,000
[[Page 31696]]
Murray Business Loop, Kentucky................................1,000,000
New Haven Road Corridor Study, Connecticut.......................90,000
North Coast Interstate 5, California............................500,000
Northern Tier Expressway (NTE), New York........................100,000
North-South Highway TCL-MSL Corridor, Alabama.................1,000,000
Pittston Connector Project, Pennsylvania........................300,000
Planning for New Route over Cape Fear River, North Carolina.....125,000
Ports-to-Plains highway rehabilitation between Del Rio and Eagle Pass,
Texas.......................................................1,100,000
Ranchero Road/Cajon Branchline Grade Separation, California.....500,000
Route 104/Dominion Boulevard, Virginia........................3,000,000
Route 106 Underpass Rehabilitation, Mansfield, Massachusetts....750,000
Route 12, Veterans Memorial Corridor, Auburn, Massachusetts...1,250,000
Route 168 Corridor Improvements, Camden and Gloucester Counties, New
Jersey........................................................250,000
Route 24/140 Interchange, Taunton, Massachusetts..............1,000,000
Route 403 Relocation, Rhode Island..............................800,000
Route 590 Reconstruction project, Irondequoit, New York.......2,500,000
Route 79 Improvements, Fall River, Massachusetts..............1,350,000
Rutherford Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts......................1,500,000
Santa Fe/C-470, Colorado......................................4,000,000
SH 158 widening in Sterling County, Texas.......................800,000
Shelby County CR 500 E Safety Upgrade, Indiana..................100,000
SR694, Pinellas Park, Florida.................................2,000,000
St. Clair Avenue in East Liverpool, Ohio........................500,000
State Highway 133 Widening, Colquitt County, Georgia..........4,000,000
Ten Mile at Middlebelt Road Intersection Safety, Michigan.......200,000
Tennessee 4th's US 412 Corridor, Tennessee....................1,750,000
Tennessee's I40 in Roane County.................................500,000
TH241, St. Michael, MN..........................................300,000
The Hendricks County North-South Corridor Highway...............850,000
The Rock Island Parkway Project, Arkansas.......................675,000
Tienken Road Bridge over the Paint Creek, Rochester Hills, Michi750,000
Town of Marana Twin Peaks Corridor, Arizona.....................800,000
Trenton Channel Bridge Replacement, Wayne County, Michigan......400,000
U.S. Route 33 Corridor Improvements at Winchester-Cemetary Roa1,000,000
U.S. Route 33 Road Improvements (Pendelton County, West Virginia500,000
U.S. Route 422 Improvement Project, Pennsylvania................500,000
University Boulevard Interchange Project, Pennsylvania........1,000,000
Upgrade US158 to a multilane facility between I-85 and I-95, North
Carolina......................................................400,000
US 113, Maryland..............................................1,500,000
US 60, Osage County, Pawhuska to Vinita, Oklahoma.............2,000,000
US 67 improvements, Missouri..................................5,000,000
US 83 Anzalduas Connection Road and Structures to New International
Bridge, Texas.................................................500,000
US 87 Bypass around Big Spring, Texas...........................300,000
US Highway 10 Interchange--City of Ramsey, MN...................200,000
US Highway 218 in Keokuk, Iowa..................................750,000
US Market Street Bridge, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania........1,000,000
US11, Orleans and St. Tammany Parishes, Louisiana...............500,000
US-231/I-10 Freeway Connector, Alabama........................8,000,000
US-395 North Spokane Corridor, Washington.....................1,000,000
USH 53 Bypass (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).........................2,000,000
Walden Point Road, Alaska.....................................2,000,000
West Virginia Route 10.......................................10,000,000
Winfield Way Extension, Canton, Ohio............................500,000
Yakima Grade Separations, Washington..........................1,000,000
Transportation and Community and System Preservation Program
Within the funds made available for the transportation and
community and system preservation program, funds are to be
distributed to the following projects and activities:
Project Amount
Bellingham, Coast Millennium Trail--South Bay Taylor Dock Project,
Washington...................................................$500,000
Big Lake to Wasilla Pedestrian Trails, Alaska...................500,000
Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District, New York traffic li150,000
Central Avenue Parking Facility and Pedestrian Improvements, Flo500,000
Civic center streetscape improvement, New York..................500,000
Clarksville Square, Clarksville, Texas..........................250,000
Colchester, Vermont...........................................1,000,000
Connection of the Alabama Chief Ladiga Trail and the Georgia Silver
Comet Trail, Alabama..........................................100,000
Downtown Revitalization Project, Somerset, Kentucky...........1,750,000
Henderson County Port Authority Project, Kentucky.............1,000,000
High line project, New York City, New York......................500,000
Highway 79 Corridor/Greenway Project, Alabama...................750,000
Hobbs Industrial Air Park Roads, New Mexico.....................100,000
Homewood, Illinois railroad station/platform acquisition and
improvement...................................................200,000
Hot Springs Bike Trail, Arkansas.................................80,000
Independence Creek Hiking/Biking Road Access, Kansas............250,000
Kincaid Park Trail Connection, Alaska...........................900,000
Lewisburg Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Lewisburg, West Virg85,000
Manhattan, Kansas Fourth Street Corridor........................200,000
Marathon County--Mountain Bay Trail, Wisconsin..................225,000
Marion County Alabama Safety, Efficiency, and Trade Highway Improvement
Program.......................................................800,000
Miller Farm Bridge, Pennsylvania................................500,000
Newberg-Dundee Transportation Improvement Project, Oregon.......500,000
Niobrara Scenic River Corridor Roads, Nebraska................1,000,000
North Dakota 23 Lake Sakakawea Crossing--Linear Library, Truss M250,000
North/South Road, Oahu, Phase I, Hawaii.......................1,000,000
Owensboro Waterfront Development Project, Kentucky............2,000,000
Puna Makai Alternate Road Study, Island of Hawaii...............200,000
Regional Plan Association Willimasburg/Navy Yard/Vinegar Hill Corridor
Access, New York..............................................200,000
Riverfront Battle Property Trail, Georgia.......................250,000
Riverwalk, Warren, Ohio.........................................500,000
Road construction for industial park for City of Vinita, Oklahom100,000
Rockford Road, Ardmore, Oklahoma................................700,000
Route 152 Safety Improvements, Santa Clara County, California...250,000
Route 29 Recreational Bike and Pedestrian Path, Mercer, New Je1,000,000
Scranton Nay Aug Park Enhancement Project, Pennsylvania.........400,000
Streetscape Initiative, Phase II, Northwest Moultrie, Georgia...500,000
Study of Highway 35/county M Bypass of Downtown Osceola, Wiscons200,000
Talcottville Transportation Improvement Project, Connecticut....500,000
Town of Clayton Downtown Revitalization, Clayton, Alabama.......500,000
Trinity River Visions Neighborhood Linkage, Texas...............500,000
U.S. 49 from Florence, Mississippi to I-20......................800,000
[[Page 31697]]
Uptown Crossings Vine Street Improvement Project, Ohio........1,000,000
US-222 Kutztown Bypass, Pennsylvania............................500,000
US30 Bypass--PA10 to US30 Business..............................500,000
Village of Glencoe, Illinois, Green Bay Trail--North Branch Trail
Connection....................................................200,000
Walden Woods Corridor Overpass Study, Massachusetts.............200,000
Weston Streetscape Renewal, West Virginia.......................200,000
Woodward Avenue Livable Community Project, Michigan.............210,000
Bridge Discretionary Program
Within the funds available for the bridge discretionary
program, including the bridge set-aside, funds are to be
available for the following projects and activities:
Project Amount
9th Street Bridge, NE over New York Avenue, District of Columbi$500,000
Blackford Bridge Project, Kentucky..............................250,000
Bridge Replacement on Arkabutla--Coldwater Road, Mississippi....800,000
Broadway Bridge/I-25 Interchange Complex, Colorado............8,000,000
Canvas Bridge, Nicholas County, West Virginia.................8,000,000
Carlsbad, New Mexico, Railroad Overpass.......................1,500,000
Christina River Bridge Seismic Retrofit, Delaware.............1,000,000
Coal Creek Parkway, Washington................................1,000,000
Construction of the Cooper River Bridge Replacement Project, South
Carolina....................................................1,250,000
CR 309 Georgetown Bridge, Putnam County, Florida................500,000
Ferry Street Bridge, New Haven, Connecticut...................2,000,000
First Street Bridge, Roanoke, Virginia..........................500,000
Funny River Bridge Crossing, Alaska...........................5,000,000
Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit...........................4,500,000
Greene County, Missouri Demonstration Bridge....................400,000
Greenspot Bridge, Highland, California..........................500,000
Hagatna River, Flood Mitigation Bridge Improvement Project, Guam400,000
Highway 19 Bridge Replacement, Missouri.......................6,000,000
Highway 21/Rincon Truck Bypass, Georgia.......................4,000,000
Historic Woodrow Wilson Bridge Restoration Project, Rankin Co.,
Mississippi.................................................2,500,000
I-195 Washington Bridge (East Bound), Rhode Island............4,000,000
I-35 Trinity River Bridge, Texas................................925,000
I-710 Corridor/Gerald Desmond Bridge Gateway Program (Desmond Bridge
Replacement), California......................................800,000
I-95 New Haven Q-Bridge, Approach Work (Contract C), Connecticut750,000
IH-35E Chambers Creek Bridges, Texas..........................1,500,000
Indian River Inlet Bridge Replacement, Delaware...............4,075,000
Interstate 74 Bridge Corridor Project, Iowa...................1,250,000
Kapahi Bridge, Island of Kauai..................................350,000
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge, Louisiana.................3,000,000
Leeville Bridge, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana..................1,500,000
Longfellow Bridge, Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts........2,250,000
Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge Aprons, Toledo, Ohio............1,600,000
Missouri River Bridge, Rulo Nebraska..........................1,000,000
North Avenue Bridge, Chicago, Illinois........................5,000,000
Replacement of existing I-75 Brent Spence Bridge over Ohio River
between Covington and Cincinnati, Kentucky..................2,000,000
Route 52 Causeway Replacement and Somers Point Circle Elimination, New
Jersey......................................................1,250,000
Russell Street Viaduct Replacement, Baltimore, Maryland.......4,000,000
Sauvie Island Bridge Replacement, Oregon........................400,000
SR 520/SR 25 Flyover Bridge, Glynn County, Georgia............2,500,000
Tamiami Bridge Replacement, Florida...........................1,500,000
U.S. 220-Business Bridge Replacement, Virginia................2,000,000
U.S. 34 Missouri River Bridge in Mills County, Iowa...........1,500,000
US-169 viaduct between Kansas Avenue and I-70, Kansas City, Ka2,000,000
US-2, Dover Bridge, Bonner County, Idaho......................1,250,000
US20 Bridge Repair, Oregon......................................600,000
Vernon Atlantic Boulevard Bridge Expansion Project, California..400,000
Waldo-Hancock Suspension Bridge in Prospect and Verona, Maine.4,000,000
Federal Lands
Within the funds available for the federal lands program,
funds are to be available for the following projects and
activities:
Project Amount
Access roads to Beale Air Force Base, California...............$750,000
Adams National Historic Park Transportation and Access, Massachu465,000
Apache County Road, 5020, Arizona...............................752,000
Apache County South Fork Bridge, Arizona........................275,000
Atwater Federal Penitentiary Access Road, California..........1,000,000
BIA Route 35 resurfacing: State like to Montezuma Creek, Utah.1,000,000
Big South Fork, Scenic Railway Track Restoration in McCreary County,
Kentucky......................................................400,000
Blackstone River Bikeway, Rhode Island........................1,500,000
Blackwater Wildlife Refuge roads and visitor center, Maryland...400,000
Brown's Park, Utah............................................1,000,000
Calaveras Wagon Trail Expressway Realignment, California........350,000
Calumet Trail, Prairie Duneland Trail and Marquette Trail Link, 307,000
Chickasaw Museum and Cultural Center Planning and Development,
Mississippi...................................................500,000
Chignik Road Improvements, Alaska.............................2,100,000
Choctaw Roads, Mississippi....................................1,425,000
City of Henderson Lake Las Vegas/Lake Mead Interchange, Nevada2,000,000
City of Rocks Back Country Byway, Stage 2, Idaho..............3,000,000
Colville Confederated Tribe--Inchelium/Gifford Bridge Feasibility
Study, Washington.............................................120,000
County Road, Preston North and South, Nebraska..................650,000
Craig Road Overpass, Nevada...................................3,000,000
Cross Base Highway, Washington..................................750,000
Foothills Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennesse900,000
Fort Yates Business Loop Street Improvement, North Dakota.......550,000
George Washington Memorial Parkway Safety Improvements, Virginia600,000
Glacier Creek/Nome Bypass, Alaska.............................3,000,000
Glorieta Battlefield NM 50 realignment, New Mexico..............375,000
Hal Rogers Parkway, Kentucky..................................1,000,000
Hansen Dam Recreation Area Parking Enhancements, Pacoima, Califo325,000
Hawaii Statewide Federal Lands Improvements...................4,000,000
Highway 62 Traffic and pedestrian safety improvement, in Yucca Valley,
California....................................................500,000
Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, Arizona.............................7,000,000
Iditarod Historic National Trail Project, Alaska................500,000
IH20--Dyess AFB Access Project, Texas.........................1,368,000
Interstate Bridge Crossing between Bullhead City, Arizona and Laughlin,
Nevada........................................................500,000
Lake Tahoe EIP, Nevada........................................1,200,000
Lewis and Clark Legacy Trail, North Dakota......................400,000
Lowell Riverwalk Phase 11 Design, Massachusetts.................800,000
Lower Etwha Klallam Tribe--Access Road, Washington............2,300,000
[[Page 31698]]
Marin Parklands/Muir Woods Visitor Access, California.........1,100,000
McCarthy Creek Tram, Alaska.....................................200,000
Military Cutoff Road (SR 1409) Improvements in New Hanover County,
North Carolina................................................400,000
Mill Creek Road (Mendocino County), California..................400,000
Moosalamoo Region, Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont......150,000
Navajo Archeological Study, Utah State Route 262 between Montezuma
Creek and Aneth, Utah.......................................1,250,000
Needles Highway Realignment and Safety Improvements, Californi3,000,000
Ohiki Road Bank Stabilization and Engineering, Hanalei, Island of50,000
Ohio State Route 2/Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge..............500,000
Presidio Trails and Bikeways, Golden Gate National Recreation Area,
California..................................................1,000,000
Public Lands Highways Project, Cedar Creek bridge construction at
Wilson Lake, Russell County, Kansas...........................300,000
Red Cliff Arch Bridge, Colorado...............................3,000,000
Regional Tourism and Transportation Center, New York..........1,250,000
Rehabilitation of the Henry Drive Bridge #001 over the Union Pacific
Railroad tracks at Fort Riley, Kansas.........................808,000
Rossie Coats Road, Kemper County, Mississippi...................150,000
Russell Cave National Monument Road, Jackson County, Alabama....500,000
Saginaw Chippewa Transportation Improvement Project, Michigan.1,200,000
Salmon Falls Creek Bridge.......................................500,000
Seminoe Dam Road, Wyoming.....................................3,500,000
Shotgun Cove Road, Alaska.....................................2,000,000
Six County Fort Peck Road Access Project, Montana.............1,500,000
Skokomish Tribe Roadway Improvements, Washington..............1,300,000
Snake Road (BIA Route 1281) Improvement, Florida..............1,000,000
Southeast Alaska Seatrails......................................500,000
State Highway 149, Colorado.....................................400,000
Stoughton Pond Road, Weathersfield, Vermont.....................100,000
Sturgeon Lake Road Overpass, Minnesota........................2,000,000
Summit Valley Road, San Bernardino County, California...........500,000
Tank Destroyer Blvd, Ft. Hood, Texas..........................1,000,000
Taylor Hill Road US Secondary Montana 234.....................1,420,000
Timucuan Preserve Bike Trail, Florida.........................1,000,000
US Highway 491 (666) on the Navajo Nation, New Mexico.........1,000,000
US 93 Evaro to Polson Wildlife Crossings, Montana.............1,000,000
USMC Heritage Center Access, Virginia...........................650,000
Western Canalway, Suffolk and Moody Street Reach, Massachusetts.400,000
Western Maryland Low Impact Welcome Center at Byron Overlook, Ma800,000
Wolf Trap National Park Pedestrian Crossing, Virginia...........750,000
Scenic Byways
Within the funds available for the scenic byways program,
funds are to be available for the following projects and
activities:
Project Amount
Amherst County Greenway, Virginia............................$1,000,000
City of Espanola El Camino Real Scenic Byway alignment, New Mexic60,000
Enhancements to Route 6A Scenic Byway, Cape and Islands Rural Roads
Initiative, Massachusetts.....................................800,000
Flagler County Scenic and Historic A1A, Florida.................890,000
Idaho National Scenic Byways.....................................75,000
Kentucky Scenic Byways........................................1,000,000
Mason Creek Greenway, Virginia................................1,000,000
New York State Scenic Byways Statewide project................2,000,000
Pioneer Historic Byway Interpretive Site Development, Idaho.....100,000
Snoqualmie Point View Park, Washington..........................600,000
US 78 Bamberg Scenic Highway Project, South Carolina..........4,000,000
Welcome Center off SR 410, Washington.........................1,285,000
Woodward Avenue--Developing the Byway Story, Michigan...........440,000
Interstate Maintenance Discretionary
Within the funds available for the interstate maintenance
discretionary program, funds are to be available for the
following projects and activities:
Project Amount
Cawtawba Avenue Interchange (I-77) Improvement, North Carolina..750,000
Central Sarasota Parkway Interchange at I-75, Sarasota, Florida.500,000
City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, I-70 and State Highway 58 Interchange
Reconstruction, Colorado......................................800,000
Conceptual Development & Preliminary Design improvements to the
intersections of Interstate 59, Mississippi...................265,000
Coors/Interstate 40 Interchange Reconstruction, New Mexico....1,000,000
Ellensburg Interchange I-90, Milepost 108.31, Washington......1,500,000
Four interchanges at I-435 and I-35 in Johnson County, Kansas.1,000,000
I-12 Sound Barriers, Slidell, Louisiana.........................750,000
I-15 Reconstruction: 10800 South to 600 North, Utah...........6,000,000
I-182, Queensgate to SR 240, Richland, Washington.............2,000,000
I-20 Downing Pines Interchange, Louisiana.....................1,000,000
I-210 and Highway 14 Interchange, Lake Charles, Louisiana.......800,000
I-25, US 36, I-270 Interchange, Colorado........................450,000
I-25/Tramway Interchange, Albuquerque, New Mexico.............1,500,000
I-285 Noise Walls, Henderson Mill to Chamblee Tucker Road, Georg500,000
I-285 Noise Walls, I-20 to Bouldercrest Road, Georgia...........480,000
I-295/Meadowville Interchange, Virginia.......................1,500,000
I-35 East/I-635 interchange, Texas..............................925,000
I-35/127th Street Overpass, Olathe, Kansas....................3,000,000
I-40 and I-55 ramps, Memphis, Tennessee.......................1,000,000
I-405 Corridor Improvements, Washington.......................2,000,000
I-44 Rogers Lane Interchange, Lawton, Oklahoma................1,000,000
I-476 Reconstruction and Widening Project, Pennsylvania.........830,000
I-49 South, Louisiana.........................................3,000,000
I-5 Rush Road to Maytown Widening, Lewis County, Washington...2,000,000
I-5 Vancouver Interchange Improvements, Washington............1,000,000
I-5, Lynnwood City Center Exit, Washington....................1,000,000
I-5/Ortege Highway Interchange Construction, California.........800,000
I-676 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Camden County, New Jersey.1,000,000
I-69/SR 304 Paving, Mississippi...............................5,925,000
I-695 Baltimore Beltway N/E Inner Loop, Maryland................750,000
I-70 Improvement Project: Frederick, Maryland.................4,025,000
I-75/Aviation Blvd Atlanta, Georgia.............................800,000
I-76, Fort Morgan, Colorado to Brush, Colorado..................200,000
I-77/Lauby Road exit, Ohio....................................1,000,000
I-80 Truck Climbing Lane, Keystone to Robb Drive, Nevada........500,000
I-80/Iowa 945 interchange, Polk County........................3,000,000
I-84, Glenns Ferry to King Hill, Idaho........................2,000,000
I-84/Route 2 East Hartford Connecticut, operational improvements
(flyover access)..............................................750,000
I-85 Coweta County Noise Barriers, Georgia......................750,000
I-90, Spokane to Idaho State Line, Washington.................2,000,000
I-96/Latson Road Interchange, Michigan..........................750,000
IH35/SH45 interchange at Round Rock, Texas......................200,000
[[Page 31699]]
Interstate 10 Cypress Avenue Overcrossing, California...........800,000
Interstate 295/Route 38 Interchange Improvements, New Jersey....750,000
Interstate 430/630: Interchange Modification, Arkansas..........800,000
Interstate 44 and US 65 Interchange, Missouri.................1,000,000
Interstate 80 (I-80) Colfax Narrows Project, Nevada...........2,000,000
Interstate 80-Exits 298-299 Renovation Project, Pennsylvania....750,000
Isleta Boulevard Improvement Project............................500,000
Kelly USA: New Luke Road, Texas.................................200,000
Laval Road Interchange Upgrades at I-5, California..............800,000
Louisville--Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges project, India3,250,000
Madison I-565 Interchange at County Line Road, Alabama........1,000,000
Montgomery County, Ohio--Interstate 75, Ohio..................2,000,000
New York State Thruway Authority, Westchester County, Byram Bridge
Rehabilitation................................................800,000
Noise Walls on I-20 from Fulton Industrial Boulevard to H. E. Holmes,
Fulton County, Georgia........................................500,000
Northbound I-675 Sound Barrier, Ohio..........................1,000,000
Ohio River Bridges, Kentucky..................................6,550,000
Pavement and Bridge Rehabilitation on I-85, North Carolina......800,000
Pennsylvania Turnpike--Interstate 95 Interchange Project......2,000,000
Phase II, I-44 Modification (Widen Eastbound I-44 Bridge at Meramec
River), Missouri..............................................200,000
Rancho Cucamonga I-15 & Base Line Road Interchange Improvements,
California....................................................800,000
Reconstruct Exit 60--I-90 in Rapid City, South Dakota.........5,100,000
Valley Mall Boulevard Interchange and South Union Gap Interchange,
Washington....................................................500,000
Valleydale Road at I-65, AL...................................5,000,000
Waltham, Massachusetts I-95/Rt 20 Interchange.................1,700,000
Widening Interstate 35 East between FM 2181 and Lake Lewisville, Denton
County, Texas.................................................200,000
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The conferees provide $31,000,000 for the Bureau of
Transportation Statistics under the FHWA appropriation.
However, the conferees continue to be concerned about
staffing increases since 1993, the year BTS was established.
Therefore, the conference agreement limits BTS full time
positions to 136.
Federal-Aid Highways
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement provides a liquidating cash
appropriation of $34,000,000,000 for the federal-aid highways
program as proposed by both the House and the Senate.
Federal-Aid Highways
miscellaneous highway and highway safety programs
(highway trust fund)
The conference agreement provides contract authority from
the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account)
for the Pennsylvania Avenue project in Washington, D.C., and
for Amber Alert grants. In addition, contract authority is
provided for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration's new entrant program, southern border
enforcement activities, northern border truck inspections,
and commercial driver's license program improvement grants;
and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's
operations and research program. This funding shall be
subject to the Federal-aid obligation limitation.
Federal-Aid Highways
(highway trust fund)
(rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$207,000,000 of funds in The unobligated contract authority
balances from the five core highway programs--Surface
Transportation Program, Interstate Maintenance, National
Highway System, Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Improvement
program, and the Bridge program.
Appalachian Development Highway System
The conference agreement provides $125,000,000 for the
Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), instead of
$150,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House did not
provide funding for this purpose. A total of $40,000,000
shall be allocated in accordance with the ADHS most recent
cost-to complete study and the remaining $75,000,000 shall be
allocated as follows: $20,000,000 for Kentucky Corridors;
$3,000,000 for Tennessee Corridor S; $2,000,000 for Corridor
V, Mississippi; $20,000,000 for West Virginia Corridor H; and
$30,000,000 for Alabama Corridor X.
General Provisions--Federal Highway Administration
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 110)
that modifies the distribution of Federal-aid highway
obligation limitation proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 111),
as proposed by the House, that designates U.S. 78 from
Memphis, Tennessee, to Corridor X near Fulton, Mississippi
extending to Birmingham, Alabama, as a High Priority Corridor
and a future interstate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 112)
that modifies a House provision amending section 1692 of the
Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) to
allow changes to projects in New York, Louisiana, Michigan,
Kentucky, Illinois and South Carolina.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 113)
that allows funds received by the Bureau of Transportation
Statistics from the sale of data products to be credited to
the Federal-aid Highways account, as proposed by both the
House and Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 114)
that amends TEA-21 to allow ITS funds already appropriated to
the state of Wisconsin to be used for the installation in the
areas of Wausau and Superior.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 115)
that provides additional amounts from within the Federal-aid
obligation limitation for the following surface
transportation projects:
Project Amount
10th Street South Phase II, St. Cloud, Minnesota...............$200,000
135th Street Widening and US 69 Northbound Ramp, Kansas.......2,750,000
168th and State Streets Intersection improvements...............200,000
3-Bridge Corridor Project, Skagit County, Washington............800,000
40th Street Corridor project, City of Tampa.....................750,000
40th Street Corridor project, City of Tampa.....................500,000
51-43 Connector Canton, Mississippi...........................1,000,000
60/67 Interchange-Butler County, Missouri.....................3,000,000
7th Street Widening Project, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania...........500,000
95th Dan Ryan Transit Station.................................1,000,000
Adrien's Landing, Hartford, Connecticut.......................5,000,000
Alaskan Way Viaduct & Seawall, Seattle, Washington............1,000,000
Albany Georgia Intermodal Facility............................1,000,000
Albuquerque, New Mexico-University Boulevard Extension..........250,000
American Samoa Ferry Boat System................................300,000
Amesbury, Massachusetts bus facility upgrade..................1,100,000
Anacostia Riverwalk and Trail Construction, District of Columbia400,000
Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb, Illinois............................500,000
Applied Sciences Building, Alabama...........................30,000,000
Area Wide Traffic Signal Synchronization System, Phase III....1,500,000
Arkwright Connector, South Carolina...........................1,000,000
Arlington County Jefferson Davis Highway (Rt 1) Improvements....500,000
Arlington County South Glebe Road improvements..................800,000
Aroostook County North-South Highways, Maine..................3,550,000
Atlantic Avenue Extension, Jamaica, Queens, New York..........1,250,000
Attleboro Intermodal Transportation Center, Attleboro, Massach2,200,000
Augusta Rail Relocation Project, George.......................2,000,000
Austin Metropolitan Area Bicycle Routes.........................400,000
Badger Creek Crossing, Fall River Lake, Greenwood County, Kansas100,000
Barlett Access Intersection Safety Improvements, Alaska.........500,000
[[Page 31700]]
Battlefield Parkway expansion from Kincaid Boulevard to Route 7,
Virginia....................................................6,000,000
Beacon Falls Depot Street Bridge, Connecticut.................1,000,000
Beacon Falls-Seymour, Connector Roadway.........................750,000
Beale Street Landing/Docking Facility--City of Memphis, Tennes1,000,000
Bear Creek Greenway, Oregon...................................2,000,000
Beargrass Creek Bridges.........................................500,000
Beckley VA Medical Center Access Road, West Virginia..........1,000,000
Bedford, New Hampshire Route 101 Corridor Safety Improvement P1,000,000
Belford Road, Holly, Michigan...................................800,000
Bergen Intramodal Stations and park-n-ride Capital Improvements, New
Jersey......................................................2,250,000
Berkshire/Franklin Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway, Massachusetts...1,000,000
Berlin G. Meyers Parkway Extension, South Carolina............1,000,000
BIA Route 27 Reconstruction, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South
Dakota......................................................3,000,000
Billings Bypass Development: Design and ROW, Montana..........2,000,000
Birmingham Northern Beltline, Alabama.........................2,000,000
Bismark Fixed Route Bus System, Fargo/Moorhead Transit Maintenance
Facility, Valley City Garage, North Dakota..................2,650,000
Blue Water Port Huron Intermodal Facility Project, Michigan...2,000,000
BNSF Track Relocation Project, Everett, Washington..............500,000
Bobby Jones Expressway (GA)/Palmetto Parkway (SC) extension in South
Carolina....................................................4,000,000
Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area Universal Access,
Massachusetts...............................................2,250,000
Boulder Ave Bridge project, Highland, California..............1,000,000
Bowman Road and Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Highway 17, Mount Pleasant,
South Carolina..............................................3,000,000
Bremerton Pedestrian/BTC Access Improvement project, Washingto2,500,000
Bridge Replacement Project, Mound Branch and Pawpaw Creek Bridges on K-
99 in Elk County, Kansas....................................1,000,000
Broken Arrow 101st street corridor from State Highway 51 to Town
Center, Oklahoma..............................................250,000
Broken Bow rail spur, Oklahoma..................................750,000
Bronx HUB Streetscape Improvement & Pedestrianization.........1,000,000
Bronx River--Concrete Plant Link of the Bronx Greenway..........700,000
Buffalo Outer Harbor Project, New York........................5,000,000
Business Route I-44 (Chestnut Expressway) and National Avenue
Intersection Improvement, Missouri............................750,000
Butler County Industrial Infrastructure Development--City of
Greenville, Alabama...........................................750,000
Bypass Road in Nome, Alaska...................................2,000,000
Byram-Clinton/Norrell Corridor, Mississippi...................3,000,000
C Street Railroad bypass, Alaska..............................2,000,000
Cactus Avenue, I-15 Interchange Project.........................200,000
California University of Pennsylvania Shuttle System (CUPSS),
Pennsylvania................................................2,000,000
CalTrain Train Tracking Information System......................500,000
Capacity Enhancement of South Shore Commuter Rail Service.....1,000,000
Capacity expansion on I-35 in Olathe, Kansas, from 159th St. to 175th
St..........................................................3,000,000
Cape Fear River Planning Project, North Carolina................750,000
Capital Metro North Operating Facility........................1,000,000
Caraway Bridge Overpass, Arkansas.............................1,000,000
Center City Project, Columbus, Ohio...........................3,000,000
Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority: North Orange/South
Seminole ITS Enhanced Circulator............................2,071,000
Central Kentucky Line Rail Service Preservation Project.........500,000
Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation U.S. 15, Pennsylvani2,000,000
Chattanooga (CARTA) ITS, Tennessee............................2,500,000
Chehalis, I-5 Exit 79 Interchange Bridge, Washington..........3,000,000
Chenega Road System, Alaska.....................................850,000
Cheyenne Corridor Safety Improvement Project in Pocatello, Ida1,500,000
Chocorua Village Transportation Improvement Project.............500,000
Cities of Beverly and Salem Intermodal, MA....................1,100,000
City of Arvada, Colorado, Wadsworth Blvd/SH 121/Grandview Grade
Separation....................................................500,000
City of Asheville Traffic Signal System Upgrades..............2,000,000
City of Aurora, Colorado I-225 and Colfax Avenue Interchange
reconstruction..............................................2,500,000
City of Austin East 7th Street................................1,000,000
City of Bayfield, Highway 13 Emergency Culvert Repairs..........640,000
City of Beloit, Gateway Boulevard Project, Wisconsin............500,000
City of Boston--Harbor Islands NRA Long Island Pier Reconstruction,
Massachusetts.................................................300,000
City of Charles Town--Gateway Revitalization Project, West Virgi350,000
City of Columbus, Ohio, Morse Road corridor improvement program 500,000
City of Covina Metrolink Pedestrian Bridge......................500,000
City of Crowley's Historic Parkerson Avenue Redevelopment project,
Louisiana...................................................1,000,000
City of Elkhart Hively Avenue underpass, Indiana................100,000
City of Fort Worth Corridor Redevelopment Program.............2,000,000
City of Gardena Street and Highway Improvements.................500,000
City of Kennesaw, Georgia, Pedestrian Underpass...............1,500,000
City of Lakewood, Colorado, US 6 and SH 121 Interchange Reconstr500,000
City of Las Vegas Pedestrian Connections........................500,000
City of Lufkin--Intermodal Transit Terminal/Parking Facility..1,000,000
City of Madison State Street Revitalization.....................750,000
City of Madison, Wisconsin East Washington Avenue Reconstructi2,000,000
City of Orangeburg Railroad Relocation Project................2,000,000
City of Oxford, Mississippi bike path...........................800,000
City of Revere, Massachusetts Intermodal Transit Improvements.2,200,000
City of St. Petersburg, Florida, bike path......................500,000
City of Waco Bus Facility Project.............................1,500,000
City of Westbrook, Maine, Improvements to Route 25, Wayside Drive and
William Clark Drive.........................................1,000,000
City of Wewoka, Oklahoma........................................250,000
Cleveland Avenue, Lake Township, Ohio.........................1,000,000
Collins Road (Iowa Highway 100) and 1st Avenue (Business Highway 151)
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.........................................750,000
Colonial National Historic Park, Jamestown 400th Anniversary
Transportation Improvements, Virginia.......................7,000,000
Coltsville Corridor Redevelopment Project, Connecticut........1,000,000
Commerce City, Colorado, East 104th Avenue and US 85 Intersection
Improvements..................................................500,000
Commodore Barry Bridge ramps to Chester, Pennsylvania.........1,000,000
Construction of rail overpass in Claremore, Oklahoma............500,000
Construction of the Bishopville Bypass in Lee County, South Caro500,000
[[Page 31701]]
Construction of US 17 and Bowman Road Interchange in Town of Mount
Pleasant, South Carolina......................................250,000
Convocation Center Roadway....................................2,000,000
Copperas Cove Reliever Route, Texas...........................1,000,000
Corporal Roger Sneeden Drive Overpass, Boone, Iowa...............40,000
County State Aid Highway 21 Project, Minnesota..................750,000
CR 578 Widening from Mariner Boulevard to Suncoast Parkway, Fl1,250,000
Craig Road Improvements, Alaska...............................1,000,000
Crocker/Stearns, widening and construction, North Olmstead, Ohio800,000
CSAH 42: Segment 8 Implementation Plan Project..................250,000
Cumberland Head Connector Road, Clinton, New York.............1,000,000
Cyberport, Arizona............................................2,750,000
Dagget Road, Port of Stockton, California.......................100,000
Decatur Beltline Expansion, Decatur, Alabama..................2,000,000
Delaware Avenue Streetscape Program in the Village of Kenmore, N600,000
Delaware Commuter Rail Improvement Project....................1,500,000
Delaware River Port Authority--Ben Franklin Bridge, Pennsylvan5,000,000
Deming, New Mexico I-10 Frontage Road Extension...............1,800,000
Derita Road Improvements Project, Concord, North Carolina.....1,250,000
Des Moines Riverwalk, Des Moines, Iowa........................1,000,000
Detroit Center City Loop........................................750,000
Donlin Creek Road, Alaska....................................10,000,000
Double Eagle II Airport (Paseo del Volcan) Interchange and Roadway
Rehabilitation, New Mexico..................................2,000,000
Downtown Butler Cityscape Project...............................150,000
Downtown Rail Trolley, Corpus Christi, Texas....................500,000
Dynamic Changeable Message Signs--Urban Interstate System, Iow1,000,000
East Bay Incident & Emergency Management System.................200,000
East Central Bus Coalition Bus Procurement, Florida...........3,000,000
East Flagstaff Traffic Interchange, Arizona...................1,000,000
Eufaula Broad Street Restoration Project, Alabama...............500,000
Exit 18 Connector Road, Warren County, New York.................300,000
Extend 4-Lane Highway from Maverick Junction to Nebraska in Fall River
County, South Dakota..........................................250,000
Fairfield/Vacaville Intermodal Transit Station..................800,000
Fairmont Gateway Connector System.............................5,600,000
Fairmont Pedestrian Bridge......................................200,000
Fall River Drainage Bridge Replacement, Harper County, Kansas.1,500,000
False Pass, Alaska causeway and road to the terminus of the south arm
breakwater project..........................................3,000,000
Farish Street Historic District Improvements, Mississippi.......500,000
FAST Corridor, Washington.....................................3,000,000
Fayette Downtown Revitalization, Alabama........................700,000
Feasibility Study and Work Plan for International Trade Processing
Center, Wichita, Kansas.....................................1,000,000
Feasibility study for Routes 495/195 Interchange, Wareham,
Massachusetts.................................................500,000
Fairbanks Transit bus replacement, Alaska.....................3,000,000
Fishers Island Ferry District New London Terminal Expansion and
Upgrade, Connecticut.........................................750,000:
Five laning of Kickapoo, Shawnee Oklahoma.....................1,200,000
Five Points Improvement Project, Huntsville, Alabama............500,000
Fleming County maintenance garage...............................275,000
Florida Beach Walk Initative, Clearwater, FL....................500,000
Florida High Speed Rail Corridor Project......................4,000,000
FM 66 Ellis County from IH-35 in Waxahachie to FM 157 at Maypearl,
Texas.........................................................750,000
Forest Park/Atlanta State Farmers Market Transportation Study, G400,000
Forsyth Downtown Streetscape Project, Georgia...................750,000
Fort Worth Urban Villages and Commercial Corridors..............500,000
Franklin County Connecticut River Scenic Byway, MA............1,000,000
Frazer Township Interchange, Pennsylvania.......................500,000
Frederick Douglass Bridge, Washington, DC.....................7,000,000
Freight Rail Transportation Corridor and Urban Mobility Program, Harris
County, Texas...............................................1,000,000
Frontage Road, I-20 Vicksburg, Mississippi....................2,500,000
Gallagher Intermodal Transportation Center Project............1,800,000
Galveston Railroad Bridge Replacement, Texas....................500,000
Gateways for Maine's National Scenic Byways...................1,000,000
Genesee & Wyoming, South Buffalo, New York, track rehabilitation500,000
Georgia Veterans Memorial Park, Rockdale County, Georgia........500,000
Gill-Montague Bridge, Massachusetts...........................5,000,000
Gilmerton Bridge, Virginia....................................4,000,000
Girdwood Project, Alaska......................................1,000,000
Glacier National Park Going to the Sun Road, Montana..........8,000,000
Glenwood Avenue Overpass, Ohio................................1,000,000
Grade Separation Interchange at Burlington Avenue and the new Hoosier
Hartland Highway in Logansport, Indiana.....................1,000,000
Grand Avenue Railroad relocation, Illinois......................500,000
Grand Canyon Greenway Project, Arizona..........................250,000
Grandview Triangle Improvements, Missouri.....................1,000,000
Granite Street and Bridge Widening Project, New Hampshire.....7,000,000
Great Miami River Recreational Trail, Miami and Warren Counties,342,500
Great River Road in Mercer County, Illinois.....................250,000
Greenville, Mississippi, I-69 Connector EIS, Route Location,
Feasibility Study...........................................1,000,000
Greenwood Railroad Relocation, Mississippi....................1,500,000
Haleyville Bypass, Alabama....................................6,500,000
Hamilton County Riverway, Indiana...............................500,000
Harlem River Promenade, New York................................500,000
Harlingen: Railroad Relocation..................................800,000
Harrisburg Transportation Center..............................1,200,000
HART Bus Facility--Ybor Station Intermodal Facility.............500,000
Hartford New Britian Busway, Connecticut......................6,000,000
Henry Drive Bridge #801--Fort Riley, Kansas...................5,000,000
Highway 19 Expansion, Mississippi.............................2,000,000
Highway 22 Improvements Edwards-Canton........................2,000,000
Highway 226: Highway 67 to Highway 63 Jonesboro, Arkansas.....1,500,000
Highway 29/Highway 51 Wausau, Wisconsin.......................4,000,000
Highway 412: Baxter County Line to Eastern Sharp County Line, 1,000,000
Highway 60 and Highway 65 Interchange Replacement.............1,250,000
Highway 74 Monroe Bypass......................................2,600,000
Highway 92 study in Warren County, Iowa.........................460,000
Hillsborough County I-4 Crosstown Connector, Florida..........2,000,000
Historic Street Improvements, New Bedford, Massachusetts........300,000
Hobson Intermodal facility in Middleport, Ohio..................200,000
Hollywood Drive Expansion Project--City of Jackson, Tennessee...600,000
Holyoke Canalwalk, Massachusetts..............................1,200,000
Holyoke Multimodal Transportation Center, MA..................2,000,000
Hoover Dam Bypass-Boulder Extension (US 93/US 95, Wagon Wheel Pass),
Nevada......................................................6,000,000
Hopkins County, Texas Intermodal Center.........................750,000
[[Page 31702]]
Houston Greater Partnership Quality of Life Initiative, Texas...500,000
Houston, Texas Main Street Corridor Revitalization Project......500,000
Houston-Galveston Regional Congestion Study, Texas..............750,000
Hudson Crossing, Bi-County Education Park.......................250,000
Huntsville federal building, Alabama..........................3,600,000
Hydaburg Road Improvements, Alaska............................2,000,000
I-20 widening in Caddo (Texas line, Shreveport).................500,000
I-15 North, Davis County, Utah................................2,000,000
I-15, Utah/Salt Lake County Line to SR-92.....................2,300,000
I-195 Relocation, Rhode Island................................2,000,000
I-20 Widening and Safety Improvements, Alabama................3,500,000
I-205, Oregon.................................................1,000,000
I-215 and Barton Road Interchange, Grand Terrace, California....500,000
I-270 at Dorsett & I-70 interchange improvements, Missouri....5,000,000
I-275 to AA Highway Connector, Kentucky.......................1,500,000
I-40 Crosstown Expressway....................................27,000,000
I-44 exit ramp in Luther area, Oklahoma.......................2,000,000
I-44 widening and construction Arkansas River east to Yale Avenue in
Tulsa, Oklahoma.............................................6,000,000
I-49 North, Louisiana.........................................3,000,000
I-5 Second Street Bridge, Mount Vernon, Washington............3,000,000
I-5 Transportation and Trade partnership project, Southwest Wa3,000,000
I-5, 116th Street NE Interchange Improvements, Snohomish, Wash2,000,000
I-540 and Perry Road Interchange, Rogers, Arkansas............3,000,000
I-55, Church Road to Tennessee State Line, DeSoto County, Miss2,000,000
I-64 and Pocahontas Parkway Connector.........................1,200,000
I-65 Cloverland Bridges, Montgomery, AL.......................1,000,000
I-65 Industrial Park Access Improvements, Atmore, Alabama.......500,000
I-66 Pike County, KY..........................................2,000,000
I-66 Somerset to London, KY...................................2,000,000
I-66/Route 29 Gainsville Interchange, Virginia................1,750,000
I-69 Connector, Arkansas........................................750,000
I-69, Louisiana...............................................2,000,000
I-69, Texas...................................................7,400,000
I-73, South Carolina..........................................2,250,000
I-75 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky (Milepoint 64.5 to Milepoint 69.0),
4.5 Miles...................................................1,500,000
I-75, Enterprise South Connector Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee.1,000,000
I-75, Whitley County, Kentucky erosion mitigation...............500,000
I-79/Parkway West Missing Ramps and Widening Project, Pennsylv1,000,000
I-80 Bridges Cedar River Bridges, Iowa........................3,000,000
1-80 Waukee/West Des Moines Interchange.......................3,000,000
I-81 Corridor and I-690 Interchange Improvement Project in Syracuse,
New York....................................................2,000,000
1-87 exit 11A new interchange, New York.......................2,000,000
I-880/Coleman Avenue Interchange Reconstruction...............1,000,000
I-95 at CR 23, Georgia..........................................750,000
I-95/SR1 Interchange Turnpike Improvements, Delaware..........1,000,000
I-96 at Beck Rd. and Wixom Rd. interchange reconstruction, Mic2,500,000
IH 30 from FM 989 (Kings Highway) to US 59/171 (Stateline Avenue) in
Texarkana, Texas............................................2,500,000
IH-30 Interchange Improvement Project, Texas..................2,000,000
IH35 Texas....................................................6,000,000
Illinois Route 38 at Union Pacific Railroad Grade Separation....250,000
Improve access to the Pennsylvania Correctional Institute near
Brownsville, Pennsylvania...................................3,000,000
Improvements to I-70/Route 63 Interchange--Columbia, Missouri.1,000,000
Improvements to I-75 in Lee County, Florida...................1,500,000
Indianapolis Stadium Drive District, Indiana..................2,000,000
Industrial Park Access Road Winfield, Alabama...................500,000
Industrial Road Improvements, Seminole, Oklahoma................500,000
Intermodal Transload Facility, Quincy, Washington.............2,000,000
Intermodal Transportation for Corridor from Atlanta to Chattanooga,
Tennessee...................................................2,000,000
Interstate 10/Tippecanoe Interchange, California..............3,000,000
Interstate 15 Managed Lanes, California.......................1,000,000
Interstate 5-Sorrento Valley Road and Genesee Avenue Interchange
Project.....................................................1,500,000
Interstate 80, Northwest 27th St. to West of 1-180, Nebraska..1,500,000
Interstate 90 joint port-of-entry near Sheridan...............1,000,000
Interstate 94/43/794 (Marquette Interchange), Milwaukee, Wisco6,000,000
Interstate-75 Interchange at Pines Boulevard (SR 820).........1,000,000
InterTech Science Park Transportation-Improvements Initiative...500,000
Iowa City Near North Side Transportation Center, Iowa.........2,100,000
Island Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility............1,800,000
ITS--City of East Peoria........................................200,000
ITS--174 in Peoria, IL..........................................750,000
Jacksonville Water Taxi Stations, Florida.......................750,000
Jefferson Road Connector (Kanawha County, West Virginia)......1,000,000
Jimmy Carter Blvd pedestrian safety, Gwinnett County, Georgia...400,000
Johnsonburg By-pass.............................................300,000
Johnsontown Road, Kentucky....................................1,000,000
Jonesboro Transportation and Drainage Planning, Arkansas......1,000,000
Kaskaskia Regional Port District, access roads..................220,000
Kenai Fjords National Park Resurrection Bay Trail and Parking
Improvements, Seward, Alaska................................2,300,000
Kennedy Center Potomac River Pedestrian and Bike Path.........5,000,000
Kentucky TriModal Transpark...................................5,250,000
Keystone Drive and Related Improvements, Alaska...............1,500,000
King County Metro park and Ride of First Hill, Seattle, Washin3,626,000
King County, South Park Bridge, Washington....................2,000,000
Knik Arm Bridge Causeway, Alaska..............................6,000,000
KY 115 and KY 911 Interchange, Kentucky.......................1,500,000
L.L. Tisdale Parkway/Increase Loop, Oklahoma....................250,000
LA 1148 to US 77 Alternate Access Improvement Project, Iberville
Parish, LA....................................................500,000
LA 143-US 165 Connector & Ouachita River Bridge, Louisiana....1,250,000
LA Highway 28, Louisiana......................................2,000,000
La Mesa-Nisqualli Road/I-15 Interchange Project.................250,000
Lafayette Street Extension/Pennsylvania Turnpike Electronic Toll
Interchange...................................................750,000
Lake County, Tennessee, State Route 21, from Log Mile 7.0, to Obion
County Line.................................................1,000,000
Lake Martin Regional Industrial Park Access Rd., Kellyton, Alaba500,000
Lake Stanley Draper Road Improvements, Oklahoma.................300,000
Lane Transit District Bus Facilities............................750,000
Laredo Signal Integration Project.............................1,750,000
Lawrence Gateway Quadrant Area Reuse Plan, Lawrence, Massachuset500,000
Lawrence, Kansas, Transit System maintenance facility...........400,000
Lechmere Station Relocation and Intermodal Expansion, Boston,
Massachusetts...............................................1,000,000
Lewis & Clark 511 Coalition, Montana..........................1,000,000
Lewis and Clark Expressway, Jackson County, Missouri..........1,000,000
[[Page 31703]]
Lewis and Clark Historic Park at Kaw Point, Wyandotte County, Ka425,000
Lexington Bridge Project, Cowlitz County, Washington..........1,500,000
Lincoln Boulevard Improvement Project, California.............1,000,000
Lincoln bypass-SR65/Ferrari Interchange Construction, Californ2,000,000
Logan Square Access and Safety Improvements, Philadelphia, Penns800,000
Lombardy Street Renovation between Route 1 and Admiral Street
(Richmond, VA)................................................750,000
Lone Tree Way Undercrossing of Union Pacific Railroad, Brentwood250,000
Long Meadow Parkway Fox River Bridge Crossing, Bolz Road, Illi3,000,000
Loop 304 Expansion and Improvement, Crockett, Texas...........1,000,000
Los Angeles City College Red Line Pedestrian Connector..........800,000
Lucille Street and Mack Drive Improvements, Wasill, Alaska....1,000,000
Ludlum Trail, Miami-Dade County, Florida........................500,000
Lyndale Avenue Bridge, Minnesota..............................3,000,000
M&B Railroad Bridge 46.3 Repair, Alabama......................1,000,000
Mahoning and Trumbell Counties--State Route 46, Ohio..........2,500,000
Manhan Rail Trail Coleman Road Extension and Mitigation Project.750,000
Manhattan-West Gallatin River Trail, Montana....................300,000
Marine Maintenance Facility Phase I, Manns Harbor, North Carol1,000,000
Marinette County, Wisconsin 1,250,000...........................500,000
Market Street Bridge, Pennsylvania..............................250,000
Market Street, South Burlington, Vermont......................1,000,000
Martin Luther King, Jr. Pkwy in Des Moines, IA................2,000,000
Matanuska-Susitna Roads Improvement, Alaska...................3,000,000
McCaslin Boulevard/U.S. 36 Interchange Construction, Colorado.3,000,000
MD 4 Suitland Parkway Interchange.............................4,000,000
MD 404, Phase II, Maryland....................................1,000,000
MD 70 Bridge over Weems Creek, Maryland.........................300,000
Meridian Bridge Replacement, Yankton, South Dakota............2,000,000
Mesa del Sol, Albuquerque, New Mexico.........................1,500,000
Milwaukee Avenue Rehabilitation, Illinois.......................200,000
Miniature Transportation Safety Training Village in the Town of
Brookhaven, New York........................................1,000,000
Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail.............................400,000
Montgomery County ITS Phase II................................1,000,000
Montgomery County/U.S. 35 Widening, Ohio......................1,500,000
Montgomery Outer Loop, Alabama................................2,000,000
Monticello/White County 6th Street West Shafer Drive............800,000
Moorefield, West Virginia Streetscape...........................200,000
Morgantown Intermodal Facilities..............................2,250,000
Morse Road Improvements, Phase I, Indianola Avenue to Karl Roa1,000,000
Mukilteo Multimodal Terminal, Washington......................2,000,000
Municipal Transit Operators Coalition, California.............1,000,000
Mystic Seaport's Riverfront Access Project......................100,000
Nashville, Tennessee, East Corridor Commuter Rail project.....1,000,000
Navajo Route 16.................................................200,000
NE 10th Overlake Hospital Transportation Efficiency and Development
Study, Washington...........................................1,000,000
NE 23rd Street between Lincoln and I-35, Oklahoma City..........500,000
NEHLA Connector Road and Infrastructure Update..................500,000
Neuse River Greenways Construction, Raleigh, NC.................500,000
New Jersey Route 31 Highway/Congestion Mitigation Study.........150,000
New Jersey Route 57/CR Route 519 Intersection Improvements....1,300,000
NH DOT--Londonderry South Road Advance, Mitigation/Wetland Creat500,000
Niagara Falls International Rail Station & Intermodal Transportation
Center, New York............................................2,500,000
Noise Barriers, Columbia County, Georgia........................200,000
Nonconnnah Road, Tennessee....................................2,000,000
Norfolk, Virginia light rail transit..........................1,000,000
North Delaware River East Coast Greenway Trail Project, Pennsylv750,000
North Las Vegas Intermodal Transit Hub........................1,000,000
North Pole Roads Lighting, Alaska...............................950,000
North Sinatra Avenue Drive, Hoboken, New Jersey.................500,000
North Slope Borough Road Improvements, Alaska.................3,000,000
North South Connector Highway, between SR119 and SR 30 in Chatham and
Effingham Counties............................................250,000
Northern Bypass of Somerset, Kentucky in Pulaski County.......3,000,000
Northern Corridor, St. George, Utah...........................1,000,000
NW Quadrant Project in the City of St. Anthony, Minnesota.......750,000
Ohio and Erie Canal towpath trail, Ohio.......................1,000,000
Oklahoma County I-40 ITS......................................3,000,000
Oneonta, Alabama Downtown Revitalization........................500,000
Orchard Lane and Factory Road, Greene County, Ohio............1,000,000
Osceloa, Wisconsin installation of culverts under Hwy. 35 and repair of
eroded highway beds...........................................400,000
Otay Mesa/State Route 905, California.........................3,000,000
Park Drive Street Reconstruction................................500,000
Park Lane Road Improvements, Altus, Oklahoma..................2,800,000
Paseo de Volcan, Rio Rancho, New Mexico.......................4,000,000
Paulsboro Brownfield Development Overpass to I-295 project, Ne1,000,000
PCDC Bus-stop Related Facility Enhancements.....................750,000
Pedestrian Walkway over US Highway 601 at South Carolina State
University and Claflin University.............................400,000
Pedestrian/Bicycle Linkage & Scenic Overlook Restoration, Grant,
Alabama........................................................25,000
Pembroke Road Overpass at I-75, Florida.......................1,000,000
Pembroke Road Overpass Bridge at Interstate-75................1,000,000
Pennsylvania Mon Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway Project,
Pennsylvania................................................2,000,000
Pennsylvania State Route 30/981 upgrade.........................500,000
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission--High Priority Corridor #31..5,000,000
Phalen Boulevard, Minnesota...................................2,000,000
Phase 2 South Palm Canyon Realignment and Ancillary Access
Improvements, California....................................1,000,000
Phase II, Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority............2,000,000
Pineda Causeway Interchange at I-95, Florida..................1,100,000
Pinellas County, Florida Roosevelt Connector Project..........7,000,000
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) ITS, MA...............3,000,000
Pittsburg, Kansas Port Authority for the Kansas & Oklahoma Rai2,000,000
Planning, location, environmental work and PE for four lane US highway
20 Corridor through Woodbury, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa....1,550,000
Plough Boulevard Interchange (at Winchester Road)--Memphis, Te2,000,000
Pogue Airport Access Road, Oklahoma...........................2,000,000
Pookela Road, Hawaii..........................................4,000,000
Popps Ferry Road Bridge, Mississippi..........................2,000,000
Port of Albany Security Improvements, New York..................500,000
Port of Anchorage Intermodal Facility, Alaska.................1,500,000
Port of Ketchikan Ferry Facility, Alaska......................1,000,000
[[Page 31704]]
Port of Pasco, Ainsworth Avenue Realignment--Sacagawea Heritage,
Washington..................................................3,000,000
Port of Rochester Transportation Security/Intelligent Transportation,
(ITS) Project...............................................1,250,000
Puerto Rico Port Authority Ferry Program........................500,000
Queens Plaza Roadway rebuilding project, Long Island City, New Y750,000
Rahway River Corridor Greenway Bicycle and pedestrian Path......270,000
Reconstruct Allen Road, Bennett County, South Dakota..........2,000,000
Reconstruction of Cowan Road from 23rd Street to the Muncie By-Pass,
Indiana.....................................................2,000,000
Redesign of Highway 527 Spur connecting US59 to downtown Houst1,000,000
Reflective Crack Relief Interlayer, US 59, Texas..............3,000,000
Regional Expansion of City CarShare pilot program...............500,000
Regional Traveler Information Center at the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst........................................400,000
Removal of the Old Jamestown Bridge in Rhode Island...........5,000,000
Reno Public Plaza--Rail Access Corridor Enhancement (ReTRAC)....500,000
Reno-Stead Railroad Spur, Nevada..............................1,000,000
Replace Meridan Bridge at Yankton, South Dakota...............1,000,000
Replacement of Bridges between cities of Ben and Ontario, Oregon250,000
Right of way Project on IH 35, from FM 2063 in Hewitt to South Loop
340/ State Hwy 6 Interchange, Texas.........................1,000,000
RIPTA ITS Program Phase II, Rhode Island......................1,500,000
Riverfront Redevelopment and Park Area, City of North Augusta, South
Carolina....................................................2,000,000
Riverwalk, Montgomery, Alabama................................1,000,000
Road at Fish Trap Lake, Pike County, Kentucky...................500,000
Rock Creek Bridge Replacement, Harper County, Kansas..........1,600,000
Rock Island County, Illinois Milan Beltway Construction.........500,000
Rockland County and City of Yonkers, New York Ferry Service...1,250,000
Rosemead Boulevard/Highway 19 Rehabilitation North to South City
limits, Pico Rivera, California...............................300,000
Route 189 and St Pauls Avenue Bridge, Hudson County, New Jerse2,000,000
Route 11, Connecticut.........................................3,000,000
Route 116 Ashfield, Conway, Massachusetts.....................2,500,000
Route 12 Corridor, New York...................................3,000,000
Route 130 Renaissance Boulevard to Adams Lane Intersection
Improvements, Middlesex County, New Jersey....................800,000
Route 15/186 Interchange Phase II, New York...................2,500,000
Route 17 Congestion Improvements from Route 3 to Linwood Avenue, Bergen
County, New Jersey..........................................1,000,000
Route 17 Improvements from Route 3 to Linwood Avenue, Bergen Co, New
Jersey......................................................1,000,000
Route 17 Safety Improvements from Route 50 to I-66, Virginia....200,000
Route 17/Essex St. Bridge Replacement, Bergen County, New Jers2,500,000
Route 2 Safety Improvements, Athol, Philipston, Orange, Massac2,500,000
Route 29 Scenic Byway, Hunterdon County, NJ.....................300,000
Route 50 traffic calming in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, Vir1,000,000
Route 501 Corridor Coalition....................................100,000
Route 66, Village of Chatham, New York........................1,500,000
Route 7 between Leesburge and Tysons Corner, Virginia ITS.......500,000
Route 8, Berkshire County, Massachusetts......................1,250,000
Route 9W Alpine/Tenafly, Bergen County, New Jersey..............750,000
Routes 23 and 94--Linwood Avenue to Wallkill Avenue Intersection,
Sussex Co., NJ................................................500,000
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, Alabama.......................700,000
Rural Highway Information System, KY..........................2,000,000
Rural Road Safety enhancement program, Monterey, County, Califor500,000
S-323 Alzada-Ekalaka, Montana.................................3,500,000
Saddle Road Improvement, Hawaii...............................4,000,000
Safford, 8th Avenue Bridge, Arizona...........................1,000,000
Saginaw Transit Multimodal Downtown Transit Facility, Michigan1,000,000
Sakonnet River Bridge Replacement, Rhode Island...............1,500,000
Salem Area Transit-South Salem Transit Center...................750,000
Salem Bridge, Oregon, environmental impact study................400,000
San Francisco Muni Third Street Project.......................2,500,000
San Francisco Muni Transportation Communications System.......1,500,000
San Juan Boulevard, Bellingham, Washington....................1,225,000
San Luis II Access Road, Arizona..............................1,050,000
Santa Clarita Cross Valley Connector, California..............3,000,000
Santa Monica College 11th Street Parking Structure............1,000,000
Saratoga County--Copeland Covered Bridge.........................38,000
Satsop Road Access Improvements, Grays Harbor, Washington.......375,000
Sauk Trail Reconstruction Improvements, Park Forest, Illinois...330,000
Sauk Village Industrial Park Access Road........................600,000
Savannah Water Ferry Project, Georgia.........................1,000,000
Scott City Missouri Access Ramp.................................250,000
Seattle 5th Avenue NE Transpiration System and Streetscape impro300,000
Seattle, Elliot Avenue & BNSF Crossing Path Improvements, Wash1,000,000
Seldovia-Homer-Jakolof Bay Halibut Cove Ferry Planning and design,
Alaska......................................................2,000,000
Seward Road Improvements, Alaska..............................2,000,000
SH288 Grade Separation at County Road 51, Brazoria County, Tex1,000,000
Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois...............................800,000
Ship Creek Improvements, Alaska...............................1,000,000
Sierra College Boulevard/I-80 Interchange, California.........1,000,000
Sitka Road Improvements, Alaska...............................1,500,000
Somerset SW Bypass US 27 South to Nunn Parkway West of Somerset,
Kentucky....................................................1,500,000
South La Brea Avenue and Imperial Highway Realignment Project...500,000
South Lake Union Circulation System, Seattle, Washington......3,000,000
South Nissan Interchange, Mississippi.........................4,000,000
South Orient economic rehabilitation project, Texas...........4,000,000
South Orient Railroad rehabilitation..........................1,500,000
South Perry Street Bridge.......................................300,000
Southern Beltway (I-215) Widening and Interchange Project, Nev5,000,000
Southworth Terminal Redevelopment/Vashon Terminal Preservation,
Washington....................................................500,000
Spokane, University District Transportation Safety Enhancement Project,
Washington..................................................1,000,000
Springfield Greenway Extension, Tennessee.......................100,000
SR 1/US 27 widening, Heard County, Georgia....................2,500,000
SR 196 Widening, Liberty County, Georgia......................1,000,000
SR 31, All Weather Roadway Construction and Widening, Pend Oreille
County, Washington..........................................1,600,000
SR 509/SR518 Interchange/Intersection Redevelopment (Burien),
Washington..................................................2,000,000
SR 79/West Bay Bridge Improvements, Panama City, Florida......3,000,000
SR 79/West Bay Bridge Improvements, Panama City, Florida......1,000,000
[[Page 31705]]
SR 874 ITS Integration Project................................1,000,000
SR-56/I-5 Northbound Widening, California.....................1,000,000
St. Charles, Illinois, Fox River Crossing at Red Gate Corridor2,000,000
St. George Transit O&M Facility.................................500,000
St. George's ferry and ferry facilities, New York.............1,000,000
St. Leo Univerisity Transportation Safety & Community Access P2,500,000
St. Mary's Road Paving Project..................................100,000
State Highway 133 Widening, Colquitt County, Georgia..........1,250,000
State Highway 29 (Interstate 94--Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin)...2,000,000
State Highway 332 at Brazos River, Brazoria County, Texas.....6,000,000
State Street Corridor Improvement Plan........................1,000,000
Stourbridge Rail Excursion Line, Pennsylvania....................83,000
Streetscape/Roadway Improvements to the Chester City (PA) Waterf350,000
Suffolk Bike Trails, Virginia...................................150,000
SUNY Tockland University Center--Shuttle Service................280,000
Susquehanna Road/Limekin Road/Norfork Southern Bridge project,
Pennsylvania................................................1,000,000
Swift Rail Siding Project, Blaine, Washington.................3,000,000
TARTA/Toledo Bus Fueling Facilities Improvements..............1,500,000
Taylor Dock Project, Bellingham, Washington.....................677,000
Teaneck, New Jersey Pedestrian Overpass.........................500,000
Tennessee State Route 28/US 127...............................1,000,000
Thackerville, Oklahoma I-35 Interchange.......................1,000,000
The City of Lithonia Streetscape Project........................400,000
The French Creek Parkway, Pennsylvania..........................200,000
The Montachusett Area Regional Transit (MART) Regional Transit2,000,000
The Sunrise Corridor, Oregon....................................500,000
The US Highway 17-92 Widening Project, from Poinciana Boulevard to Ham
Brown Road....................................................500,000
Thomas Cole National Historic Site, New York.....................50,000
Toledo Downtown Waterfront Redevelopment........................750,000
Topeka Boulevard Bridge, Kansas...............................8,500,000
Towboat Display and Classroom Project, Oklahoma.................250,000
Town Center/Old Town Enhancement Project for the City of Yorba Linda,
California..................................................3,100,000
Town of Dublin, New Hampshire Traffic Calming Project...........300,000
Traffic Calming for the City of Riviera Beach, Florida..........500,000
Trans-Hudson Midtown Corridor Project, New Jersey.............3,500,000
Transportation Improvement Project, Desert Hot Springs, Califo1,925,000
Treasure Island Bridge........................................6,000,000
Trevillian Way, Kentucky........................................400,000
Tri-County Automated System Project, University of Southern Mi1,000,000
Truck Inspection pull-off on Route 9 in Loudoun County, Virginia100,000
Trunk Highway 610/10, Minnesota...............................3,750,000
Tupelo Rail Relocation..........................................500,000
Turquoise Trail Project (BIA Route 4), Arizona................1,250,000
Tuscaloosa Downtown Revitalization Project, Alabama...........5,000,000
U.S Highway 52, County State Aid Highway 24 Interchange.........500,000
U.S. 101 Bikeway System, California.............................250,000
U.S. 218/Main Street Reconstruction--Phase II, Iowa...........2,000,000
U.S. 31 South Bend to Indianapolis Freeway project............2,000,000
U.S. 319 Expansion............................................1,000,000
U.S. 412 Mountain Home to Hwy. 101, Arkansas..................4,000,000
U.S. 51, Christian/Shelby Counties, Illinois..................2,000,000
U.S. 54 (Kellogg), from I-35 to K-96, Wichita, Kansas.........1,000,000
U.S. 95 Laughlin to Searchlight (Phase 3), Nevada.............8,000,000
U.S. Highway 276 Project Study..................................200,000
U.S. Highway 54, Kansas.......................................3,000,000
U.S. Route 35 in Mason and Putnam Counties, West Virginia.....5,977,500
UAB Center for Injury Sciences, Birmingham, Alabama...........2,000,000
Umatilla Intermodal Facility..................................1,000,000
Union Station Regional Intermodal Transportation Center.........800,000
University of Alaska Transportation Research Center...........2,000,000
University of Delaware Intermodal Transportation Facility, Del1,000,000
University of Oklahoma Intelligent Bridge Systems Research....3,000,000
University of Southern Maine Pedestrain Access..................725,000
Upgrade of the Interstate 95 and SC-327 Interchange in South C1,400,000
US 12 Widening, Wallula Junction to Walla Walla, Washington...3,000,000
US 20 Webster County Widen to four lanes, Iowa................1,500,000
US 25 Widening, Burke County, Georgia.........................1,000,000
US 278 Corridor, South Carolina...............................1,000,000
US 278 from Sulligent, AL to Guin, Alabama....................2,000,000
US 287 South to IH 45, Ennis, Texas...........................1,500,000
US 30/67 (Section II), Clinton, Iowa..........................1,000,000
US 36, Wadsworth, State Highway 128 Interchange.................800,000
US 431 Widening and Reconstruction, Tennessee...................500,000
US 50 Phase I highway and water quality improvement project, C2,000,000
US 93 Kalispell Bypass Project, Montana.......................3,500,000
US Highway 212/County Road 134 Intersection, Minnesota..........700,000
US Highway 212/County Road 134 Intersection, Minnesota..........750,000
US Highway 6 improvements, Coralville, Iowa...................1,000,000
US Highway 84, Evergreen, AI to Monroeville, Alabama............250,000
US-12 Burbank to Walla Walla, Washington......................1,000,000
US-27 North of Somerset.......................................2,000,000
US-95 Worley to Mica, Idaho...................................7,000,000
USH 151 Dickeyville-Dodgeville, Wisconsin.....................2,000,000
VA Route 28 Widening..........................................2,000,000
Vallejo Station Intermodal Center, California.................1,250,000
Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico..................1,200,000
Vancouver State Route 14 pedestrian Bridge, Washington..........500,000
Vermont Covered Bridges.......................................2,000,000
Village of Medina, New York Pass-Through Project................750,000
Village of Owego riverwalk, New York............................600,000
Village of Schuylerville, New York..............................750,000
Washington Street Improvements, Haymarket, VA...................500,000
Welcome Center US 90, Ohr-Okeefe Museum.......................1,750,000
West Grand Ave. (from North Western to N. California Ave.)......800,000
West Laredo Multimodal Trade Corridor, Texas..................2,400,000
Westfield Multimodal Transportation Center, MA................1,700,000
Weston Avenue Streetscape, Wisconsin..........................1,650,000
White Pond Drive, Akron, Ohio...................................750,000
WI--Highway 2 Ashland, Wisconsin..............................2,000,000
WI--Highway 53 Chetek, Wisconsin..............................2,000,000
Widen and Improve Q Street, Nebraska..........................1,000,000
Widen from 2 to 5 lanes, Gratiot Avenue from 24\1/2\ Mile Road to 26
Mile Road.....................................................500,000
Widen NC 210 in Cumberland County, North Carolina...............500,000
Widen Route 47 from Kreutzer Road to Reed Road, Huntley, Illin1,000,000
Widening and creation of sidewalks at Floyd Road and Veterans Memorial
Highway in Cobb County, Georgia.............................1,600,000
Widening Interstate 35 East between FM2181 and Lake Lewisville, Denton
County, Texas.................................................500,000
[[Page 31706]]
Williamsport/Pile Bay Road, Kenai, Alaska.....................3,000,000
Winner Creek Trail Improvements, Alaska.......................1,000,000
Wood/Sandusky/Lucas Counties--U.S. Route 20, Ohio.............5,000,000
Woodland Avenue Bridge, Ohio..................................1,000,000
WV Route 9...................................................11,000,000
Yakataga River Bridge in Alaska...............................3,000,000
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 116)
that allows ITS funds already appropriated for use in
specified locations within Wisconsin to be spent in
additional locations within the State.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 117)
that directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with
Nevada and/or Arizona to provide a funding method for the
Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, as proposed by both the House and
Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 118)
that allows funds provided for a specific project in the
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to
be used on a project in Detroit, Michigan.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 119)
that reprograms a project in Conference Report 106-940 for a
project in Detroit, Michigan.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 120)
that reprograms a project in Conference Report 107-308 for a
project in Detroit, Michigan.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 121)
that provides unexpended amounts for a project in Public Law
108-7 to specified areas in Kansas.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 122)
that relates to surface transportation projects.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 123)
that amends section 14501 of title 40, United States Code.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 124)
that modifies a Senate provision that directs the Secretary
of Transportation to amend the Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices to include a provision regarding locating
licensed 24-hour pharmacy services and placement of logo
panels on the Federal-aid highway system.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 125)
that allows specified costs associated with a project in San
Diego, California to be eligible for Federal funding.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 126)
that amends a provision in Public Law 108-7 relating to a
project in Kentucky.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 127)
that amends a project in Public Law 108-7.
QThe conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 128)
that amends a provision in Public Law 106-346 relating to a
project in Kansas.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Sec. 129)
that amends a provision in section 375 of division I of the
Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, relating to a
project in Pennsylvania.
FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
Motor Carrier Safety
Limitation on Administrative Expenses
(highway trust fund)
The conference agreement includes $176,070,000 for
administrative expenses of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) under the FMCSA limitation on
administrative expenses (LAE) account. The House and Senate
bills proposed $92,712,176 and $292,972,233, respectively for
both administrative expenses plus five grant programs. The
conference agreement provides funding for these grant
programs under a miscellaneous appropriations within the
Federal Highway Administration appropriation, and provides
funding under FMCSA's LAE in the following manner:
Safety is good business........................................$250,000
Crash data improvements.......................................5,000,000
Conditional carrier review....................................2,000,000
Households goods enforcement....................................920,000
Hotline.........................................................375,000
Research and technology.......................................7,000,000
Regulatory development........................................9,500,000
Information management.......................................11,843,000
Administrative Infrastructure.................................7,000,000
Safety is good business program.--The conference agreement
provides $250,000 for the safety is good business program,
consistent with the House. The Senate proposed $500,000. The
conference agreement retains language contained in the House
report that FMCSA should first use this funding to develop a
goal and initiatives that are directly related to that goal.
Conditional carrier review.--The conference agreement
provides $2,000,000 for conditional carrier reviews as
proposed by the Senate. The House report provided $1,334,000.
Household goods enforcement.--The conference agreement
provides $920,000 for the household goods enforcement
program, instead of $896,000 as proposed by the House and
$1,370,000 as proposed by the Senate. This level provides
adequate funding for the seven requested positions at half-
year levels.
Research and technology.--The conference agreement provides
$7,000,000 for motor carrier safety research and technology,
consistent with both the House and Senate proposals. The
conference retains language directing FMCSA to submit a 5-
year research and development strategic plan to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than June 15,
2004, as proposed by the Senate.
Regulatory development.--The conference agreement provides
$9,500,000 for regulatory development instead of $11,000,000
proposed by the House and $8,000,000 proposed by the Senate.
Information management.--The conference agreement provides
a total program level of $11,843,000 for information
management, an increase of $2,500,000 from the fiscal year
2003 level. The House bill proposed $13,500,000 and the
Senate bill proposed $10,398,000.
Administrative infrastructure.--The conference agreement
provides $7,000,000 for administrative infrastructure instead
of $4,423,000 as proposed by the House and $10,423,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Share the road safely program.--Consistent with the Senate,
the conference agreement does not provide funding for the
share the road safely program. Funding for this program is
provided under the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration appropriation. The House proposed $500,000 for
this program.
PATRIOT ACT (CDL background checks).--The conference
agreement, consistent with both the House and Senate, does
not provide funding for CDL background checks as this
responsibility has been transferred to the Department of
Homeland Security.
State grants.--In addition to the $176,070,000 provided
under the limitation on administrative expenses, the
conference agreement includes a total of $111,500,000 for
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration programs under
the Federal Highway Administration miscellaneous
appropriation from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the
mass transit account). Both the House and Senate bills
proposed funding these programs from within FMCSA's
limitation on administrative expenses. The conference
agreement provides the funds in the following manner:
Program Conference
New entrant program--State grants\1\.........................$8,000,000
New entrant program--Federal portion\1\.......................3,500,000
Southern border inspection facilities........................47,000,000
Commercial driver's license improvement grants...............21,000,000
Southern border operations grants............................23,000,000
Northern border truck inspection grants.......................9,000,000
\1\This reflects a portion of the total $28,500,000 provided for the
new entrant program. Of this amount, $25,000,000 is provided for grants
to states, and $3,500,000 is for Federal responsibilities associated
with the program.
New entrant program.--The conference agreement provides a
total of $28,500,000 for the new entrant program. The
conference reiterates the decision contained in both the
House and Senate reports that the majority of funding for
this program is in the form of state grants, and therefore
retains only $3,500,000 for oversight and other Federal
responsibilities. The House proposed $2,200,000 for the
Federal portion of this program and the Senate proposed
$4,456,000. In addition, $8,000,000 in state grants is
provided under the Federal Highway Administration
miscellaneous appropriations, and an additional $17,000,000
is provided for state grants under the Motor Carrier Safety
Assistance Program. The conference retains language directing
FMCSA to submit a new entrant program implementation plan to
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations no later
than 90 days after enactment of this Act.
Hazardous materials permitting program.--The conference
agreement provides $1,050,000 for the hazardous materials
permitting program, instead of $1,135,000 provided by the
House and $2,000,000 provided by the Senate. This amount is
adequate to fund the 13 requested positions at half-year
levels.
Commercial drivers license program.--Consistent with both
the House and Senate, the conference agreement provides
$21,000,000 for the commercial driver's license improvement
grants program. The conference agreement retains the House
language that encourages FMCSA to continue working with the
American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, lead MCSAP agencies and
licensing agencies to improve all aspects of the CDL program.
In addition, FMCSA should consider sponsoring another pilot
project involving law enforcement and driver licensing
agencies to explore new and innovative ways to ensure that
drivers who have been convicted of a disqualifying offense do
not operate during the period of suspension or revocation.
Finally, FMCSA should continue to support the judicial and
prosecutorial outreach effort.
Southern border inspection facilities.--Consistent with the
Senate bill, the conference agreement provides $47,000,000 to
construct truck inspection facilities at the Southern
[[Page 31707]]
border. The House bill contained no similar appropriation.
Southern border operations grants.--Consistent with both
the House and Senate bills, the conference agreement provides
$23,000,000 for southern border operations grants.
Northern border inspection grants.--Consistent with both
the House and Senate bills, the conference agreement provides
$9,000,000 in northern border truck inspections grants.
Border enforcement.--The conference agreement provides
$121,908,000 in border funding, of which $47,000,000 is for
infrastructure improvements, $32,000,000 is for state
operations grants, and $42,908,000 is for personnel and
enforcement operations. The conference agreement retains
language proposed by the Senate directing FMCSA to establish
a process to effectively enforce and monitor Mexican motor
carriers and report to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations within one year after the date of enactment of
this Act.
National Motor Carrier Safety Program
(Liquidation of Contract Authorization)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement provides a liquidating cash
appropriation of $190,000,000 for the national motor carrier
safety program as proposed by both the House and the Senate.
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)
The conference agreement includes a limitation on
obligations of $190,000,000 for motor carrier safety grants
as proposed by both the House and the Senate.
The conference agreement provides funding for the national
motor carrier safety program as follows:
Amount
Motor carrier safety assistance program $170,000,000
Basic motor carrier safety grants.......................(130,329,000)
Performance based incentive grant program................(11,105,000)
High-priority activities..................................(8,593,000)
New entrant grants\1\....................................(17,000,000)
State training and administration.........................(2,063,000)
Crash causation (Sec. 225(f) MCSIA).......................(1,000,000)
Information systems and strategic safety initiatives (20,000,000)
Data analysis and information systems....................(14,000,000)
Implementation of PRISM...................................(5,000,000)
Driver programs...........................................(1,000,000)
\1\Does not include $8,000,000 provided under FHWA's miscellaneous
appropriation and $3,500,000 provided under FMCSA's LAE.
Solid Waste Shippers.--From funds provided for the high
priority initiative program, the conference agreement directs
FMCSA to evaluate the effectiveness of the Final Rule on
cargo securement for containing solid waste (including sewage
sludge and combustion ash), both in container and flat bed
surface transport. The analysis shall include safety,
economic, and environmental considerations, and shall be
provided to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
by October 15, 2004.
Hazmat tracking system.--As proposed by the Senate, the
conference agreement directs $2,000,000 from funds provided
for the high priority initiative program for an expanded
satellite-based, mobile communications system to monitor and
track hazardous material and high-value cargo in uncovered
areas of the United States.
Operation Respond.--As proposed by the Senate, the
conference agreement provides $1,000,000 from funds provided
for the high priority initiative program, to design, build
and demonstrate the benefits of a seamless hazardous
materials incident detection, management, and response
system, including the expansion of the Operation Respond
network. The conferees urge that these funds be used to
establish a national first responders emergency services
network and to accelerate deployment of Operation Respond
software.
New Hampshire study.--As proposed by the House, the
conference agreement provides $250,000 from funds provided
for the high priority initiative program, to the New
Hampshire Department of Transportation to conduct a study to
evaluate the safety, economic and infrastructure impacts of a
weight limit exemption on Interstates 89 and 93.
Surge Brakes.--The Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) prohibits surge brakes for use in
interstate commerce. Since private vehicles are not subject
to this prohibition, it causes administrative enforcement and
safety problems for rental businesses and their consumers.
The conference agreement directs FMCSA to determine, within
90 days of enactment of this Act, if it should initiate a
rulemaking to consider permitting the use of surge brakes on
small and medium trailers used in interstate commerce.
General Provisions--Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 130)
subjecting funds appropriated in this Act to the terms and
conditions of section 350 of Public Law 107-87, including
that the Secretary submit a report on Mexico-domiciled motor
carriers. This provision was proposed by both the House and
Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 131)
prohibiting the use of funds in this Act to implement or
enforce any provision of the Final Rule issued on April 16,
2003 as it applies to operators of utility service vehicles
and as it applies to motion picture and television production
drivers working at a site within 100 air mile radius of the
reporting location.
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
Operations and Research
(Liquidation of Contract Authorization)
(Limitation on Obligations)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement provides $150,545,000 from the
highway trust fund for highway and traffic safety activities,
instead of $134,178,000 as proposed by the House and
$148,102,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The agreement includes a provision carried since fiscal
year 1996 that prohibits NHTSA from obligating or expending
funds to plan, finalize, or implement any rulemakings that
would add requirements pertaining to tire grading standards
that are not related to safety performance. This provision
was contained in both the House and Senate bills.
The following table summarizes the conference agreement for
operations and research by budget activity:
Salaries and benefits.......................................$69,050,000
Travel........................................................1,324,000
Operating expenses...........................................22,836,000
Contract programs:
Safety performance (rulemaking)............................10,773,000
Safety assurance (enforcement).............................17,028,000
Highway safety programs....................................49,272,000
Research and analysis......................................67,903,000
General administration........................................665,000
Grant administration reimbursements.........................-16,306,000
________________
Total.....................................................222,545,000
OPERATING EXPENSES
Workforce planning and development.--The conference
agreement provides no funding for workforce planning and
development, as proposed by both the House and Senate.
Training and technical assistance to the states.--The
conferees encourage NHTSA to conduct a comprehensive review
of the agency's training programs, including an evaluation of
other models and different media for improving the
professional capabilities of State grantees, as proposed by
the Senate. In addition, the conferees direct NHTSA to
develop and implement two new State training courses, as
proposed by the Senate, and $200,000 is provided for this
purpose. One training course should be designed to strengthen
the ability of State highway safety offices to analyze data
and identify State and local behavioral highway safety
programs. The second course should provide hands-on
experience for State highway safety offices on how to conduct
evaluations or reviews of program performance.
Regulatory activities.--The conferees direct NHTSA to
update their self-imposed regulatory activities plan by
December 1, 2003, as proposed by the House. NHTSA should
include public comments that have been received, as well as
new data and research results. This plan should be submitted
through correspondence to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations and posted on NHTSA's website.
HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS
Budget justification.--Within the fiscal year 2005 budget
request, NHTSA is directed to include information on
expenditures on impaired driving, motorcycle, and national
occupant protection programs from fiscal year 2003 and
estimated plans for fiscal year 2004, as proposed by the
House. This information should also describe which activities
are based on proven research and implementation strategies.
Impaired driving.--The conferees direct NHTSA to submit a
report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations,
no later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act,
detailing strategies and activities that will be utilized in
fiscal year 2004 with regard to targeting specific
populations in impaired driving efforts, as proposed by the
Senate.
In addition, the conferees direct NHTSA to explore whether
there is a more fitting theme for the impaired driving
program than ``You Drink and Drive. You Lose,'' and to report
findings and recommendations to the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees in a letter by January 30, 2004, as
proposed by the Senate.
Occupant protection.--Within the amount provided for
occupant protection programs, the conference agreement
provides $3,000,000 for outreach initiatives to increase seat
belt use, as proposed by the Senate.
Within the amount provided for national impaired driving
programs, the conference agreement provides $4,500,000 for
impaired driving activities, as proposed by the Senate:
Judicial/prosecutorial initiative............................$1,500,000
Repeat offender tracking model................................2,000,000
[[Page 31708]]
Target population outreach....................................1,000,000
The conferees direct NHTSA to refrain from obligating funds
provided in fiscal year 2003 (Public Law 108-7) for judicial
and prosecutorial awareness until the required report is
submitted to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations, as proposed by the Senate.
Traffic law enforcement.--The conferees strongly support
NHTSA's law enforcement liaison (LEL) program, believing that
high-visibility enforcement of highway traffic safety
programs is integral to improving the safety on the nation's
roads. The LEL function is largely responsible for the
implementation of specific enforcement programs and
mobilizations relating to the highly successful Click It or
Ticket program as well as the You Drink and Drive. You Lose
initiative. Both of these programs must have an enforcement
component to ensure their success, and the LELs interact with
the law enforcement community to promote the enforcement
components of these programs. In fiscal year 2003, NHTSA
spent approximately $561,000 to fund LEL programs in eight of
the ten regions. The conferees encourage NHTSA to increase
this support in fiscal year 2004 and to strive to expand the
presence of this program to all ten regions.
Emergency medical services.--Within the amount provided for
emergency medical services, the conference agreement provides
$1,000,000 for training EMS personnel in delivering pre-
hospital care to patients with traumatic brain injuries, as
proposed by the Senate. An additional $1,000,000 is also
provided for research at the USA Center for the Study of
Rural Vehicular Trauma, as proposed by the Senate.
Records and licensing.--Within the amount provided for
records and licensing, the conference agreement provides
$1,000,000 for a digital watermarking technology pilot
program to easily determine the authenticity of State-issued
IDs, as proposed by the Senate, and $1,000,000 for the
interstate digital image exchange project and online
verification of birth records program.
Highway safety research.--Within the amount provided for
highway safety research, the conference agreement provides
$750,000, for transportation safety research at Florida
Agricultural and Mechanical University. The objective of
FAMU's research will be to reduce the severity of traffic
injuries among the youth and adults between the ages of 0-34
and will focus on aggressive driving, road rage, speed
control, occupant protection and alcohol impaired driving
countermeasures. The conferees encourage NHTSA to work with
FAMU to identify a suitable research project that will focus
on an area that will advance highway safety.
Share the road safely.--The conference agreement provides
$500,000 for the share the road safely program, to be
administered by NHTSA, as proposed by the Senate. NHTSA is
encouraged to work with FMCSA and State highway safety
representatives to determine the best avenues for educating
both the motoring public and commercial motor vehicle
drivers, including incorporating such information in driver
education courses.
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
Crash causation study.--The conference agreement provides
$7,000,000 for the crash causation study, as proposed by the
Senate.
Motorcycle injury prevention.--There was a continuous
decline in motorcycle crash fatalities from the mid-1980's
through 1997. Since 1997 however, motorcycle fatalities have
increased annually. The conferees urge NHTSA to focus on
strategies to reduce the alarming numbers of motorcyclists
killed and injured in alcohol-related crashes each year.
Within the amount provided for crashworthiness research,
the conference agreement provides $40,000 for the New
Hampshire Department of Safety to conduct a study to evaluate
the speed and safety threshold for preventing and analyzing
motorcycle injuries, as proposed by the House. The New
Hampshire Department of Safety is encouraged to work with the
Honda Inova Fairfax Hospital CIREN Center in Fairfax,
Virginia, which specializes in analyzing motorcycle injuries.
Crashworthiness research.--Within the amount provided for
crashworthiness research, the conference agreement provides
$2,000,000 for brain and spinal cord injury research at the
Southern Consortium for Injury Biomechanics, $1,000,000 for a
joint research initiative between Vermont's College of
Medicine (UVM), Texas A&M University and Fletcher Allen
Health Care, $300,000 for the University of Massachusetts,
Amherst Risk Prone Driving research, $300,000 for South
Carolina DOT research and development for ball bearing
packages with intelligent safety aids for vehicles, and
$1,500,000 for the George Washington University National
Crash Analysis Center for advanced crashworthiness research.
National tire efficiency.--Within the amount provided for
research and analysis, the conference agreement provides
$500,000 for the Secretary of Transportation, through the
National Academy of Sciences, to develop and perform a
national tire fuel efficiency study and literature review to
consider the relationship that low rolling resistance
replacement tires designed for use on passenger cars and
light trucks have on fuel consumption and tire wear life. The
study shall address the potential of securing technically
feasible and cost-effective fuel savings from low rolling
resistance replacement tires that do not adversely affect
tire safety, including the impacts on performance and
durability or adversely impact tire tread life and scrap tire
disposal, and that does fully consider the average American
``drive cycle''. The study shall further address the cost to
the consumer including the additional cost of replacement
tires and any potential fuel savings. The report shall be
submitted to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and
the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
not later than January 1, 2006.
SAFETY PERFORMANCE
Fuel economy standards.--The conference agreement provides
$1,000,000 for the fuel economy standards program and directs
NHTSA to reevaluate the agency's goals with regard to fuel
economy and produce an updated performance structure, as
proposed by the House.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Harmonization of vehicle safety standards.--The conference
agreement provides $100,000 for the harmonization of vehicle
safety standards, due to budget constraints.
Operations and Research
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
(Limitation on Obligations)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement provides $72,000,000 from the
highway trust fund to carry out provisions of 23 U.S.C. 403,
as proposed by both the House and the Senate.
National Driver Register
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement provides $3,600,000 for the
National Driver Register, as proposed by both the House and
the Senate.
Highway Traffic Safety Grants
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
(Limitation on Obligations)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement limits obligations for highway
traffic safety grants to $225,000,000, as proposed by both
the House and the Senate. The bill includes separate
obligation limitations with the following funding
allocations:
State and community grants.................................$165,000,000
Occupant protection incentive grants.........................20,000,000
Alcohol incentive grants.....................................40,000,000
State highway safety program administration.--The GAO
recently released a report regarding the oversight of State
Highway Safety Programs (GAO-03-474). This report included
the recommendation that NHTSA should provide more guidance to
regional offices regarding when it is appropriate to use
management reviews and improvement plans to assist states
with their highway safety programs. The Senate had reiterated
this recommendation in the fiscal year 2004 report and
directed NHTSA to undertake steps necessary to implement this
guidance. However, the House had included language in the
fiscal year 2004 report directing NHTSA to begin to approve
each state's highway safety plan, if they received Section
402 funding, as the agency did prior to 1998.
Therefore, the conferees direct NHTSA to examine the
agency's policies with regard to the state grant programs,
and submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations, which should include current agency policies
for providing guidance to states on how best to craft
respective highway safety plans and an analysis of oversight
review responsibilities NHTSA currently has with regard to
these plans, as proposed by the House. In addition, the
report should include the steps that NHTSA would undertake
if, in reviewing a state's plan, the agency had a conflict
with the way in which states planned to obligate Federal
grant funds. The report should include a detailed spectrum of
annual examples, since fiscal year 2000, for which States
used Section 402 funds, including items that NHTSA considers
exemplary and items NHTSA may consider frivolous.
NHTSA is also directed to develop a clear policy on
management review of state highway safety plans, including
when a state improvement plan should be required, as proposed
by the Senate. This should be included in the report.
Funding of $50,000 in operating expenses has been provided
to undertake this study, and a copy must be provided to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by February 20,
2004.
Highway public safety mobilizations.--The conferees are
concerned that the current timing of the national seat belt
and impaired driving mobilizations in May and July does not
allow ample time for either NHTSA or State and local law
enforcement agencies to adequately plan for these intensive
efforts. The conferees believe it is important that NHTSA and
the States have adequate time to properly plan and prepare
for each of these mobilizations in order to have the maximum
impact on saving lives and preventing injuries. To that end,
the conferees
[[Page 31709]]
direct NHTSA to work with State and local authorities and the
safety community to establish a comprehensive plan and date
certain for future national impaired driving mobilizations.
Much like the nation has embraced May as the ``Click It or
Ticket'' month, the conferees expect that this coordinated
effort will allow NHTSA to establish an annual date for
carrying out an effective impaired driving mobilization to be
accompanied by national paid advertising. The conferees
direct NHTSA to report to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations 90 days after the date of enactment of this
Act on the agency's implementation plans and to keep the
Committees informed throughout the fiscal year as to the
progress of these efforts.
The conferees are also aware that NHTSA is currently
evaluating the effectiveness of a safety mobilization effort
in Tennessee that combines both the seat belt and impaired
driving messages. The conferees are interested in the results
of this combined effort to determine whether a similar effort
should be conducted at the national level as part of the 2004
mobilization schedule. NHTSA is directed to report to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by February 16,
2004 with the findings of the Tennessee effort as well as any
other State mobilizations that may combine seat belt and
impaired driving messages.
General Provisions--National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 140)
allowing states to use funds provided under section 402 of
title 23, U.S.C., to produce and place highway safety public
service messages. The provision provides that any state that
uses funds for such purposes must submit a report to the
Secretary, who in turn is directed to submit them to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. The provision
allocates $10,000,000 for national paid media to support
national safety belt mobilizations under Section 157 and
$20,000,000 under Section 163 to include: $2,750,000 to
support State impaired driving mobilization enforcement
efforts, $14,000,000 for paid media to support national law
enforcement mobilizations on impaired driving, and $250,000
for continued evaluation of alcohol-impaired driving
messages. In addition, $3,000,000 from the Section 163
program should be dedicated to an impaired driving
demonstration program.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 141)
prohibiting NHTSA from transferring funds to the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration for the share the road
safely program.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 142)
authorizing the Secretary, for fiscal year 2004, to use funds
necessary to carry out section 157 of title 23, United States
Code.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 143)
authorizing the Secretary, for fiscal year 2004, to use funds
necessary to carry out section 163 of title 23, United States
Code.
The conference agreement deleted a provision in the House
bill regarding truck trailer manufacturing regulations.
FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
Safety and Operations
The conference agreement provides $130,825,000 for safety
and operations as proposed by the Senate instead of
$130,922,000 as proposed by the House. Within this total, the
conferees have funded 25 new full-time equivalents. The
conference agreement includes language that permits
$11,712,000 of the total funding to remain available until
expended as proposed by both the House and the Senate.
Workforce planning.--Consistent with the Senate report, the
conference agreement deletes $350,000 for workforce planning.
Personnel.--Consistent with the House report, the
conference agreement deletes $78,000 for one full time
equivalent for Title VI enforcement. Instead, the conference
agreement provides $78,000 for a financial analyst to support
the new oversight responsibilities placed on the Department.
This analyst will help manage activities designed to track
Amtrak's financial performance, to support the Secretary's
representatives in dealing with the greater number of issues
of substance coming before the board, and to monitor the
financial aspects of the grants, including the capital,
operating, and North East Corridor grants.
Grade crossing safety action plan update.--As directed by
the Senate, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit a
highway-railway grade crossing safety action plan update,
coordinated among FRA, FHWA, FMCSA, NHTSA and the ITS Joint
Program Office, with the fiscal year 2005 budget
justification.
Railroad Research and Development
The conference agreement provides $34,025,000 for railroad
research and development instead of $28,225,000 as proposed
by the House and $34,225,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System
(NDGPS).--The conference agreement provides $5,800,000 for
NDGPS. The House did not fund this project and the Senate
provided $6,000,000.
Marshall University/University of Nebraska.--The conference
agreement includes $2,000,000 to support Marshall University
and the University of Nebraska to conduct safety studies in
rail equipment, human factors, track, and rail safety related
issues.
West Virginia University (WVU).--The conference agreement
provides a total of $250,000 for structural integrity
research utilizing glass fiber reinforced polymers on
railroad ties at WVU's Constructed Facilities Center.
Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Program
The conference agreement includes a provision, proposed by
both the House and the Senate, specifying that no new direct
loans or loan guarantee commitments shall be made using
federal funds for the payment of any credit premium amounts
during fiscal year 2004. No federal appropriation is required
since a non-federal infrastructure partner may contribute the
subsidy amount required by the Credit Reform Act of 1990 in
the form of a credit risk premium. Once received, statutorily
established investigation charges are immediately available
for appraisals and necessary determinations and findings.
The conference agreement includes a provision, proposed by
the Senate, mandating that no payment of principal or
interest shall be collected during fiscal year 2004 for the
direct loan made to the National Railroad Passenger
Corporation.
Next Generation High-Speed Rail
The conference agreement provides $37,400,000 for the next
generation high-speed rail program instead of $28,250,000 as
proposed by the House and $29,350,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The following table summarizes the conference
agreement by budgetary activity:
Program Amount
Train control systems.......................................$10,000,000
North American joint PTC project..........................(9,000,000)
Train control-TTC.........................................(1,000,000)
Non-electric locomotives......................................9,900,000
Advanced locomotive propulsion system.....................(3,000,000)
Prototype non-electric locomotive.........................(1,900,000)
Diesel multiple units compliance and demonstration........(5,000,000)
Grade crossing and innovative technologies....................9,000,000
Mitigating hazards........................................(2,000,000)
Low-cost technologies.....................................(1,000,000)
North Carolina pedestrian crossing safety pilot: Clayton grade
separation................................................(800,000)
Springfield, Missouri grade reconfiguration study...........(800,000)
Anchorage C Street corridor grade Crossing................(1,000,000)
Tupelo Rail study.........................................(1,500,000)
New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal......................(1,000,000)
KBS railroad Hazard elimination, Kankakee, IL...............(400,000)
Ohio statewide highway-rail crossing barrier gates..........(500,000)
Track and structures..........................................1,000,000
Corridor planning.............................................2,500,000
Gulf Coast corridor.......................................(1,500,000)
Southeast corridor..........................................(750,000)
Midwest regional rail planning and engineering study........(250,000)
Maglev........................................................5,000,000
Washington to Baltimore maglev deployment.................(1,000,000)
California-Nevada Interstate maglev project...............(1,000,000)
Pittsburgh-Greensburgh, Pennsylvania maglev deployment pro(2,000,000)
Southern California maglev................................(1,000,000)
________________
Total....................................................37,400,000
Train control systems.--The conferees note that several new
and ongoing pilot projects are important to demonstrating the
operational and safety benefits of wider deployment of train
control system technologies on freight railroads. The
conferees encourage the FRA to utilize a portion of its
appropriations to further the development and testing of
safety overlay train control technologies that work in
conjunction with existing methods of operation and signal and
control systems to protect against the consequences of human
and technology failures.
Diesel multiple units.--The conference agreement provides
$5,000,000 to validate the compliance of diesel multiple
units with existing passenger car safety standards and to
make a grant to up to two public bodies for the purpose of
initiating a demonstration in daily revenue service of a
compliant DMU during calendar years 2003 and 2004. Federal
funding shall only be made available if funds are matched on
a dollar-for-dollar basis from non-federal sources and shall
only be used for activities related to establishing the
compliance of the DMU design with passenger safety standards
and for the acquisition of DMUs (through a conventional
competitive procurement process) and service facilities
necessary for revenue service demonstration. All other
expenses, including the
[[Page 31710]]
cost of passenger facilities and any net operating expenses
are not eligible for funding under this appropriation. In
making the grant award decision, FRA shall consider among its
criteria: the extent that the award would develop or
facilitate the domestic rail passenger car manufacturing
industry and the extent that it is compatible with DMU
technology acquired pursuant to the fiscal year 2003
appropriation. Nothing shall preclude FRA from making funds
available to the recipient of the fiscal year 2003 award.
California corridor.--Funds made available for high-speed
rail in California should supplement, not replace, state
funding for this same program.
Northern New England high speed rail corridor.--The
conference agreement directs the Secretary to include the
train routes from Boston, Massachusetts via Worcester and
Springfield, Massachusetts to Albany, New York and from
Springfield, Massachusetts via Hartford, Connecticut to New
Haven, Connecticut as part of the existing Northern New
England High Speed Rail Corridor.
Magnetic levitation.--In order to assist in the evaluation
of the potential of magnetic levitation to achieve traffic
congestion relief and determine its appropriate role in our
nation's transportation system, the conferees direct FRA to
provide the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a
report comparing the cost and benefits of magnetic levitation
to other modes of travel. This report should be undertaken
while moving forward on submitted projects.
Rail-highway crossing hazard eliminations.--A total of
$5,250,000 is made available for the elimination of rail-
highway crossing hazards. A limited number of rail corridors
are eligible for these funds. Of these set-aside funds, the
following allocations were made:
Assembly Street, Whaley Street and Rosewood Drive, Columbia, South
Carolina....................................................1,050,000
Tulsa, OK sealed corridor quiet zone..........................1,575,000
Hamilton Boulevard over CSX rail line near US 90, Mobile, Alab1,250,000
Washington State high speed rail corridor grade crossing proje1,000,000
Wisconsin Railway-Highway crossing hazard elimination project...375,000
________________
Total.......................................................5,250,000
Alaska Railroad Rehabilitation
The conference agreement provides $25,000,000 for the
Alaska Railroad, as proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar appropriation.
Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
The conference agreement provides $1,225,000,000 for the
Secretary of Transportation to make quarterly grants to
Amtrak, instead of $900,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$1,346,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of these funds,
$760,000,000 is provided for operating subsidy grants and
$465,000,000 is provided for capital grants. Flexibility of
the Secretary to allocate funds to either operating or
capital subsidies is not included, as proposed by the Senate.
DOT oversight.--The conference agreement directs the
Secretary to approve funding for all train routes for
operating losses and capital expenditures, including advance
purchase orders, after receiving and approving a grant
request accompanied by detailed financial information,
revenue projections, and capital expenditure projection
justification, as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees direct the Secretary to ensure that Amtrak
continues to meet all debt principal and interest payments in
fiscal year 2004, as proposed by the House and Senate. The
Secretary is also directed to ensure that any funds provided
to Amtrak be spent in a prudent manner, on projects where
positive results can be seen, that maximize operational
efficiencies, that promote those lines that have the highest
ridership and that have cost sharing agreements in place.
Amtrak shall not be permitted to begin any new projects
unless the project can be fully funded with the fiscal year
2004 appropriation and Amtrak generated revenues, unless such
projects are critical for safety or infrastructure repairs,
as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement directs the Secretary to vouch for
the accuracy of financial information Amtrak provides to
Congress, in the form of a signed letter to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations, that accompanies the
transmittal of the quarterly grant documents to the
Committees and continues to meet the specified criteria, as
proposed by the House. The conference agreement also
prohibits the Secretary from obligating or expending any
funds until Amtrak agrees to continue abiding by certain
provisions agreed to under the direct loan agreement signed
on June 28, 2002.
Continuation of commuter rail services.--The conference
agreement includes a provision (Section 150) authorizing the
Surface Transportation Board to continue commuter rail
service if Amtrak should cease operations, as proposed by the
House. Within the funds provided, the conference agreement
directs the Secretary to reserve $60,000,000 to fund costs
incurred if directed service orders are issued by the Surface
Transportation Board. At the Secretary's discretion and based
on the financial stability of Amtrak, the Secretary may make
the reserved funds available to Amtrak through appropriate
grants during the fourth quarter, to the extent that no
directed service orders have been issued or are expected to
be issued.
In addition, the Federal Railroad Administration, in
coordination with the Surface Transportation Board, shall
submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations, the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation regarding contingency plans the Department
has in place in the event that Amtrak should cease operations
and an emergency commuter service order must be carried out.
This report is due no later than 90 days from enactment of
this Act.
Annual business plan.--The conference agreement includes
language, modified from the House and Senate bills, directing
Amtrak to submit to the Secretary of Transportation, the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation a
comprehensive business plan approved by the Board of
Directors for operating subsidies and capital projects,
including advance purchase orders, to be funded in fiscal
year 2004. The plan must include targets for ridership,
revenues, and capital and operating expenses, as applicable,
and a separate accounting of such targets for the Northeast
Corridor; commuter service; long-distance Amtrak service;
state-supported service; each intercity train route;
including Autotrain; and commercial activities including
contract operations and mail and express. For capital
expenditures, the plan must include a description of the work
to be funded, with cost estimates and a timetable for
completion. The plan must be submitted within 60 days of
enactment of this Act, in both paper and electronic formats,
and must be posted on Amtrak's website.
The conference agreement directs that no funding may be
used for projects or expenses not approved by the Secretary
or included on Amtrak's business plan, as proposed by the
House and Senate. Any variations to the base operating and
capital plans, including advance purchase orders, must be
submitted to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations, according to the Department's reprogramming
guidelines.
The conference agreement continues bill language requiring
Amtrak to continue to submit monthly supplemental reports
regarding the business plan, which should describe work
completed, any changes to the business plan, and
justification for such changes, as proposed by the House and
Senate. These reports should be submitted in an electronic
format and posted on Amtrak's website. The reports shall
continue to be submitted to the Secretary and the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations and must be submitted
every month, within 30 days following the last business day
of the previous month.
State-assisted intercity rail service.--The conference
agreement also includes a provision (Section 151) that
directs the Secretary to develop and implement a fair
competitive bid procedure by January 1, 2004, to assist
states in introducing carefully managed competition to
demonstrate whether this could provide higher quality rail
service at reasonable prices, as proposed by the House. The
Secretary must administer the process, monitor its progress,
and make monthly reports to the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations. The Secretary may reprogram up to
$2,500,000 from Amtrak operating grant funds to assist in
costs of implementing this process. From this amount, the
Secretary may make grants available to the states for any
purpose consistent with achieving the goals of the process.
The Secretary must also evaluate the fair competitive bid
procedures and report to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees, the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation by July 1, 2004. In addition, within 30 days
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to these
same Committees on options for insurance pooling to provide
states and operators with the lowest possible insurance
costs.
Military and Veterans Discount Program.--The conferees are
dismayed to learn that Amtrak management is giving
consideration to terminating its discount program for the
nation's veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserve,
and active duty military members. At a time when so many
military members are risking their lives on a daily basis,
the conferees are greatly disappointed that Amtrak would
consider terminating this discount program, especially since
travelers that utilize the discount must travel under
specified restrictions during off-peak travel times. The
conferees expect Amtrak to continue this discount program and
believe that the amount of funding provided in this Act for
Amtrak is sufficient to avoid any necessity to terminate this
well-deserved benefit for our nation's veterans and military
members.
[[Page 31711]]
General Provisions--Federal Railroad Administration
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 150)
authorizing the Surface Transportation Board to continue
commuter rail service if Amtrak should cease operations.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 151)
requiring the Secretary of Transportation, working with
affected states, to develop and implement a fair competitive
bid procedure to assist states in introducing carefully
managed competition to demonstrate whether competition may
provide higher quality rail service at reasonable prices.
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
Administrative Expenses
The conference agreement provides $75,500,000 for
administrative expenses of the Federal Transit
Administration, instead of the $72,500,000 as proposed by the
House and $73,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Within this
total, the conference agreement appropriates $15,100,000 from
the general fund. The general fund appropriation shall be
available until expended.
The conference agreement specifies the appropriations for
each of the FTA offices in bill language, as proposed by both
the House and Senate. In addition, the Administrator is
authorized to transfer funding between offices, but transfers
totaling more than three percent must be approved by both the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
The conference agreement includes a provision, contained in
both bills, that would reimburse the Department of
Transportation's Inspector General $2,000,000 for costs
associated with audits and investigations of transit-related
issues. The conference agreement also includes a provision
that specifies the amount of funding available for the
National transit database to be not less than $2,200,000 for
fiscal year 2004.
Administrative expenses.--Salaries and benefits have been
provided for all current on-board FTE at the Federal Transit
Administration. The request for an additional 10 FTE has been
denied, consistent with the Senate proposal. FTA has grown
unencumbered for some time, increasing by 18% in ten years,
and the conferees are troubled that FTA continues to seek new
employees every year in double-digit quantities. Many items
within the central account have been kept at levels
consistent with fiscal year 2003, as increases of over 50%
were requested in some instances, such as transportation and
training.
In addition, this year FTA has submitted letters to the
Committees with important attachments missing; has approved a
reprogramming--and advised a Member of Congress of such
action--without requesting such change from the Committees on
Appropriations; and has been reluctant to provide information
in a responsive manner. The conferees will not tolerate the
continuation of these kinds of errors and demand that FTA
develop better procedures for improved internal coordination.
Budget justifications.--The conferees direct FTA to submit
its fiscal year 2005 congressional budget justification for
administrative expenses by office, as proposed by the House
and Senate, with material detailing salaries and expenses,
staffing increases, and programmatic initiatives of each
office.
Grants management.--The conferees are concerned with the
increasing number of projects that are not obligated in a
three-year period that consequently become available for
reallocation. At the same time, the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations have heard a litany of
complaints from project sponsors of the lack of cooperation
and assistance from FTA during the grant application process
and the amendment process for full funding grant agreements.
While the conferees expect aggressive oversight from the
agency, they will not condone intimidation or dilatory
bureaucratic obstacles that needlessly delay the obligations
of discretionary projects. FTA should set new goals for the
timing of grant obligations for each discretionary category
and strive to meet those goals.
In the event that FTA receives a request from a Member of
Congress regarding a reprogramming of funding for transit
projects in their district or state, FTA shall direct the
Member of Congress to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations to establish a resolution. The Committees
shall review the matter and notify FTA of the resolution.
Project and financial management oversight activities.--The
conferees direct FTA to submit to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations quarterly FMO and PMOC reports
for each project with a full funding grant agreement.
Full funding grant agreements (FFGAs).--TEA-21, as amended,
requires that the FTA notify the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations as well as the House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on
Banking sixty days before executing a full funding grant
agreement. In its notification to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations, the conferees direct the FTA to
include therein the following: (1) a copy of the proposed
full funding grant agreement; (2) the total and annual
federal appropriations required for that project; (3) yearly
and total federal appropriations that can be reasonably
planned or anticipated for future FFGAs for each fiscal year
through 2004; (4) a detailed analysis of annual commitments
for current and anticipated FFGAs against the program
authorization; (5) an evaluation of whether the alternatives
analysis made by the applicant fully assessed all viable
alternatives; and (6) a financial analysis of the project's
cost and sponsor's ability to finance the project, which
shall be conducted by an independent examiner and which shall
include an assessment of the capital cost estimate and the
finance plan; the source and security of all public- and
private-sector financial instruments; the project's operating
plan, which enumerates the project's future revenue and
ridership forecasts; and a listing of all planned
contingencies and possible risks associated with the project.
The conferees also direct FTA to inform the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations thirty days before
approving scope changes in any full funding grant agreement,
as proposed by the House. Correspondence relating to scope
changes shall include any budget revisions or program changes
that materially alter the project as originally stipulated in
the full funding grant agreement, and shall include any
proposed change in rail car procurements.
The conferees have not included language, proposed by the
House, directing FTA to report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations before any project in the new
starts process is given approval by FTA to advance to
preliminary engineering or final design. The conferees would
encourage FTA to ensure that the Committees are aware of
project development and progression, but do not require
official correspondence.
New starts report.--The conferees were satisfied with the
timely submission of FTA's fiscal year 2004 annual report on
new starts projects. TEA-21 required this report to be
submitted in conjunction with the budget, yet year after
year, this report was submitted months late. Without a timely
submission of this information, the conferees cannot make
well-informed decisions about new starts projects. To ensure
that this report continues to be submitted on time, the
conference agreement includes bill language that requires FTA
to submit its annual new starts report with the initial
submission of the President's budget request. An untimely
submission of this crucial report will result in penalties to
FTA's administrative expenses account.
Charter service activities.--The conferees direct FTA to
revisit Part 604 of Title 49 of the United States Code to
ensure that the statute continues to meet its purpose of
ensuring that federally funded equipment and facilities
should not be used to compete unfairly with private charter
operators, as proposed by the House. A report shall be
submitted to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations no later then December 31, 2003, on FTA's
efforts.
Buy America enforcement.--The conferees direct the Office
of Inspector General to review FTA's most recent
interpretations of manufactured components and subcomponents
as well as the use of temporary exemptions regarding domestic
content under the Buy America statute, as proposed by the
Senate. A report shall be submitted to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations no later than March 1, 2004.
Transit agency advertising.--The conferees are concerned
that transit agencies accepting Federal grant funds may be
providing their advertising space to organizations that
encourage the public to break the law. For example, the
conferees note with displeasure that public service
advertising space in Washington, DC's Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority rail stations and buses has been used to
advocate changing the nation's laws regarding marijuana
usage. WMATA has provided $46,250 worth of space to these
types of ads; therefore, as a warning to other transit
agencies, the conferees have deleted funding totaling $92,500
from projects and activities for WMATA in this bill.
While the conferees applaud the efforts of many transit
agencies to prevent ads that promote marijuana use, the
conferees remain concerned that the opportunity exists
nationwide for transit properties to run similar advertising.
Therefore, the conference agreement includes a provision
(Section 177) that prohibits Federal transit grantees from
obligating or expending funds that would otherwise be
available in the Act, if the grantee is involved directly or
indirectly with any activity, including displaying or
permitting to be displayed advertisements on its land,
equipment, or in its facilities, that promote the
legalization or medical use of substances listed in schedule
I of section 202 of the Controlled Substance Act.
Formula Grants
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conference agreement provides a total program level of
$3,839,000,000 for formula grants of the Federal Transit
Administration, as proposed by both the House and Senate.
Within this total, the conference agreement appropriates
$767,800,000 from the general fund. The general fund
appropriation shall be available until expended. The FTA
oversight takedown shall not exceed the amount authorized in
current law.
[[Page 31712]]
The conference agreement provides that funding made
available under the clean fuels formula grant program under
this heading shall be transferred to and merged with funding
provided for the replacement, rehabilitation, and purchase of
buses and related equipment and the construction of bus-
related facilities under ``Federal Transit Administration,
capital investment grants''.
University Transportation Research
The conference agreement provides a total of $6,000,000 for
the university transportation research program as proposed by
both the House and the Senate. Of this amount, $1,200,000 is
from the general fund and shall be available until expended.
Transit Planning and Research
The conference agreement provides a total of $126,000,000
for transit planning and research. Within the total, the
conference agreement appropriates $25,200,000 from the
general fund. The general fund appropriation shall be
available until expended.
Within the funds appropriated for transit planning and
research, $5,250,000 is provided for rural transportation
assistance; $4,000,000 is provided for the National Transit
Institute; $8,250,000 is provided for the transit cooperative
research program; $60,385,600 is provided for metropolitan
planning; $12,614,400 is provided for state planning; and
$35,500,000 is provided for the national planning and
research program.
National planning and research.--Within the funding
provided for national planning and research, the Federal
Transit Administration shall make available the following
amounts for the programs and activities listed below:
Project ACTION (TEA-21)......................................$3,000,000
Advanced Transportation Technology Institute, Tennessee.......1,000,000
CALSTART/Weststart Bus Rapid Transit; Clean Mobility and Transit
Enhancements................................................2,125,000
Center for Composite Manufacturing, Alabama...................1,000,000
Center for Intermodal Transportation, Florida A&M University....750,000
Community Transportation Association of America's National Joblinks
Program.....................................................1,000,000
Fischer-Tropsch clean diesel technology demonstration, Oklahom1,000,000
Hennepin County Community Works. Minnesota....................1,200,000
Interior Air Quality Industrial Engine Control Demonstration, Bristol,
Virginia......................................................850,000
JSU Bus Technology Research Center............................1,000,000
Natonal Bio-Terrorism Civilian Medical Response Center, Pennsy1,000,000
NDSU Transit Center for small urban areas, North Dakota.........400,000
North Carolina State University Center for Transportation and the
Environment...................................................100,000
NYU-Wagner Rudin Center Americas Mega City Project, New York.....75,000
Oklahoma Transportation Center................................1,500,000
State University System of Florida Intermodal Transportation Safety
Initiative..................................................7,000,000
Transit Technology Center Ladder Partnership Training Program...500,000
Vashon Island Passenger-Only Ferry Initiative, Washington.....1,000,000
WVU exhaust emissions testing, West Virginia..................1,400,000
Trust Fund Share of Expenses
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement provides $5,847,200,000 in
liquidating cash for the trust fund share of transit
expenses.
Capital Investment Grants
(Including Transfers of Funds)
The conference agreement provides a total program level of
$3,137,500,000 to remain available until expended for capital
investment grants. Within the total, the conference agreement
appropriates $627,500,000 from the general fund.
Within the total program level, $1,206,506,000 is provided
for fixed guideway modernization; $607,200,000 is provided
for the replacement, rehabilitation, and purchase of buses
and related equipment and the construction of bus-related
facilities; and $1,323,794,000 is provided for new fixed
guideway systems.
Three year availability of section 5309 discretionary
funds.--The conferees direct FTA to reprogram funds from
recoveries and previous appropriations that remain available
after three years and are available for reallocation to only
those new starts and bus and bus facilities projects that are
identified. The FTA shall notify the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations 15 days prior to any such
proposed reallocation. Therefore, the conferees direct FTA to
reallocate funds provided in the fiscal year 2001 Department
of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act or
previous Acts for the following bus and bus facilities
projects, which shall supplement funding for bus and bus
facility projects listed in this report:
Woburn, buses and bus facilities, MA
Elizabeth Ferry Project, NJ
Greenport and Sag Harbor, ferries and vans, NY
Westchester and Duchess counties, vans, NY
Phoenixville, transit related improvements, PA
The conferees direct FTA to reallocate funds provided in
the fiscal year 2001 Department of Transportation and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act or previous Acts for the
following new starts projects:
Boston-South Boston Piers Transitway Project
Massachusetts North Shore Corridor Project
FTA restrictions on funding for non-FFGA new start
projects.--The conferees strongly support language proposed
by the Senate that rejects an FTA reinterpretation of
Sections 5309(e)(6), (7), and (8) of Title 49, U.S.C. Through
this reinterpretation, FTA is withholding the release of
appropriated funds for new starts projects that have received
more than $25,000,000 in Federal funding prior to receiving a
full funding grant agreement. The conference agreement
includes a general provision that rejects the FTA analysis
that once a project exceeds $25,000,000 it is subject to FTA
review and evaluation and therefore FTA must approve it for
advancement, while withholding appropriated funds. Further,
there is no limit of $25,000,000 on alternatives analysis,
preliminary engineering, or final design, and a project
seeking more than that amount for such activities does not
need an early systems work agreement, as FTA has interpreted
to be required under subsection (g)(1). The conferees direct
FTA to expeditiously release previously appropriated funds
for all new starts projects identified in this and prior
appropriations Acts that remain unobligated and have not been
reallocated by the Congress, upon request of the grantee and
the satisfaction of statutory requirements.
Pooled procurement pilot project.--The conference agreement
includes a general provision establishing a pooled
procurement pilot program for bus procurements (Section 166),
as proposed by the Senate. FTA shall disseminate the benefits
of voluntary buyer collaboration to transit systems and
review upcoming and current procurements to determine
suitable candidates for selection as pilot projects.
Additionally, the FTA is directed to evaluate the process
employed and the results achieved by each pool and report the
findings to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
no later than 60 days after the award of a contract.
Bus and Bus Facilities
Bus and bus facilities.--The conference agreement provides
$607,200,000, together with $50,000,000 transferred from
``Federal Transit Administration, formula grants'' and
$20,000,000 transferred from ``Federal Transit
Administration, job access and reverse commute grants'' and
merged with funding under this heading, for the replacement,
rehabilitation and purchase of buses and related equipment
and the construction of bus-related facilities. No funding is
made available to carry out the clean fuels program in this
Act. In addition, funds made available for bus and bus
facilities are to be supplemented with funds from reallocated
projects included in the fiscal year 2001 Appropriations Act.
Funds provided for buses and bus facilities are distributed
as follows:
AC Transit Expansion Buses, California.......................$1,000,000
Access Enhancements to Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station, Cal600,000
Adams County Transit Authority (ACTA) buses and bus facilities,
Pennsylvania...................................................20,000
Alabama A&M University Transit Loop, Alabama..................1,500,000
Alabama Area Agencies on Aging Senior Van Replacement.........1,000,000
Alabama State Docks Intermodal Facility.......................9,500,000
Alameda Point Areil Transit Project, California.................500,000
Alaska Mobility Coalition Bus Replacement.......................500,000
Alexandria After School Bus program, Virginia....................75,000
Allegan County Transportation Services, Michigan..............1,000,000
Allentown Intermodal Facility, Pennsylvania...................2,500,000
Alternative Fuel Replacement Buses for Sun Tran, Arizona........500,000
Ames Maintenance Facility improvement, Iowa...................1,000,000
[[Page 31713]]
AMTRAN Buses and Transit System Improvements, Pennsylvania......200,000
Anaheim Resort Transit (ART), California........................500,000
Anchorage Ship Creek Intermodal Facility, Alaska..............2,000,000
Ann Arbor Fuel Cell Bus Project, Michigan.....................2,000,000
Ann Arbor Transit Authority Transit Center, Michigan............750,000
Antelope Valley Transit Authority Operations and Maintenance Facility,
California..................................................1,250,000
Arctic Winter Games buses and bus facilities, Alaska..........1,500,000
Area Transit Authority buses and bus equipment, Pennsylvania..2,500,000
Arkansas Statewide buses and bus facilities...................4,750,000
Asheville Transit System Fleet Replacement, North Carolina......300,000
Athens Clarke County Park Ride Project, Georgia...............2,750,000
Audubon Area Community Services, Kentucky.......................100,000
Austin Capital Metro buses and bus facilities, Texas..........3,000,000
Baldwin Park Downtown/Metrolink Parking Improvements, California250,000
Baltimore Center Plaza, Maryland................................600,000
Barry County Transit replacement maintenance equipment, Michigan.20,000
BARTA Fixed Route Bus and Paratransit Vehicle Replacement, Pen2,600,000
BARTA Transit Facilities, Pennsylvania..........................650,000
Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Authority New and Replacement
Buses, Michigan...............................................250,000
Bay Area Transportation Authority Downtown Transfer Center Construction
and Bus Purchase, Grand Traverse County, Michigan...........1,000,000
Beaver County Transit Authority replacement buses and equipment,
Pennsylvania..................................................250,000
Belding bus replacement and communication equipment, Michigan....40,000
Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) Buses and Fare Boxes,
Massachusetts.................................................765,000
Berrien County Public Transportation, Michigan...................80,000
Billings Downtown Bus Transfer Facility, Montana..............1,500,000
Birmingham Downtown Intermodal Facility phase II, Alabama.....3,500,000
Bloomington Transit, Bloomington, Indiana.......................720,000
Brattleboro Multimodal, Vermont...............................2,000,000
Brazos County Bus Replacement Program, Texas....................200,000
Bridgeport Intermodal Transport Center, Connecticut...........4,000,000
Brockton Intermodal Transportation Centre, Massachusetts......1,000,000
Burbank Empire Area Transit Center, California..................750,000
Burlington Transit Facilities, Vermont........................2,500,000
Bus Rapid Transit Project, Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada......1,000,000
Bus Replacement, Brockton Area Transit Authority, Massachusett2,000,000
Butler Multi-Modal Transit Center, Pennsylvania...............1,000,000
Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority buses, Michigan...............75,000
Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority Intermodal Facility, Michigan600,000
Calexico Transit System, California.............................300,000
Cambria County Transit buses and facilities, Pennsylvania.......900,000
Capital Area Transit Buses, Pennsylvania......................1,600,000
Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), Rensselaer Intermodal
Station, New York.............................................250,000
Capital Metro Hybrid Electric Buses, Texas......................500,000
CATA, Lansing, Michigan.......................................1,000,000
Central New York Regional Transportation Authority............2,300,000
Central Ohio Transit Authority Facility.........................450,000
Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority.........1,820,000
Centre Area Transit Authority, Advanced Public Transportation Systems
Initiative, Pennsylvania......................................600,000
Cerone Operating Complex Improvements, California...............500,000
Cerritos Circulator Buses, California...........................300,000
Chapel Hill Bus Maintenance Facility, North Carolina..........1,000,000
Charlotte Area Transit System Transit Maintenance and Operations
Center, North Carolina......................................5,000,000
Chatham Area Transit Authority buses and bus facilities, Georg6,000,000
Cherry Street Multi-Modal Facility, Terre Haute, Indiana......1,900,000
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe public buses and bus facilities, South
Dakota......................................................2,250,000
Church Street Transportation Center, Williamsport, Lycoming County,
Pennsylvania..................................................250,000
Citrus County Enhancement Project for the Transportation Disadvantaged,
Florida.......................................................125,000
City Bus, Williamsport Bureau of Transportation, Lycoming County,
Pennsylvania................................................1,000,000
City of Canby Transit Center, Oregon............................150,000
City of Columbia Transit Replacement, Missouri..................100,000
City of Corvallis Bus Replacement, Oregon.......................250,000
City of Greenville Multimodal Transportation Center Improvements, South
Carolina......................................................200,000
City of Macon Alternative Fuel Vehicle Purchase, Georgia........300,000
City of Wichita Transit Authority System Upgrades, Kansas.......250,000
CityLink van and technology replacement, Abiline, Texas.........500,000
Clallam Transit Buses, Washington...............................250,000
Clare County Transit Corporation Replacement Buses, Michigan....100,000
Claremont Intermodal Transit Village Expansion Project, Califo1,250,000
Clark County Transit, Bus Replacement Project, Washington.....3,000,000
Clean Fleet Bus Purchase and Facilities, Virginia.............1,000,000
Clinton Transit Bus Purchase, Michigan...........................40,000
Clinton Transit Office, Missouri................................250,000
Coast Transit Authority, Mississippi............................500,000
Coconino County buses and bus facilities, Arizona.............1,400,000
Coffman-Cove Inner Island Ferry/Bus Terminal, Alaska..........1,500,000
Collegian Busway Improvements, California.......................200,000
Colorado Transit Coalition buses and bus facilities, Colorado14,000,000
Community Transit Bus and Van Replacement, Washington.........1,000,000
Connecticut Statewide buses and bus facilities................3,000,000
Construction of new Intermodal Terminals in Downtown Reno and Sparks,
Nevada......................................................6,000,000
Coralville Intermodal Facility, Iowa............................500,000
Corona Transit Center, California...............................700,000
Corpus Christi buses and bus facilities, Texas................2,000,000
County Connection L.L.C., Midland County, Michigan...............75,000
Cranberry Isles Intermodal Transportation Facility, Maine.......250,000
Cummings Research Park Commercial Center Intermodal Facility, 2,000,000
Curtis Ferry, Maine.............................................750,000
Danville Hub-Gilcher Transit Facility/Parking Structure, Kentu1,750,000
Danville Trolley Buses, Virginia................................175,000
Daviess County Parking Garage and Intra-County Transit Facility,
Kentucky....................................................2,000,000
Davis Intermodal Facility, California...........................200,000
[[Page 31714]]
Dekalb County BRT Improvements, Georgia.......................1,500,000
Delaware Statewide bus and bus facilities.....................1,000,000
Detroit Bus Replacement, Michigan.............................2,500,000
Detroit Downtown Transit Center, Michigan.....................7,000,000
Detroit Timed Transfer Center Phase II, Michigan..............1,000,000
Downtown Transit Center, Nashville, Tennessee.................2,000,000
Durham Multimodal Transportation Facility, North Carolina.....1,500,000
East Haddam Mobility Improvement Project, Connecticut.........3,000,000
East Side Transit Center, Cleveland, Ohio.....................1,000,000
Eastern Contra Costa County Park and Ride Lots, California......600,000
Ed Roberts Campus transit center, California....................400,000
Edmonds Crossing Multimodal Transportation Terminal, Washingto2,000,000
El Garces Intermodal Station, Needles, California.............1,900,000
El Paso Sun Metro Bus Replacement, Texas......................1,000,000
Endless Mountain Transportation Authority, Bradford County,
Pennsylvania...................................................10,000
Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority Bus Acquisition, Pennsylvani100,000
Escondido Bus Maintenance Facility, California..................500,000
Eureka Intermodal Depot, California.............................250,000
Everett Transit, Bus Replacement, Washington..................1,000,000
Fairfax County, Richmond Highway Transit Improvements, Virginia.700,000
Farmington buses and bus facilities, New Mexico.................100,000
Fayette County Intermodal Transit Facility, Pennsylvania........400,000
Flagler Senior Services Transit Coaches, Florida................125,000
Flint buses and bus facilities, Michigan......................2,500,000
Florida International University/University of Miami University
Transportation Center, Florida................................400,000
Foothill Transit Oriented Neighborhood Program, California....2,500,000
Fort Edward Intermodal Station Interior Restoration/Rehabilitation
Project, New York.............................................300,000
Fort Lauderdale Tri-County Transit Authority fare collection system,
Florida.......................................................800,000
Fort Smith Transit Facility, Arkansas...........................750,000
Fort Wayne Citilink Bus Purchase, Indiana.......................400,000
Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) Bus, Massachusetts...150,000
Fresno FAX Buses, Equipment, and Facilities, California.......1,200,000
Ft. Worth Transportation Authority Fleet Modernization and Bus Transfer
Centers, Texas..............................................1,500,000
Fulton County Transit Authority, Kentucky.......................150,000
Galveston Maintenance Facility Renovations, Texas...............800,000
Georgia Statewide buses and bus facilities, Albany & Rome.....1,000,000
Girdwood Transportation Center, Alaska........................1,000,000
Golden Empire Transit Traffic Signal Priority, California.......250,000
Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area multimodal surface transportation
center, Michigan............................................1,550,000
Grant Transit Authority, Bus Facility, Washington...............500,000
Grapevine Bus Purchase, Texas...................................160,000
Grays Harbor Transportation Authority Capital Improvement, Washin75,000
Great Falls Transit Authority Bus Replacement and Facility Improvement,
Montana.......................................................300,000
Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, Ohio.................750,000
Greater New Haven Transit District Fuel Cell and Electric Bus Funding,
Connecticut.................................................1,500,000
Greater Ouachita Port and Intermodal Facility, Louisiana......1,250,000
GRTA buses and bus facilities, Georgia........................5,000,000
Hamilton Clean Fuels Bus Facility, Georgia....................1,000,000
Hampton Roads Transit Southside Bus Facility, Virginia........2,000,000
Harbor Transit Bus Replacement, Michigan.......................200,000,
Harrisburg CorridorONE, Pennsylvania..........................2,000,000
Harrisburg Intermodal Airport Multi-Modal Transportation Facility,
Pennsylvania................................................1,000,000
Harrison County multi-modal facilities and shuttle service, Mi1,000,000
Harrison Intermodal Project, New Jersey.........................750,000
HART Bus Purchase, Florida......................................500,000
Hartford Downtown Circulator, Connecticut.....................1,375,000
Hattiesburg Intermodal Facility, Mississippi..................3,000,000
Hawaii Statewide Rural Bus Program............................4,000,000
Hazleton Intermodal Public Transit Center, Pennsylvania.......1,750,000
Helena Transit Facility, Montana................................500,000
Hemet Transit Center/Bus Facility, California...................312,000
Henderson Area Rapid Transit Authority, Kentucky.................15,000
High Point Project Terminals, North Carolina....................800,000
Holland Macatawa Area Express (MAX), Michigan...................600,000
Honolulu Bus and Paratransit Replacement Program, Hawaii.....10,000,000
Honolulu Middle Street Intermodal Center, Hawaii..............3,000,000
Howard Boulevard Intermodal Park & Ride, New Jersey...........2,200,000
Hunt County Committee on Aging Transportation Facility, Texas...400,000
Hunterdon County Intermodel Stations and Park & Rides, New Jerse400,000
Huntsville Airport Phase III Intermodal Facility, Alabama.....3,500,000
Idaho Transit Coalition buses and bus facilities..............4,000,000
Illinois Statewide buses and bus facilities...................7,000,000
Indiana County Transit Authority/Bus Facility Expansion and Renovation,
Pennsylvania..................................................400,000
Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana.........................800,000
Indianapolis Downtown Transit Center, Indiana.................3,500,000
Intelligent Transportation System for ITP The Rapid, Michigan...600,000
Intercity Transit Bus Expansion and Replacement, Washington...1,000,000
Intermodal Facility, JIA, Mississippi.........................2,000,000
Intermodal Transit Facility for ULM, Louisiana................1,000,000
Intermodal Transportation Hub Project, North Carolina...........150,000
Interstate 15 Managed Lanes BRT Capital Purchase, California..1,000,000
Iowa Statewide buses and bus facilities.......................6,600,000
Isabella County Transportation Commission Vehicle Replacement, M250,000
Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Bus and Bus Facilities,1,000,000
Jacobi Transportation Facility, New York........................800,000
Jamaica Intermodal Facilities, Queens, New York.................400,000
Jasper Bus Replacement, Alabama..................................40,000
JATRAN vehicles for disabled and elderly, Mississippi...........250,000
Jefferson City Transit System, Missouri.........................300,000
Jefferson Transit bus purchase, Washington......................200,000
Jefferson Transit Facilities, Washington......................1,000,000
Johnson County Nolte Transit Center, Kansas.....................250,000
Johnson County Transit Equipment and Transit Coach Improvement, 100,000
Kalamazoo County Human Services Care-A-Van, Michigan.............75,000
Kansas City Area Transit Authority buses and bus facilities, K1,700,000
[[Page 31715]]
Kansas Statewide buses and bus facilities.....................3,000,000
KCATA buses and bus facilities, Kansas........................3,000,000
Kearney RYDE Transit, Nebraska................................1,000,000
Kent State University lntermodal Facility, Ohio.................375,000
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet/Community Action Groups.........400,000
Key West bus and bus facilities, Florida......................1,100,000
Kibios Area Transit System (KATS) maintenance facility and vehicles,
Oklahoma......................................................650,000
King County Metro Clean Air Buses, Washington.................5,000,000
Kitsap Transit Bus Replacement, Washington....................1,000,000
Knoxville Electric Transit Intermodal Center, Tennessee.......2,000,000
Lake Erie Transit Bus Storage Facility and Maintenance Facility
Expansion, Michigan.........................................1,000,000
Lakeland Area Mass Transit District Citrus Connection, Florida..550,000
Lane Transit District, BRT Phase II, Coburg Road Phase III, Or2,000,000
Lansing Fixed Route Bus Replacement, ADA Para transit Small Bus
Replacement, Maintenance, Administration and Storage Facility
Renovation and Expansion, CATA/MSU Bus Way, Rural Small Bus
Replacement, Michigan.......................................1,500,000
Laredo Bus Facility, Texas......................................850,000
Las Cruces buses and bus facilities, New Mexico.................375,000
Lebanon County Transit Authority, buses and bus related facilities,
Pennsylvania..................................................450,000
Lee County LeeTran Bus Replacement, Florida.....................200,000
Leesburg Train Depot Renovation and Restoration, Georgia........300,000
LETS Bus Replacement, Michigan...................................90,000
Levy County Improvement Project for the Transportation Disadvantaged,
Florida.......................................................200,000
Liberty County COA Bus Facility, Montana.........................50,000
Lincoln County Transportation, Bus Garage Facility, Oregon......200,000
Lincoln Park Museum Trolleys, Illinois..........................600,000
Link Transit Vehicle Replacement, Wenatchee, Washington.........800,000
Livingston County Transportation Center, New York...............400,000
Long Beach Transit buses and bus facilities, California.......1,000,000
Lorain Port Authority Lighthouse Shuttle and Black River Water Taxi
Project, Ohio.................................................200,000
Los Angeles County Circulator Buses, California.................400,000
Los Angeles MTA buses, California.............................4,000,000
Louisiana Statewide buses and bus facilities..................5,500,000
Lowcountry Regional Transit Authority, South Carolina...........300,000
Lowell Regional Transit Authority Gallagher Intermodal Transportation
Center, Massachusetts.......................................1,000,000
Lubbock/Citibus Buses, Texas..................................1,500,000
Ludinton Mass Transportation Authority Bus Facility, Michigan...250,000
Macon and Athens Multimodal Station, Georgia..................1,600,000
Macon Multi-Modal Terminal Station, Georgia...................1,500,000
Main Street project for downtown Buffalo, New York..............650,000
Main Street Station Multimodal Transportation Center, Virginia1,500,000
Maine Statewide buses and bus facilities......................1,250,000
Mammoth Lakes Bus Purchase, California..........................800,000
Manistee County Transportation, Inc. Replacement Buses, Michigan.30,000
Marquette County, Phase II--Transit Administrative, Operations,
Maintenance & Storage Facility, Michigan....................1,000,000
MARTA Automated Fare Collection/Smart Card System, Georgia....4,000,000
MARTA Buses, Georgia..........................................6,000,000
Maryland Statewide buses and bus facility.....................7,500,000
Mason County Transportation Authority Capital Improvements, Wash200,000
Mecosta Osceola County Area Transit Vehicle Replacement, Michiga200,000
Medical University of South Carolina Intermodal Facility, South
Carolina....................................................4,000,000
Memphis International Airport Intermodal Facility, Tennessee..2,750,000
Mesa Operating Facility, Arizona..............................2,000,000
Metro Area Transit (MAT) buses and bus facilities, Omaha, Nebr2,000,000
Metro Transit buses and bus facilities, Minnesota.............4,400,000
Metro Transit Turn Around at Taylor Landing Park, Washington.....40,000
Miami Dade County System Enhancements, Florida................1,000,000
Miami-Dade County buses, Florida..............................1,000,000
Michigan Statewide buses and bus facilities...................1,000,000
Mid County Transit Authority Kittanning, Pennsylvania...........400,000
Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority, Charleroi, Pennsylvania.......600,000
Minnesota District 8 Transit Vehicles and Transit Bus Facilities800,000
Minnesota Transit buses and bus facilities, Minnesota.........1,672,000
Missouri Bus & Paratransit Vehicles--Rolling Stock..............800,000
Missouri Statewide buses and bus facilities...................8,000,000
Mobile Waterfront Terminal and Maritime Center of the Gulf, Al4,500,000
Modesto Bus Facility, California..............................1,000,000
Montachusett Area Regional Transit (MART) buses and bus facilities,
Massachusetts...............................................2,000,000
Montclair State University Campus and Community Bus System, New 700,000
Monterey-Salinas Transit Buses, California....................1,500,000
Montgomery Buses, New York.......................................40,000
Morris County Intermodal Facilities and Park & Rides, New Jers3,000,000
Mountain Line Bus Replacement and Facility Improvements, Montana200,000
MTA/Long Island Bus clean fuel cell bus purchase, New York....1,000,000
Mukilteo Lane Park and Ride, Washington.......................1,000,000
Multi-Modal Transportation Facility and Transit System at Oklahoma
State University, Oklahoma..................................2,250,000
Muncie Transit System, Indiana..................................700,000
Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District's Myrtle/Wyckoff/Palmetto
Transit Hub Enhancement, New York.............................500,000
Myrtle Beach Regional Multimodal Transit Center, South Carolina.200,000
Nacogdoches Vehicle Replacement, Texas..........................800,000
Nashville replacement of aged buses, Tennessee..................500,000
Nassau County, Hub Enhancements, New York.....................1,200,000
Nebraska Statewide Rural Automatic Vehicle Locating & Comms. Sys750,000
Nevada Rural Transit Vehicles and Facilities....................500,000
New Castle Transit Authority replacement buses, Pennsylvania....100,000
New Hampshire Statewide buses and bus facilities..............4,500,000
Newark Penn Station Intermodal Improvements, New Jersey.......3,000,000
Newton Rapid Transit Handicap Access Improvements, Massachusetts300,000
Niagra Frontier Transportation Authority Metro buses and bus
facilities, New York........................................1,600,000
Normal Multimodal Transportation Center and public facilities, I750,000
Norman buses and bus facilities, Oklahoma.....................3,000,000
North Bend Park and Ride, Washington............................600,000
North Carolina Statewide buses and bus facilities.............6,250,000
[[Page 31716]]
North Charleston Regional Intermodal Transportation Center, South
Carolina....................................................1,250,000
North Dakota Statewide buses and bus facilities...............3,000,000
North Florida and West Coast Bus Procurement, Florida.........4,000,000
North Side Transfer Center Brownsville Urban System (BUS), Texas350,000
Northern Michigan buses and bus facilities......................500,000
Northern Oklahoma Regional Multimodal Transportation System...2,500,000
Northwest Corridor Busway, Minnesota..........................3,000,000
Northwest Shoals Community College Transportation Modernization,
Alabama.......................................................450,000
NW 7th Avenue Transit HUB Improvements, Florida...............1,000,000
OATS buses and bus facilities, Missouri.......................1,500,000
Oats Transportation Service of Southwest Missouri................70,000
Ohio Statewide buses and bus facilities.......................5,000,000
Oklahoma City Buses, Oklahoma.................................2,250,000
Oklahoma Department of Transportation Transit Programs Divisio6,250,000
Old Bridge Intermodal Stations and Park & Rides, New Jersey.....500,000
Omnitrans--Paratransit Vehicles, California.....................300,000
Oneont Bus Replacement, New York................................200,000
Orange Beach Senior Activity Center buses, Alabama..............100,000
Orange County Transit Center Improvements, California...........325,000
Orange County Bus Rapid Transit, California...................2,250,000
Orange County Bus Replacement, New York.......................1,250,000
Orange County Fare Collection System, California..............1,000,000
Orange County Inter-County Express Bus Service, California....1,100,000
Over the Road Bus Accessibility, Intercity Bus Accessibility
Consortium, New York........................................3,000,000
Paducah Area Transit Authority, Kentucky.........................40,000
Palm Beach County and Broward County Regional Buses, Florida..1,000,000
Palm Beach Gardens Mass Transit Bus Shelters, Florida............20,000
Palmdale Intermodal Facility Parking Lot Expansion, California..300,000
Palo Alto Intermodal Transit Center, California.................750,000
Paoli Transportation Center, Pennsylvania.......................500,000
Peoria Bus Purchase, Illinois...................................300,000
Perry County Intermodal Facility, Kentucky....................2,000,000
Phoenix/Glendale West Valley Operating Facility, Arizona......5,000,000
Phoenix/Regional Heavy Maintenance Facility, Arizona..........1,000,000
Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) multimodal
transportation center, North Carolina.......................1,100,000
Pierce Transit Maintenance and Operations facility, Washington1,000,000
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) buses, Massachusetts..2,500,000
Pittsburgh Water Taxi, Pennsylvania...........................1,000,000
Pittsfield Intermodal Transportation Center, Massachusetts......615,000
Port Authority of Allegheny County Buses, Pennsylvania........2,750,000
Port Authority of Allegheny County Clean Fuel Buses, Pennsylva2,280,000
Port McKenzie Intermodal Facility, Alaska.....................1,000,000
Port of Anchorage Intermodal Facility, Alaska.................3,000,000
Portland Bayside Parking Garage/Intermodal Facility, Maine......250,000
Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, Virginia....500,000
Public Transportation Management, Tyler/Longview, Texas.........350,000
Puerto Rico Metropolitan Bus Authority Replacement..............500,000
Pulse Point Joint Development and Safety Improvements, Norwalk,
Connecticut...................................................500,000
Putnam County Transit Coaches for Ride Solutions, Florida.....1,200,000
Ray County Transportation vehicle replacement, Missouri..........80,000
Red Cross Wheels, Kentucky.......................................80,000
Redondo Beach Catalina Transit Terminal, California.............800,000
Regional Transit Project for Quitman, Clay, Randolph and Stewart
Counties, Georgia.............................................500,000
Reseda Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit Project Capital Improvement,
California....................................................250,000
Richmond Highway Public Transportation Initiative, Virginia...3,000,000
RIPTA Buses and Vans, Rhode Island............................4,000,000
RIPTA Facilities Upgrade, Rhode Island..........................400,000
Riverside Transit Agency, Automatic Traveler Information System (ATIS),
California.....................................................75,000
Riverside Transit Agency, Bus Rapid Transit Investment, Californ500,000
Riverside Transit Agency, Transit Center, California..........1,000,000
Rochester Central Bus Terminal, New York......................5,500,000
Rock Island County Mass Transit District (Metrolink) transit facility,
Illinois......................................................500,000
Rome Intermodal Station Restoration, New York.................1,250,000
Ronstadt Transit Center Modifications, Arizona................3,000,000
Roseville Multitransit Center, California.......................500,000
RTC Central City Intermodal Transportation Terminal, Las Vegas, 500,000
Sacramento Regional Bus Expansion, Enhancement, and Coordination
Program, City of Auburn, California...........................100,000
Sacramento Regional Bus Expansion, Enhancement, and Coordination
Program, City of Lincoln, California..........................500,000
Sacramento Regional Transit District, Bus Maintenance Facility,
California....................................................500,000
Salem Area Transit, Bus Replacement, Oregon.....................600,000
San Antonio VIA Metropolitan Transit buses and bus facilities,5,000,000
San Fernando Local Transit System, California...................300,000
San Francisco Muni buses and bus facilities, California.......4,000,000
San Joaquin RTD buses and bus facilities, California............250,000
San Mateo County Transit District Zero-Emission buses, Californi900,000
Sanilac County bus facility, Michigan...........................100,000
Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District Electric Bus Investment,
California....................................................300,000
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Zero-Emission Buses,
California....................................................300,000
Sawmill Creek Intermodal Facility, Alaska.....................2,000,000
Schlow Library Bus Depot, State College, Pennsylvania...........800,000
Schuylkill Transportation System, buses and bus facilities,
Pennsylvania................................................1,000,000
Senior Services of Northern Kentucky buses and bus facilities, K250,000
SEPTA Bucks County Intermodal Facility Improvements, Pennsylva3,500,000
SEPTA Hybrid Buses, Pennsylvania................................800,000
SEPTA Norristown Intermodal Facility, Pennsylvania............3,000,000
Shiawassee Transportation Center and replacement buses, Michigan.40,000
Shreveport Intermodal Bus Facility, Louisiana...................700,000
Small Urban and Rural Transit Center, North Dakota..............400,000
[[Page 31717]]
Smithtown Senior Citizen Center Bus Replacement, New York.......200,000
Snohomish County Community Transit Park and Ride Lot Expansion Program,
Washington..................................................2,000,000
Somerset County Transportation System Maintenance Facility,
Pennsylvania..................................................160,000
Sonoma County Transit CNG Buses, California.....................500,000
Sound Transit Regional Express Transit Hubs, Washington.......2,000,000
South Amboy Regional Intermodal Transportation Initiative, New1,000,000
South Bend TRANSPO Bus Facilities, Indiana....................1,000,000
South Carolina Statewide Transit Facilities Construction Proje1,000,000
South Carolina Statewide Transit Vehicles.....................4,000,000
South Clackamas Transit, Molalla, Oregon........................100,000
South Dakota Statewide buses and bus facilities...............2,000,000
South East Texas Transit Facility Improvements and Bus Replaceme250,000
South San Fernando Valley Park and Ride facility expansion, Cali300,000
Southeast Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging buses and bus facilities,
Arkansas......................................................320,000
Southeast Missouri Bus Service Capital Improvements...........1,500,000
Southern and Eastern Kentucky buses and bus facilities........1,550,000
Southern Maryland Commuter Bus Initiative.....................4,500,000
Southern Minnesota Transit Facilities............................30,000
Southern Minnesota Transit Vehicles.............................375,000
Southwest Missouri State University Transfer Facility, Missour2,500,000
Sparks and Reno Bus and Bus Facilities, Nevada..................150,000
Spring Valley Multi-Modal Center, California....................600,000
Springfield Bus Purchase, Illinois..............................300,000
Springfield Station, Oregon...................................4,000,000
Springfield Union Station Intermodal facility redevelopment,
Massachusetts...............................................4,500,000
St. Augustine Intermodal Transportation and Parking Facility, Fl550,000
St. Bernard Parish Intermodal Facilities, Louisiana.............500,000
St. Cloud Buses, Minnesota......................................100,000
St. George Ferry Terminal Reconstruction, New York............2,250,000
St. Johns County Council on Aging Administrative Facility, Flori200,000
St. Johns County Council on Aging Passenger Amenities, Florida...40,000
St. Johns County Council on Aging Transit Coaches, Florida......350,000
St. Joseph County Transit, Michigan..............................35,000
St. Louis Downtown Shuttle/Trolley Equipment, Missouri..........250,000
St. Louis METRO buses and bus facilities, Missouri............1,250,000
St. Tammany Park and Ride, Louisiana............................400,000
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) buses
and bus facilities, Michigan................................4,500,000
Suffolk County Transit Buses, New York........................1,900,000
SunLine Transit Agency Clean Fuels Mall Facility and Hydrogen
Infrastructure Expansion, California..........................450,000
TalTran buses and bus facilities................................700,000
TalTran Intermodal Facility, Florida............................500,000
Temecula Transit Center, California.............................800,000
Tempe Downtown Transit Center, Arizona..........................500,000
Tempe/Scottsdale East Valley Facilities, Arizona..............4,000,000
Tennessee Statewide buses and bus facilities..................6,500,000
Terminal Station Multi-Modal Roof Rehabilitation, Georgia.......338,000
The Banks Intermodal Facility, Cincinnati, Ohio...............3,500,000
The District-Bryan Intermodal Transit Terminal/Parking Facility &
Pedestrian Improvements, Texas................................400,000
The Woodlands Capital Costs, Texas..............................350,000
The Woodlands Park and Ride Expansion, Texas....................275,000
Tillamook County Transit, Maintenance Facility, Oregon..........200,000
Tompkins County Bus Facilities, New York........................400,000
Topeka Transit buses and bus facilities, Kansas.................500,000
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky Bus Replacement, Kentuc2,000,000
Transit Authority of River City buses and bus facilities, Kent2,500,000
Transit Authority of Warren County Intermodal Bus Facility,
Pennsylvania................................................1,500,000
Transit First Implementation, Chula Vista, California...........400,000
Transportation Authority of the River City (TARC) bus/trolley
replacement, Kentucky.......................................2,500,000
Transportation Authority of the River City (TARC) expansion facility,
Kentucky......................................................800,000
Trenton Intermodal Station, New Jersey..........................750,000
Tri-Met Regional Bus Replacement, Oregon........................650,000
Troy State University Bus Shuttle Program, Troy, Alabama......1,500,000
Truckee Replacement Buses, California............................75,000
Tucson Alternative Fuel Replacement Buses, Arizona............3,600,000
Tulsa Transit Bus Replacement Program, Oklahoma...............4,500,000
Tulsa Transit Paratransit Buses, Oklahoma.......................750,000
UCHRA Capital Improvements, Tennessee...........................600,000
Ulster County Area Transit Buses, New York.......................40,000
UNI Multimodal Project, Iowa..................................3,500,000
Unified Government of Kansas City bus replacement, Kansas.......350,000
Union County Union/Snyder Transportation Alliance (USTA), Pennsy500,000
Union Depot Multi-modal Transportation Hub, Minnesota...........750,000
Union Station Renovations, Utica, New York......................750,000
University of Delaware Fuel Cell Bus Project, Delaware........1,750,000
UTA Transit ITS, Upgrades, Utah.................................250,000
Utah Statewide buses and bus facilities.......................6,000,000
Utah Statewide Intermodal Centers.............................4,000,000
VanBuren Public Transit, Michigan................................18,000
Ventura County CNG Fueling Station and Facility Pavement Replacement,
California....................................................400,000
Vermont Alternative Fuel Station and Buses, Vermont.............500,000
Vermont, Bus Upgrades...........................................800,000
Village of Pleasantville, Handicapped Ramp, New York.............48,000
Village of Pleasantville, Memorial Plaza, New York..............200,000
Virgin Islands Transit (VITRAN) Buses...........................500,000
Visalia Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility, California...1,000,000
VOTRAN Public Transit System Buses, Florida.....................750,000
Washington State Small Bus System Program of Projects.........3,799,000
West Palm Beach Trolley Buses, Florida..........................800,000
West Side Transit Facility Albuquerque Transit Department, New2,000,000
West Virginia Statewide buses and bus facilities..............4,000,000
Westchester County Bee Line Bus Replacement, New York.........2,750,000
Western Gateway Transportation Center Intermodal Facility, Schenectady,
New York......................................................400,000
Western Kentucky University Bus Shuttle System, Kentucky......2,500,000
Westmoreland County Transit Authority (WCTA) Bus Replacement,
Pennsylvania..................................................900,000
[[Page 31718]]
Whitehall Inter-Modal Terminal of the Staten Island Ferry
Reconstruction, New York......................................800,000
Wilsonville Park and Ride, Oregon...............................300,000
Winston-Salem Union Station, North Carolina...................1,300,000
Winter Haven Transit Terminal, Florida..........................350,000
Wisconsin, Statewide buses and bus facilities................15,000,000
WMATA Bus Fleet, Washington, DC.................................750,000
WMATA Buses, Maryland...........................................600,000
Wright Stop Plaza, Dayton, Ohio...............................1,500,000
Wyandanch Intermodal Transit Facility, New York.................400,000
Wyoming Statewide buses and bus facilities....................2,000,000
York County Transit Authority (YCTA) buses and bus facilities,
Pennsylvania..................................................100,000
Zanesville Bus System Improvements, Ohio.........................20,000
San Dieguito Transportation Cooperative, California.--
Amounts made available from fiscal year 2002 for the San
Dieguito Transportation Cooperative, California, shall
instead be distributed to the North County Transit District,
California, for initial design and planning for a new
intermodal center, as proposed by the House.
Cambria County, Pennsylvania.--Amounts made available from
fiscal year 2003 for the Cambria County operations and
maintenance facility, Pennsylvania, shall be distributed to
the Johnstown Inclined Plane visitor's center, Pennsylvania,
as proposed by the House.
Hollister-Gilroy Caltrain Extension Project, California.--
Amounts made available from fiscal year 2001 for the
Hollister-Gilroy Caltrain Extension Project, California,
shall be distributed to the Caltrain San Francisco-San Jose-
Gilroy service to Pajoar, Castroville, and Salinas in
Monterey County, California, as proposed by the House.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania.--Amounts made available from
fiscal year 2002 for the Somerset County Transportation
System buses, Pennsylvania, shall be distributed to Somerset
County Accessible Raised Roof Vans ($90,000) and to Somerset
County bus and bus facilities ($146,000), Pennsylvania, as
proposed by the House.
Community Medical Centers, California.--Amounts made
available from fiscal year 2001 for the Community Medical
Centers Intermodal Facility, Fresno, California, shall be
available for the City of Fresno for the same project, as
proposed by the House. The availability of funds is extended
for one year.
Illinois statewide buses.--The conference agreement
provides $7,000,000 to the Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT) for bus and bus facilities grants. The
conferees expect IDOT to provide at least $3,500,000 for
downtown Illinois replacement of buses in Bloomington,
Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Madison County, Peoria, Quincy,
RIDES, River Valley, Rockford, Rock Island, South Central
Illinois MTD, and Springfield. Further, the conferees expect
IDOT to provide appropriate funds for bus facilities in
Bloomington, Galesburg, Rock Island, and Metro Link's bus
maintenance facility in St. Clair County.
Washington statewide small transit systems, bus and bus
facilities.--The conference agreement provides $3,799,000 to
the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for
bus and bus facilities grants. The conferees expect WSDOT to
fund the following projects: (1) $688,000 Clallam Transit;
(2) $103,000 Columbia County Public Transportation (CCPT);
(3) $144,000 Grays Harbor Transportation Authority; (4)
$1,094,000 Island Transit; (5) $416,000 Jefferson Transit;
(6) $480,000 Mason County Transportation Authority; (7)
$88,000 Pullman Transit; (8) $108,000 Twin Transit; and (9)
$708,000 Valley Transit, as proposed by the Senate.
Civil Rights Trail Trolleys.--Amounts made available in
fiscal year 2001 for the Montgomery Civil Rights Trail
Trolleys shall instead be distributed to the City of
Montgomery's Rosa Parks bus project, as proposed by the
Senate. The availability of funds is extended for one year.
Vermont buses.--Amounts made available in fiscal year 2001
for Central Vermont Transit Authority Wheels Transportation
Services shall be distributed to the Vermont Agency of
Transportation, as proposed by the Senate. The availability
of funds is extended for one year.
Reno, Nevada, bus projects.--Amounts made available for Bus
Rapid Transit, South Virginia Street--Reno ($1,950,000,
fiscal year 2003) and Reno Suburban transit coaches
($500,000, fiscal year 2002) shall be made available for
Reno/Sparks intermodal transportation terminals, as proposed
by the Senate.
Falls Church Bus Rapid Transit terminus, Virginia.--Funds
made available for Falls Church Bus Rapid Transit terminus,
Virginia, for fiscal year 2001 shall be made available to the
City of Falls Church to purchase three 30-foot buses to
provide shuttle service from temporary parking lots during
the construction of a parking garage at the West Falls Church
Metrorail station. Once the garage is completed, the buses
will be used to provide feeder service to the West Falls
Church Metrorail station. The availability of funds is
extended for one year.
Eastchester, Metro North Facilities, New York.--Amounts
made available in fiscal year 2001 for Eastchester, Metro
North Facilities, New York shall instead be distributed to
the Bronx Zoo Intermodal Transportation Facility, New York.
The availability of funds is extended for one year.
Westbrook, Intermodal Facility, Maine.--Amounts made
available in fiscal year 2003 for Westbrook, Intermodal
Facility, Maine shall instead be distributed to State of
Maine, Statewide Buses.
New Starts
New starts.--The conference agreement provides
$1,323,794,000, for new fixed guideway systems. In addition,
funds made available for new starts are to be supplemented
with $4,514,482 from reallocated projects included in the
fiscal year 2000 and 2001 Appropriations Acts under ``Federal
Transit Administration, job access and reverse commute
grants''.
Alternatives analysis review.--The conferees are concerned
that sufficient weight and review are not being given to the
earliest stage of new starts projects, namely the
alternatives analysis undertaken by local communities.
Therefore, the conferees direct FTA to ensure that
alternative modes and/or alignments analyzed as part of the
metropolitan planning process fully support the selection of
projects forwarded to FTA for proposed new starts funding.
Specifically, the alternatives analysis made by applicants
must fully weigh viable alternatives and ensure that
quantitative measures are used in choosing the locally
preferred alternative. The conferees direct FTA to report to
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on how the
agency will undertake this direction, as well as
recommendations, that include statutory changes if necessary,
for improving the alternatives analysis process to improve
planning at the onset. The report is due by March 1, 2004.
Ratings for new starts criteria.--The conferees are also
concerned that FTA may have changed their new starts ratings
criteria, specifically the new ``time savings per rider''
measure, hastily. Therefore, the conferees direct FTA to
revisit the issue of the abolition of the ``cost-per-new-
rider'' measure. FTA shall report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations on the justification for the
elimination of that rating, as well as the reasoning for the
new ``time savings per rider'' implementation.
Within this report, FTA should also detail other
characteristics that may be useful in evaluating new start
projects, particularly traffic congestion relief. FTA should
include suggestions for how these criteria could be
quantitatively measured and rated in the annual new starts
report. This report shall be submitted to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations by February 16, 2004.
The conference agreement provides for the following
distribution of funding for new fixed guideway systems:
Atlanta, Georgia, Northwest Corridor BRT....................$2,149,413
Baltimore, Maryland, Central Light Rail Double Track Project40,000,000
BART San Francisco Airport (SFO), California, Extension Pro100,000,000
Birmingham--Transit Corridor, Alabama........................3,500,000
Boston, Massachusetts, Silver Line Phase III.................2,000,000
Charlotte, North Carolina, South Corridor Light Rail Project12,000,000
Chicago, Illinois, Metra Commuter Rail Expansions and Extens52,000,000
Chicago, Illinois, Ravenswood Reconstruction................10,000,000
Chicago, Illinois, Transit Authority, Douglas Branch Reconst85,000,000
Cleveland, Ohio, Euclid Corridor Transportation Project.....11,000,000
Dallas, Texas, North Central Light Rail Extension...........30,161,283
Denver, Colorado, Southeast Corridor LRT (T-REX)............80,000,000
East Side Access Project, New York, Phase I.................75,000,000
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Tri-Rail Commuter Project..........18,410,000
Hawaii and Alaska Ferry Boats...............................10,296,000
Houston Advanced Metro Transit Plan, Texas...................8,000,000
Integrated Intermodal project, Rhode Island..................3,000,000
Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Commuter Rail Extension, Wisconsin..3,250,000
Las Vegas, Nevada, Resort Corridor Fixed Guideway, MOS......20,000,000
Little Rock, Arkansas, River Rail Streetcar Project..........3,000,000
[[Page 31719]]
Maine Marine Highway.........................................1,550,000
Memphis, Tennessee, Medical Center Rail Extension............9,247,588
Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hiawatha Corridor Light Rail Transit74,980,000
Minneapolis, Minnesota, Northstar Corridor Rail Project......5,750,000
New Orleans, Louisiana, Canal Street Streetcar Project......23,291,373
New York, Second Avenue Subway...............................2,000,000
Newark, New Jersey, Rail Link (NERL) MOS1...................22,566,022
Northern Oklahoma Regional Multimodal Transportation System..3,000,000
Northern, New Jersey, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (MOS2)......100,000,000
Phase II, LA to Pasadena Metro Gold Line Light Rail Project..4,000,000
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill Valley Metro.........14,000,000
Phoenix, Arizona, Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit
Project....................................................13,000,000
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, North Shore Connector.............10,000,000
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Stage II Light Rail Transit Recons32,243,442
Portland, Oregon, Interstate MAX Light Rail Extension.......77,500,000
Raleigh, North Carolina, Triangle Transit Authority Regional Rail
Project.....................................................5,500,000
Regional Commuter Rail (Weber County to Salt Lake City), Utah9,000,000
Salt Lake City, Utah, Medical Center LRT Extension..........30,663,361
San Diego, California, Mission Valley East Light Rail Transit
Extension..................................................65,000,000
San Diego, California, Oceanside-Escondido Rail Project.....48,000,000
San Francisco, California Muni Third Street Light Rail Projec9,000,000
San Jose, California, Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Corridor..2,000,000
Scranton, Pennsylvania, NY City Rail Service.................2,500,000
Seattle, Washington, South Transit Central Link Initial Segm75,000,000
South Shore Commuter Rail Service capacity enhancement, India1,000,000
Stamford, Connecticut, Urban Transitway & Intermodal Transportation
Center Improvements.........................................4,000,000
Tren Urbano Rapid Transit System, San Juan, Puerto Rico.....20,000,000
VRE Parking Improvements, Virginia...........................3,000,000
Washington, DC/VA Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project.....20,000,000
Washington, DC/MD, Largo Extension..........................65,000,000
Western North Carolina Rail Passenger Service................1,000,000
Wilmington, Delaware, Train Station Improvements.............1,500,000
Wilsonville to Beaverton, Oregon, Commuter Rail..............3,250,000
Yarmouth to Auburn Line, Maine...............................1,000,000
VRE Parking Improvements, Virginia.--The conference
agreement includes $3,000,000 for VRE Parking Improvements in
Virginia. The conferees direct that of the funds provided,
not less than $1,250,000 shall be for improvements to the
Manassas Old Town VRE Parking Center, Virginia.
Utah program of projects.--The conference agreement
includes a provision (Section 171) that amends the Federal
Transit Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178; 112 Stat. 338) by
creating section 3042, which provides for the coordinated
development and governmental funding for Utah transportation
projects. Subsection (a) directs FTA and FHWA to work with
the Utah Transit Authority and the Utah Department of
Transportation to coordinate preconstruction and construction
of the regional commuter rail project and the northern
segment of I-15 reconstruction located in the Wasatch Front
corridor extending from Brigham City to Payson, Utah.
Subsection (b) defines a program of related projects for
purposes of determining and allocating the governmental and
nongovernmental share of project costs. This subsection
permits federal funds that may remain after completion of the
Medical Center Extension to be allocated to a vehicle and
storage track extending from the Delta Center; permits use of
the value of the purchase of the regional commuter rail
right-of-way from Brigham City to Payson, Utah, to be used
for the nongovernmental share of the Weber County to Salt
Lake City segment; permits the purchase and rehabilitation of
rail vehicles with non-governmental funds for use on one
project to be counted toward the nongovernmental share of
another project; and permits crediting non-matched funding
for the northern segment of I-15 reconstruction to the non-
governmental share of the regional commuter rail project.
Job Access and Reverse Commute Grants
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
The conference agreement includes a total program level of
$125,000,000 for job access and reverse commute grants, as
proposed by the Senate. Within this total, $25,000,000 is
derived from the general fund. Within the funds provided,
$20,000,000 is transferred and merged with funding under
``Federal Transit Administration, capital investment
grants''. The conference agreement includes a provision that
provides that up to $300,000 of the funds appropriated under
this heading may be used for technical assistance, technical
support, and performance reviews of the job access and
reverse commute grants program, as proposed by the Senate.
Funds appropriated for the job access and reverse commute
grants program are to be distributed as follows:
AC Transit CALWorks Welfare to Work, California.............$1,499,000
Access to Healthcare for Children--Children's Health Fund, Tenne375,000
ADA Mobility Planning, Wichita, Kansas..........................365,000
Akron Metro Regional Transit Authority Job Access and Reverse Commute
Program, Ohio.................................................300,000
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADA) Rural Transportation
Services, Alabama.............................................500,000
Bay Area Transit, Virginia.....................................200,000
Bedford Ride, Virginia...........................................60,000
Bowling Green Housing Authority Reverse Access Commute, Kentuck300,000
Broome County Transit, New York................................100,000
Capital District Transportation Authority JARC, New York........500,000
Central New York Regional Transportation Authority JARC........400,000
Central Ohio Transit Authority JARC, Ohio......................500,000
Chatham Area Transit Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC), Georg1,000,000
Chautauqua County Job Access/Reverse Commute Project, New York..100,000
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Public Bus System, South Dakota......250,000
Chittenden County Transportation Authority JARC Program, Vermon250,000
City of Hornell Job Access & Reverse Commute Program, New York.100,000
City of Irwindale Senior Transportation Services, California.....65,000
City of Poughkeepsie Underserved Population Bus Service, New Yo100,000
CityLink public transportation services, Texas..................100,000
Community Transportation Association of America's National Joblinks
Program.....................................................2,500,000
Connecticut Statewide JARC....................................3,250,000
Corpus Christi Welfare to Work Project, Texas...................376,000
Craig Transit Service JARC Program, Alaska......................50,000
Delaware Statewide Welfare to Work.............................750,000
Detroit Job Access Reverse Commute, Michigan.................1,600,000
Easter Seals West Alabama JARC Program, Alabama...............1,000,000
El Paso Sun Metro Job Access, Texas.............................775,000
Essex County Job Access/Reverse Commute Project, New York.......100,000
Flint Transit Job Access-Reverse Commute Program, Michigan......750,000
Fort Smith Transit Job Access/Reverse Commute Program, Arkansas.200,000
Franklin County Job Access/Reverse Commute Project, New York....200,000
Galveston Job Access Reverse Commute Program, Texas.............475,000
Georgetown, Washington, DC--Metro Connection.................1,000,000
Grand Rapids/Kent County JARC, Michigan......................1,200,000
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority JARC Program, Ohio.750,000
Guaranteed Ride Home, Santa Clarita, California.................400,000
[[Page 31720]]
Holyoke Community Access to Employment and Adult Education,
Massachusetts..................................................75,000
I-405 Congestion Relief Project, Washington...................2,000,000
Illinois Statewide JARC........................................200,000
IndyGo IndyFlex Job Access and Reverse Commute Program, Indiana750,000
Iowa Statewide JARC..........................................1,000,000
Jackson-Josephine JARC, Oregon.................................200,000
Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Community Transportation
Coordinator Program, Florida................................3,000,000
JARC MidAmerica Regional Council, Johnson County, Kansas.......500,000
Jefferson County Job Access and Reverse Commute Projects, Alab3,000,000
Kansas City Job Access Partnership, Missouri....................500,000
Key West, Florida, Job Access and Reverse Commute..............500,000
Knox County Community Action Committee Transportation Program,
Tennessee.....................................................400,000
Knoxville Area Transit Job Access Service, Tennessee...........550,000
Lake Tahoe Public Transit Services JARC Project, Nevada........100,000
Link Transit JARC Program, Wenatchee, Washington................500,000
Lubbock Citibus Job Access Reverse Commute, Texas...............230,000
Maine Statewide JARC............................................494,000
Maricopa Association of Governments Job Access/Reverse Commute Grant
Projects, Arizona...........................................1,750,000
Maryland Statewide JARC.......................................4,000,000
MASCOT Matanuska-Susitna Valley JARC Project, Alaska...........200,000
Mendocino Transit Authority Job Access Reverse Commute, Californ100,000
Metro Link San Bernadino Platform Extension, California.......1,000,000
Metropolitan Access to Job Initiative, Fargo, North Dakota, and
Moorhead, Minnesota...........................................100,000
Metropolitan Council Job Access, Minnesota.....................500,000
Missouri Statewide JARC......................................4,000,000
Mobility Coalition, Alaska.....................................500,000
Monroe County Job Access and Reverse Commute Program, Tennessee100,000
MTA Long Island Bus Job Access and Reverse Commute Project, New 250,000
Nevada Statewide small urban and rural Job Access and Reverse Co400,000
New Jersey Community Development Corporation Transportation Opportunity
Center, Paterson, New Jersey..................................300,000
New Jersey Statewide JARC.....................................4,750,000
New Mexico Statewide JARC.......................................600,000
New York Statewide JARC.......................................1,000,000
Niles/Trumbull Transit, Ohio....................................200,000
North Country County Consortium, New York.....................5,000,000
North Oakland Transportation Authority, Michigan................150,000
North Pole Transit System JARC Program, Alaska...................75,000
Oklahoma Statewide JARC.......................................6,000,000
Oneida/Herkimer County Job Access/Reverse Commute Project, New Y100,000
Operation Ride DuPage, DuPage County, Illinois..................500,000
Orange County JARC, New York....................................100,000
Pioneer Valley Access to Jobs and Reverse Commute Program,
Massachusetts.................................................455,000
Port Authority of Allegheny County JARC, Pennsylvania.........3,644,000
Portland Region Jobs Access-Reverse Commute, Oregon.............500,000
Ray Graham Association for People With Disabilities, Illinois..125,000
Rhode Island Statewide JARC..................................1,412,000
Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority JARC, New Yo750,000
Sacramento Region Job Access and Reverse Commute Project, Cali1,500,000
Salem Area Transit JARC, Oregon................................400,000
San Antonio VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority JARC, Texas.....550,000
SEPTA JARC Program, Pennsylvania.............................4,500,000
Seward Transit Service JARC Program, Alaska....................200,000
Sitka Community RIDE, Alaska...................................600,000
South East Texas Transit Facility Improvements and Bus Replacem300,000
Tennessee Statewide JARC.....................................5,750,000
Texas Colonias JARC Initiative...............................2,400,000
Toledo Job Access/Reverse Commute, Ohio........................350,000
Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, New York....................75,000
Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority JARC, Kansas.............700,000
Ulster County Area Transit Rural Feeder Service, New York.......50,000
Unified Government of Wyandotte County JARC, Kansas..........1,375,000
Vanpooling Enhancement and Expansion Project, Washington........750,000
Vehicle Trip Reduction Incentives, Washington.................1,000,000
Virginia Beach Paratransit Services, Virginia...................200,000
Virginia Regional Transportation Association...................200,000
Virginia Statewide Ways to Work...............................1,000,000
VoxLinx Voice-Enabled Transit Trip Planner, Maryland..........1,300,000
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority JARC...........1,000,000
Washington State Transit car-sharing job access.................500,000
Ways to Work, California......................................1,000,000
Ways to Work, Tarrant County, Texas.............................300,000
West Memphis Transit Service, Arkansas..........................250,000
West Virginia Statewide JARC..................................1,000,000
Wisconsin Statewide JARC......................................2,600,000
Worcester Regional Transit Authority JARC Projects, Massachusett150,000
General Provisions--Federal Transit Administration
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 160)
exempting previously made transit obligations from
limitations on obligations.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 161)
allowing funds for discretionary grants of the Federal
Transit Administration for specific projects, except for
fixed guideway modernization projects, not obligated by
September 30, 2005, and other recoveries, to be used for
other projects under 49 U.S.C. 5309, as proposed by both the
House and Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 162)
allowing transit funds appropriated before October 2, 2002,
that remain available for expenditure to be transferred, as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
The conference agreement deletes a provision included in
the House bill prohibiting funds for a light rail system in
Houston, Texas.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 163)
permitting funds made available to Alaska or Hawaii for
ferryboats, ferry terminals, and ferry passenger service, and
limits to $3,000,000 the amount available to the state of
Hawaii to initiate and operate passenger ferryboat service
demonstration projects to test the viability of different
intra-island and inter-island ferry boat rates and
technology, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 164)
allowing the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, Colorado,
to expend previously appropriated funds on the Roaring Fork
Valley Bus Rapid Transit project, as proposed by both the
House and Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 165)
allowing unobligated previously appropriated new starts funds
to be spent notwithstanding any other provision of law, as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 166)
establishing a pooled procurement pilot program for bus
procurements, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 167)
allowing previously appropriated new starts funds for
Yosemite, California, to be obligated for buses or bus
facilities, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 168)
modifying the calculation of the non-New Starts share of
funding for the San Francisco Muni Third Street Light Rail
Project, as proposed by both the House and Senate, and states
that if the new calculation is still a ``not recommended
rating'', funds provided may not be obligated, as proposed by
the House.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 169)
allowing previously appropriated new start funds for
Cleveland
[[Page 31721]]
Berea Red Line to be used for the Euclid Corridor
Transportation Project, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 170)
allowing job access and reverse commute funds designated to
the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) in
the conference report accompanying the fiscal year 2003
Department of Transportation Appropriations Act to be
available to CTAA for authorized JARC projects or activities
implemented in the United States.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 171)
amending the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178;
112 Stat. 338) providing for the coordinated development and
governmental funding for Utah transportation projects.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 172)
modifying the Federal share for the Charleston Area Regional
Transportation Authority under 49 U.S.C. 5307, as proposed by
the Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 173)
allowing the Pennsylvania Cumberland/Dauphin County Corridor
I to be an eligible recipient for activities under 49 U.S.C.
5307 and 5309, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 174)
providing funding for the Memphis Medical Center light rail
extension project, as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 175)
allowing the Memphis-Shelby International Airport intermodal
facility to be eligible under ``Federal Transit
Administration, bus and bus facilities'', as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 176)
allowing specific funds made available under the heading
``Federal Transit Administration, Formula Grants'' for fiscal
year 2004 to be available to a transit provider that operates
25 or fewer vehicles in an urbanized area with a population
of at least 200,000 to finance the transit operating costs of
equipment and facilities for services to elderly and persons
with disabilities, not to exceed $10,000,000 annually.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 177)
prohibiting Federal transit grantees from obligating or
expending funds that would otherwise be available in the Act,
if the grantee is involved directly or indirectly with any
activity, including displaying or permitting to be displayed
advertisements on its land, equipment, or in its facilities,
that promotes the legalization or medical use of substances
listed in schedule I of section 202 of the Controlled
Substance Act.
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Operations and Maintenance
(harbor maintenance trust fund)
The conference agreement includes $14,400,000 for the
Operations and Maintenance of the Saint Lawrence Seaway
Development Corporation as proposed by the Senate.
Capital Improvements.--The conferees are concerned about
the material condition of the U.S. Seaway lock
infrastructure, which is nearly 50 years old. Given the
single-lock configuration of the system, the conferees are
concerned about the potential impact of diminished structural
integrity of the U.S. locks upon system availability. The
conferees direct the Corporation to examine the capital
improvement needs of the Corporation including the need for
replacing concrete at the locks. The Corporation is
encouraged to develop a long-term capital improvement plan
and present this to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations along with the officially submitted budget
justification for fiscal year 2005.
MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Maritime Security Program
The conference agreement includes $98,700,000 for the
Maritime Security Program as proposed by the House and
Senate.
Operations and Training
The conference agreement includes $106,997,000 for MARAD's
Operations and Training account, instead of $105,879,000 as
proposed by the House and $106,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conference agreement allocates the funds for
Operations and Training as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administration Conference
Activity request agreement\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:
Salary and benefits............. $20,981 $23,600
Midshipmen program.............. 6,274 6,274
Instructional program........... 3,431 3,431
Program direction and 2,931 2,931
administration.................
Maintenance, repair, & operating 6,298 6,298
requirements...................
Capital improvements............ 13,000 13,500
Subtotal, USMMA............... 52,915 56,034
State Maritime Schools:
Student incentive payments...... 1,200 1,200
Direct schoolship payments...... 1,200 1,200
Schoolship maintenance and 7,063 8,063
repair.........................
Subtotal, State Maritime 9,463 10,463
Academies....................
MARAD Operations:
Base operations................. 37,425 36,000
Strategic ports evaluation and 0 500
provision......................
Enterprise architecture & IT 4,597 3,000
security upgrades..............
Marine security professional 0 1,000
training.......................
Subtotal, MARAD Operations.... 42,022 40,500
-----------------------------------
Subtotal, Operations and 104,400 106,997
Training.....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base Ops Breakout.--The conferees direct MARAD to
comprehensively delineate the antecedent line item elements,
along with their associated, requested funding levels, that
encompass Base Operations within future, officially submitted
budget justifications to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations.
USMMA Salaries and Benefits.--Of the total provided for
this purpose, the conferees direct MARAD to devote at least
$1,600,000 to be used to alleviate some of the vacant,
personnel positions that are essential to the core mission of
the Academy.
USMMA Capital Improvements.--The conferees direct MARAD to
submit an updated addendum to the ten-year capital
improvement plan for the United States Merchant Marine
Academy no later than ninety days after enactment of this Act
that adjusts the original cost projections as per the revised
scope of work remaining to be completed.
SMS Schoolship M&R.--The conferees encourage MARAD to
follow the distribution of funds for Schoolship Maintenance
and Repair as delineated within the fiscal year 2004 budget
justification.
Maritime Security Professional Training.--In support of
Section 109 of the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the
conference agreement includes a one-time appropriation of
$1,000,000 to initiate maritime security training for any
federal, state, local, and private law enforcement or
security personnel as proposed by the House. The conferees
expect MARAD to coordinate with the state maritime academies,
the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the Appalachian
Transportation Institute in the facilitation of this
training. Furthermore, the conferees encourage MARAD to seek
assistance from the Department of Homeland Security in the
implementation of this training.
Intermodal Efficiency.--The conferees direct MARAD to
report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations,
no later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, on the
performance of the intermodal system with respect to the
efficiency of the most congested ports. Within this report,
particular emphasis should be placed on summarizing the
performance of the 14 strategic commercial ports during the
military force build-up for Operation Iraqi Freedom and on
identifying the most glaring deficiencies of the intermodal
system as a whole. This report is to contain a thorough
comparison of the most congested ports in terms of
operational efficiency; identification of significant
intermodal obstacles associated with each port; and a summary
of future actions MARAD plans to take to address and improve
the throughput of cargo in America's ports. The conferees
expect MARAD to work with industry groups as well as the
scientific community in the completion of this study.
Additional Required Reports.--The conferees direct MARAD to
submit all reports as directed in the House report no later
than 45 days after enactment of this Act.
Ship Disposal
The conference agreement includes $16,211,000 for the
disposal of obsolete vessels of the National Defense Reserve
Fleet, instead of the $14,000,000 proposed by the House and
$18,422,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Maritime Guaranteed Loan Program
The conference agreement includes $4,498,000 for
administration expenses of the Maritime Guaranteed Loan
Program (Title XI) as proposed by the Senate. The conferees
note MARAD's cooperation with the Department of
Transportation's Inspector General (DOTIG) on the
implementation of managerial reforms of the Title XI program
and are encouraged by the progress towards certification of
the maritime loan guarantee process, as specified in P.L.
108-11.
Ship Construction
(rescission)
The conference agreement includes a rescission of
unobligated balances totaling $4,107,056 from the dormant
ship construction account.
GENERAL PROVISIONS--MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 180)
authorizing MARAD to furnish utilities and services and make
necessary repairs in connection with any lease, contract, or
occupancy involving Government property under control of
MARAD, and allow payments received to be credited to the
Treasury.
The conference agreement includes a provision (Section 181)
prohibiting obligations to be incurred during the current
fiscal year from the construction fund established by the
Merchant Marine Act, 1936.
RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION
Research and Special Programs
The conference agreement provides $46,441,000 for research
and special programs, instead of $47,018,000 as proposed by
the House and $42,516,000 as proposed by the Senate. Within
this total, $2,510,000 is available until September 30, 2006,
instead of $2,427,000 as proposed by the House and $3,473,000
as proposed by the Senate.
[[Page 31722]]
The conference agreement permits up to $1,200,000 in fees
to be collected and deposited in the general fund of the
Treasury as offsetting receipts. Also, the conference
agreement includes language that permits funds received from
states, counties, municipalities, other public authorities
and private sources for expenses incurred for training,
reports publication and dissemination, and travel expenses
incurred in the performance of hazardous materials exemptions
and approval functions. The House and Senate proposed both of
these provisions.
Prior year funding decisions.--In House Joint Resolution 2
(Public Law 108-7), the Transportation and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2003, the Congress denied
certain funding in RSPA's budget request for the reason that
there were decreases that the Congress had taken in previous
Acts and RSPA was requesting that the Congress restore that
funding. RSPA has again undertaken this type of budgeting in
the fiscal year 2004 request. The conferees are strongly
dismayed at this trend, and direct RSPA and the Department of
Transportation Office of Budget and Policy to cease these
types of requests immediately.
Further, the conferees direct RSPA to implement appropriate
accounting procedures and budgetary tools to ensure proper
accounting and integrity of appropriated funds, as proposed
by the Senate. A report is due to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations ninety days after enactment of
this Act, detailing the measures that will be taken to
address these shortfalls and a timeline for implementation.
Office of Hazardous Materials
The conference agreement provides $23,675,000 for the
office of hazardous materials, instead of $23,558,000 as
proposed by the House and $22,814,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The following adjustments are made to the budget
estimate:
Reduce funding for requested hazmat positions and associated
administrative costs........................................-$494,000
Reduce funding to review and analyze transportation regulations
governing SNF and HLW........................................-500,000
Reduce funding for restoration of fiscal year 2003 across-the-b-149,000
New positions.--The conference agreement provides seven new
positions for the office of hazardous materials: one SNF/HLW
engineer, one SNF/HLW inspector, one SNF/HLW lawyer, and four
restoration positions in the wake of September 11th.
Office of Research and Technology
The conference agreement provides $2,507,000 for the office
of research and technology, instead of $2,193,000 as proposed
by the House and $2,394,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
following adjustments are made to the budget estimate:
Reduce funding for requested positions and associated administrative
costs........................................................-$48,000
Reduce funding for hazardous materials and hydrogen fuel resear-200,000
Reduce funding for restoration of fiscal year 2003 across-the-bo-18,000
New positions.--The conference agreement provides one new
hydrogen fuel engineer position for the office of research
and technology.
Hydrogen fuels research.--Before new staff is hired, the
office of research and technology shall perform an assessment
on the safety and technology status of the infrastructure
supporting hydrogen fuels transportation. The report shall
include an analysis of what steps RSPA is taking to work with
the Department of Energy to ensure that all research related
to hydrogen fuels is complementary in order to maximize
investment. The report should be submitted to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than February 1,
2004, and $50,000 is provided for necessary research.
Office of Emergency Transportation
The conference agreement provides $2,720,000 for the office
of emergency transportation, instead of $2,463,000 as
proposed by the House and $2,802,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The following adjustments are made to the budget
estimate:
Reduce funding for requested positions and associated administrative
costs.......................................................-$514,000
Reduce funding for emergency transportation regional equipment and
training.....................................................-250,000
Reduce funding for restoration of fiscal year 2003 across-the-bo-13,000
New positions.--The conference agreement provides seven new
positions for the office of emergency transportation: five
crisis management center positions and two full-time regional
RETCOs. In addition, the conferees encourage RSPA to utilize
flexibility to ensure that the regional emergency response
teams are adequately equipped, as proposed by the Senate.
Office of Program Management
The conference agreement provides $17,539,000 for the
office of program management, instead of $18,858,000 as
proposed by the House and $14,506,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The following adjustments are made to the budget
estimate:
Reduce funding for requested positions and associated administrative
costs.......................................................-$434,000
Reduce funding for infrastructure technology modernization.....-859,000
Reduce funding for restoration of fiscal year 2003 across-the-board cut
and TASC cut.................................................-320,000
New positions.--The conference agreement provides five new
positions for the office of program management; one
contracting specialist, one database manager, two IT staff,
and one support service specialist.
Infrastructure technology modernization.--Due to budget
constraints, the conference agreement reduces funding for
RSPA's IT upgrade by $859,000. The conferees direct RSPA to
keep the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
informed of these extensive upgrades through biannual
correspondence, due in February and August, as proposed by
the House.
PIPELINE SAFETY
(PIPELINE SAFETY FUND)
(OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND)
The conference agreement provides a total of $66,305,000
for the pipeline safety program, instead of $64,054,000 as
proposed by the House and $67,612,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Within this total, $21,828,000 is available until
September 30, 2006, instead of $21,786,000 as proposed by the
House and $22,710,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Of this total, the conference agreement specifies that
$13,000,000 shall be derived from the Oil Spill Liability
Trust Fund and $53,305,000 from the Pipeline Safety Fund. The
House bill allocated $9,000,000 from the Oil Spill Liability
Trust Fund and $55,054,000 from the Pipeline Safety Trust
Fund. The Senate bill provided $17,183,000 from the Oil Spill
Liability Trust Fund and $50,429,000 from the Pipeline Safety
Fund. The following adjustments are made to the budget
estimate:
Deny decreased funding for one-call grants..................+$1,000,000
Reduce funding for requested positions and associated administrative
costs......................................................-1,342,000
Reduce funding for restoration of fiscal year 2003 across-the-b-581,000
New positions.--The conference agreement provides twelve
new positions for the office of pipeline safety: four natural
gas IMP inspectors, two State program manager liaisons, four
FERC inspectors, and two Alaska regulations specialists.
State one-call grants.--The conferees deny a proposed
decrease in one call grants, as proposed by the House and
Senate, and have restored $1,000,000. The conferees feel
strongly that these grants are an important tool in reducing
the number of pipeline incidents.
Pipeline safety fund and oil spill liability trust fund.--
The conferees direct the Office of Pipeline Safety to
allocate oversight activities between the hazardous liquid
and gas pipelines and to factor the Oil Spill Liability Trust
Fund into the allocation formula that determines the
hazardous liquid pipeline user fee assessment to accurately
reflect the amount and type of oversight activities being
conducted by the office consistent with the Trust Fund. The
fiscal year 2005 budget justification should adequately
address this issue.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GRANTS
(EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUND)
The conference agreement provides $200,000 for emergency
preparedness grants as proposed by both the House and the
Senate. The conference agreement includes a limitation on
obligations of $14,300,000, consistent with both the House
and Senate proposals.
Office of Inspector General
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $56,000,000 for the
Office of Inspector General.
Surface Transportation Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides a funding level of
$19,521,000 for the Surface Transportation Board to fund
salaries and expenses from a direct appropriation, as
proposed by both the House and Senate. The conference
agreement includes language as proposed by both the House and
the Senate that allows the Board to offset $1,050,000 of its
appropriation from fees collected during the fiscal year, for
a total program level of $18,521,000.
Union Pacific/Southern Pacific merger.--On December 12,
1997, the Board granted a joint request of Union Pacific
Railroad Company and the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County,
KS (Wichita/Sedgwick) to toll the 18-
[[Page 31723]]
month mitigation study pending in Finance Docket No. 32760.
The decision indicated that at such time as the parties reach
an agreement or discontinue negotiations, the Board would
take appropriate action.
By petition filed June 26, 1998, Wichita/Sedgwick and UP/SP
indicated that they had entered into an agreement, and
jointly petitioned the Board to impose the agreement as a
condition of the Board's approval of the UP/SP merger. By
decision dated July 8, 1998, the Board agreed and imposed the
agreement as a condition to the UP/SP merger. The terms of
the negotiated agreement remain in effect. If UP/SP or any of
its divisions or subsidiaries materially changes or is unable
to achieve the assumptions on which the Board based its final
environmental mitigation measures, then the Board should
reopen Finance Docket 32760 if requested by interested
parties, and prescribe additional mitigation properly
reflecting these changes if shown to be appropriate.
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Departmental Offices
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(including transfer of funds)
The conference agreement provides $176,109,000 for
departmental offices of the Treasury Department instead of
$175,809,000 proposed by the House and $174,809,000 proposed
by the Senate. A table comparing the House bill, Senate bill,
and conference agreement follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
President estimate:.......................................... $166,875,000 $166,875,000 $166,875,000
Adjustments to the estimate:
FY03 reductions not reflected in base:
FECA costs........................................... -27,000 -27,000 -27,000
Savings from prior year Congressional priorities..... -2,854,000 0 -2,854,000
Business strategy adjustment......................... -599,000 0 0
Unanticipated administrative cost increases.............. 6,399,000 5,800,000 6,100,000
Office of International Affairs.......................... 2,730,000 2,727,000 2,730,000
Office of Terrorist Financing & Financial Crimes......... 2,285,000 2,285,000 2,285,000
Certificate-based internet security initiatives.......... 1,000,000 0 1,000,000
Delete funding for Asian Dev Bank Conf & TPI............. 0 -2,851,000 ...............
--------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 175,809,000 174,809,000 176,109,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A table comparing the conference agreement, by office, to
the budget estimate follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Conference
estimate agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Policy....................... $4,145,000 $4,145,000
International Affairs................. 25,151,000 27,881,000
Tax Policy............................ 13,955,000 13,955,000
Domestic Finance...................... 9,448,000 9,448,000
Terrorist Financing and Financial 0 2,285,000
Crimes...............................
Foreign Asset Control................. 21,855,000 21,855,000
Management and CFO Programs........... 14,275,000 14,275,000
Executive Direction................... 17,168,000 17,168,000
Treasury-Wide Financial Statement 3,393,000 3,393,000
Audits...............................
Administration........................ 57,485,000 61,704,000
---------------------------------
Total........................... 166,875,000 176,109,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of Foreign Assets Control.--The conference agreement
specifies not less than 120 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff-
years for this office, as proposed by the Senate.
Reports on travel.--Modifying a proposal of the House, the
conferees agree that quarterly reports are to be submitted
providing details on the international travel of departmental
employees.
Staffing in certain offices.--The conferees agree that the
department is limited to 19 FTE in the Office of
International Affairs, as proposed by the Senate, and 14 FTE
for the Executive Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial
Crimes, as proposed by the House.
Marketing of the new $20 currency note.--The conferees
acknowledge that some expenditure was necessary to market the
new $20 currency note to the public and to private businesses
both in the United States and abroad. However, the amount
spent by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) for this
purpose was excessive, and far greater than similar efforts
in the past. Although BEP is self-financed through a
revolving fund, this does not absolve the bureau from being
cost-efficient in all of its operations. The conferees direct
BEP to submit to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations, not later than December 31, 2003, a report
showing the baseline amount of funds returned to the Treasury
from their recurring operations at the end of fiscal year
2003. The conferees further direct BEP to manage its
operations in a manner so that, by the end of fiscal year
2005, that baseline amount has been increased by $14,000,000.
The Appropriations Committees will monitor this situation
annually to help ensure those targets are reached.
CyberShield.--The conferees are aware of efforts to develop
a public/private partnership which will develop best
practices in real-time detection and the creation of response
centers to protect existing financial services sectors from
next generation cyber attacks. The conferees encourage the
Department of the Treasury to work closely with the
Department of Homeland Security to support this important
initiative.
DEPARTMENT-WIDE SYSTEMS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conference agreement provides $36,400,000 for
department-wide systems and capital investment programs,
instead of $36,653,000 as proposed by the House and
$36,928,000 as proposed by the Senate. The bill includes
language proposed by the Senate restricting any of these
funds for programs of the Internal Revenue Service, which has
its own capital appropriation. The reduction from the budget
estimate of $528,000 is to be allocated against the HR
Connect program.
HR connect.--Including the $25,461,000 in this bill for
fiscal year 2004, the HR connect project will have received
over $140,000,000 in appropriations since its beginning in
fiscal year 1998. Although the conferees remain committed to
this project, given its significant cost and scope, as well
as recent downsizing at the Treasury Department affecting
program requirements, the conferees direct the Secretary of
the Treasury to provide to the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees, within six months of enactment of
this Act, a status report on the project. The report should
include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) the
original scope of this effort and any changes to those
initial requirements since the beginning of the project in
1998; (2) accomplishments to date on the development and
implementation of new systems and software, and the success
in deploying those new systems across Treasury bureaus; (3)
the impact that these new systems have had on overall human
resource management processes of the Department; (4) the
savings, if any, that have resulted from the implementation
of HR connect throughout the department thus far; and (5) the
additional funding necessary beyond fiscal year 2004 to
complete the project.
Office of Inspector General
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement includes $13,000,000 for salaries
and expenses of the office of inspector general, instead of
$12,792,000 proposed by the House and $12,687,000 proposed by
the Senate.
Study on expanded use of blanks.--The conferees agree to
the study, proposed by the House, on the potential and cost-
effectiveness of expanded use of pre-made ``blanks'' by the
U.S. Mint in the production of circulating coins. However,
instead of using the U.S. General Accounting Office to
complete this study, as proposed by the House, the conferees
agree that the study should be performed by the Treasury
Office of Inspector General, and additional funding has been
included for this purpose. The report should be submitted to
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, and
appropriate legislative committees, not later than April 1,
2004.
Treasury Building and, Annex repair and restoration
project.--The conferees note that since the first full year
of funding for this project in fiscal year 1998, $178,000,000
has been appropriated for the project. This is in addition to
the $28,000,000 appropriated in fiscal year 1997 to undertake
immediate repairs resulting from fire damage to the Treasury
Building in 1996. As part of the conferees' ongoing oversight
of major capital projects, the conferees direct the Treasury
Inspector General to conduct an audit of all Treasury
Building renovation and restoration contracts since fiscal
year 1998. Such audit shall include, but need not be limited
to: (1) compliance with all applicable procurement laws,
rules, and regulations, and the Architectural Barriers Act of
1968, as amended; (2) a review of the scope, requirements,
and cost reasonableness of the project, as well as the
process for managing change orders to the original scope and
design; and (3) the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of
contractor operations. The audit shall be completed and
submitted to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations within eight months of enactment of this Act.
Additional funding is provided in this appropriation for
completion of this audit.
[[Page 31724]]
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $128,034,000 as proposed
by both the House and the Senate.
Air Transportation Stabilization Program
The conference agreement provides $2,538,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate.
Treasury Building and Annex Repair and Restoration
The conference agreement provides $25,000,000 as proposed
by both the House and the Senate. The bill prohibits the
obligation of $7,000,000 for this program until completion of
the Inspector General audit described under ``Treasury Office
of Inspector General, salaries and expenses'' or until
approval in writing by the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations.
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $57,571,000 as proposed
by both the House and the Senate.
Financial Management Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $228,558,000 as proposed
by both the House and the Senate.
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $80,000,000 as proposed
by both the House and the Senate.
United States Mint
UNITED STATES MINT PUBLIC ENTERPRISE FUND
The conference agreement limits liabilities and obligations
from the Public Enterprise Fund to $40,652,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate. As previously discussed, bill
language proposed by the House relating to a General
Accounting Office study of pre-made ``blanks'' has been
dropped in lieu of a study by the Office of Inspector
General.
Bureau of the Public Debt
ADMINISTERING THE PUBLIC DEBT
The conference agreement provides $173,652,000 as proposed
by both the House and the Senate.
Internal Revenue Service
PROCESSING, ASSISTANCE, AND MANAGEMENT
The conference agreement provides $4,033,000,000 instead of
$4,037,834,000 as proposed by the House and $4,048,238,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees agree that the
reductions should encompass the proposed new initiatives for
fiscal year 2004. The bill specifies that up to $4,100,000 is
available for tax counseling for the elderly instead of
$4,250,000 as proposed by the House and $3,950,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Further, the bill provides up to
$7,500,000 for low-income taxpayer clinic grants instead of
$8,000,000 as proposed by the House and $7,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Report on certain accelerated depreciation benefits in
Oklahoma.--The conferees direct the IRS to provide a report
to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, not
later than 90 days following enactment of this Act, providing
the status and the total dollars of accelerated depreciation
available by special statute for investments on former Indian
land in Oklahoma, including the extent to which such
accelerated depreciation benefits are being used.
TAX LAW ENFORCEMENT
The conference agreement provides $4,196,000,000 instead of
$4,221,408,000 as proposed by the House and $4,172,808,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The conference agreement provides $1,590,962,000 as
proposed by the Senate instead of $1,628,739,000 as proposed
by the House. Of the total amount provided, $200,000,000 is
available for obligation for two years as proposed by the
Senate, instead of $165,000,000 as proposed by the House. The
balance of the appropriation is available until expended. The
conferees agree that, within the overall reduction, the IRS
is to make the specific reductions included in the House
report.
BUSINESS SYSTEMS MODERNIZATION
The conference agreement provides $390,000,000 instead of
$429,000,000 proposed by both the House and the Senate. The
reduction is due to budget constraints.
HEALTH INSURANCE TAX CREDIT ADMINISTRATION
The conference agreement provides $35,000,000 as proposed
by both the House and the Senate.
General Provisions--Internal Revenue Service
The conference agreement includes provisions under this
heading, as proposed by the Senate. The House had proposed
such provisions under a comprehensive heading for the
Department of the Treasury.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 201) proposed by both
the House and Senate allowing the service to transfer funding
among appropriations made to the IRS in this Act, limited to
five percent and subject to advance approval of the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 202) proposed by both
the House and Senate requiring the IRS to maintain a training
program focusing on certain areas of customer service.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 203) proposed by both
the House and Senate requiring the safeguard of taxpayer
information.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 204) proposed by both
the House and Senate requiring the IRS to make the
improvement of the 1-800 help line a top priority in the
allocation of staffing and other resources.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 205) modifying a
provision of the Senate relating to cash pension regulations.
The provision accepts Senate language prohibiting the
issuance of regulations on cash balance pension plans, and
requires the Treasury Department to submit legislation to the
Congress within 180 days to provide transition relief for
older and longer-service employees affected by conversions of
traditional pension plans to cash balance plans. The House
had a similar provision under title seven of the bill, which
is not included in the conference agreement.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 206) proposed by the
Senate requiring a study compiling statistics on the earned
income tax credit certification program, to be submitted in
interim form by July 30, 2004 and in final form by June 30,
2005. The House bill included no similar provision.
General Provisions--Department of the Treasury
The bill includes a provision (sec. 210) proposed by both
the House and Senate allowing appropriations to be used for
certain specified expenses such as uniforms, motor vehicle
insurance, and health insurance for employees serving in
foreign countries.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 211) proposed by both
the House and Senate allowing the transfer of up to 2 percent
of appropriations made to the Department of the Treasury
among offices within the department.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 212) proposed by both
the House and Senate allowing the transfer of up to 2 percent
of appropriations made to the IRS to the Treasury Inspector
General for Tax Administration.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 213) proposed by the
Senate requiring that the purchase of law enforcement
vehicles by any Treasury bureau be consistent with
department-wide vehicle management principles. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 214) proposed by both
the House and Senate prohibiting funds to redesign the $1
Federal Reserve note.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 215) proposed by both
the House and Senate allowing the transfer of funds from
``Salaries and expenses, financial management service'' to
the debt services account to cover the costs of debt
collection.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 216) proposed by the
Senate extending the pay demonstration project at the Alcohol
Tax and Trade Bureau from five years to six years, which will
result in the program being extended through fiscal year
2004.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 217) proposed by both
the House and Senate prohibiting funds of the U. S. Mint from
being used to construct or operate a museum unless approved
by the Congress.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 218) proposed by the
House relating to the reimbursement of financial institutions
for services directed or required by the Secretary of the
Treasury. The Senate proposed a similar provision that was
identical in substance.
TITLE III--EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO
THE PRESIDENT
Compensation of the President
The conference agreement provides $450,000 for compensation
of the President as proposed by both the House and Senate.
The bill includes a general provision codifying in statutory
law the substance of provisions carried in appropriations
Acts since 1981. The modification of 3 U.S.C. 102 stipulates
that the President's expense allowance shall not be included
as gross income, and any unused portion shall revert to the
Treasury. This is identical to current law as carried in
annual appropriations Acts, and will obviate the need to
carry this provision each year in the appropriations process.
White House Office
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $69,168,000 instead of
$66,057,000 as proposed by the House and $61,937,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Of the funding provided, $7,231,000
is for the Office of Homeland Security. The restriction on
the obligation of funds in the House report relating to a
report on funding for renovation and furnishings is not
necessary, as the report has been submitted. The reduction of
$1,100,000 reflects elimination of the President's Critical
Infrastructure Advisory Board since submission of the budget,
as proposed by the House.
[[Page 31725]]
Executive Residence at the White House Office
OPERATING EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $12,501,000 as proposed
by both the House and the Senate.
Reimbursable Expenses
The agreement includes bill language on reimbursements as
proposed by both the House and the Senate and identical to
language carried in fiscal year 2003.
WHITE HOUSE REPAIR AND RESTORATION
The conference agreement provides $4,225,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate.
Council of Economic Advisors
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement provides $4,502,000 as proposed by
the Senate instead of $4,000,000 as proposed by the House.
Office of Policy Development
Salaries and Expenses
The conference agreement provides $4,109,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate.
National Security Council
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $10,551,000 as proposed
by the Senate instead of $9,000,000 as proposed by the House.
Homeland Security Council
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The bill deletes the separate appropriation for this
council proposed by the Senate. Instead, the conference
agreement provides funding under ``White House Office'', as
proposed by the House but at a modified level.
Office of Administration
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $82,826,000 as proposed
by the House instead of $77,164,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The agreement reflects reductions proposed by the
House for information technology services (-$1,500,000) and
security services for the Office of Science and Technology
Policy (-$1,096,000) as well as a transfer back to this
account for the core enterprise pilot program (+$8,258,000).
The conferees encourage the Administration to include all EOP
funds for the core enterprise pilot program under this
appropriation in the fiscal year 2005 budget request. The
bill specifies that, of the total funding provided,
$20,578,000 is for capital investment plan activities as
proposed by the Senate instead of $17,470,000 as proposed by
the House.
Office of Management and Budget
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $67,159,000 instead of
$62,272,000 as proposed by the House and $75,417,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Reception and representation expenses.--The bill includes
$3,000 as proposed by the Senate instead of $1,500 as
proposed by the House.
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.--The
conferees direct that $1,000,000 of the total funding
provided in this appropriation be withheld from obligation
until resolution of existing programmatic concerns by House
conferees are addressed and the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations approve of such obligation.
Implementation of the Federal Data Quality Act.--The
conferees are concerned that agencies are not complying fully
with the requirements of the Federal Data Quality Act (FDQA).
The conferees agree that data endorsed by the Federal
Government should be of the highest quality, and that the
public should have the opportunity to review the data
disseminated by the Federal Government for its accuracy and
have available to it a streamlined procedure for correcting
inaccuracies. The Administrator of the Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is directed to submit a report
to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by June
1, 2004 on whether agencies have been properly responsive to
public requests for correction of information pursuant to the
FDQA, and suggest changes that should be made to the FDQA or
OMB guidelines to improve the accuracy and transparency of
agency science.
Office of National Drug Control Policy
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conferees agree to provide $27,996,500 as proposed by
the Senate instead of $28,790,000 as proposed by the House.
Of this amount, $1,500,000 is provided as a grant to the
National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws, as proposed by
the House and Senate.
Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conferees agree to provide $42,000,000 as proposed by
the Senate instead of $40,000,000 as proposed by the House.
Of this amount, the conferees agree to provide $24,000,000
for the technology transfer program as proposed by the
Senate, instead of $22,000,000 as proposed by the House. The
conferees direct ONDCP to report to the Committees on
Appropriations, no later than December 31, 2003, on CTAC
funding allocations, specifically providing a detailed
spending plan for both the research and development program
and the technology transfer program for fiscal years 2001-
2003. In addition, the conferees direct the chief scientist
to notify the Committees on Appropriations on how fiscal year
2004 funds will be spent, as well as to provide biannual
reports on priority counterdrug enforcement research and
development requirements and the status of projects funded by
CTAC. Finally, the conferees direct ONDCP to include in the
fiscal year 2005 budget request a specific accounting of the
total number of grant applications received and the number
awarded in the previous fiscal year.
Federal Drug Control Programs
HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conferees agree to provide $226,350,000 as proposed by
the House and Senate. The conferees agree to provide that
HIDTAs designated as of September 30, 2003 shall be funded at
no less than the fiscal year 2003 initial allocation levels.
The conferees provide that no funds in excess of the fiscal
year 2004 budget request shall be obligated without prior
approval of the Committees on Appropriations. Approval for
the expenditure of these funds must be sought according to
reprogramming guidelines.
other Federal Drug Control Programs
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conferees agree to provide $229,000,000 instead of
$230,000,000 as proposed by the House and $174,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees agree to provide
$145,000,000 for the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.
In addition, the conferees agree to provide $70,000,000 for
Drug-Free Communities Support, of which $1,000,000 is
provided as a directed grant to the Community Anti-Drug
Coalitions of America; $7,200,000 for the US Anti-Doping
Agency; $3,000,000 for the Counterdrug Intelligence Executive
Secretariat; $1,000,000 for the National Drug Court
Institute; $2,000,000 for Performance Measures Development;
and $800,000 for United States dues to the World Anti-Doping
Agency.
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
While the conferees are encouraged by data released by the
Partnership for a Drug-Free America showing welcome trends in
the incidence of youth drug use, the conferees wish to
reemphasize the need to demonstrate that such trends can be
linked to the Media Campaign itself. The conferees therefore
direct ONDCP to submit to the Committees on Appropriations an
evaluation plan for the Media Campaign covering fiscal years
2004-2008 no later than 120 days after enactment of this Act.
In addition, the conferees direct ONDCP to provide to the
Committees on Appropriations a detailed report regarding the
type and content of all advertising, its timing and placement
in media markets, and the matches provided for all
advertising. In order to ensure that a sufficient amount will
be spent on advertising, the conferees agree to provide that
no less than 78 percent of the funds provided shall be spent
on the purchase of advertising time and space.
US Anti-Doping Agency
The conferees agree to provide $7,200,000 as proposed by
the Senate instead of $1,500,000 as proposed by the House.
The conferees direct the US Anti-Doping Agency to provide to
the Committees on Appropriations a prior year expenditure
report as well as a detailed spending plan for fiscal year
2004 funds. Each report should include a section reporting
USADA's efforts to secure funding from sources other than the
Federal government. These reports should be provided no later
than 120 days after enactment of this Act.
UNANTICIPATED NEEDS
The conference agreement provides $1,000,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate.
Special Assistance to the President and the Official Residence of the
Vice President
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $4,461,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate. The appropriation has been
placed at the end of the title as proposed by the House.
OPERATING EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conference agreement provides $331,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate. The appropriation has been
placed at the end of the title as proposed by the House.
General Provision--Executive Office of the President
The bill includes a provision (sec. 301) stating that the
President's expense allowance shall not be included as gross
income of the President and specifying that unused portions
of that allowance shall revert to the Treasury.
TITLE IV--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
Salaries and expenses
The conference agreement includes $5,401,000 as proposed by
the House and Senate.
[[Page 31726]]
National Transportation Safety Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conferees agree to provide $73,499,000, instead of
$76,679,000 as proposed by the House and $72,170,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees direct NTSB to make
certain improvements in its annual budget justification,
particularly by expanding and improving the presentation of
the resource requirements section. This section should
clearly indicate the absolute level of funds and FTE for each
program activity, as well as the increases or reductions in
funding and FTE sought for the fiscal year of the budget
request. The document should also include a more detailed
narrative section justifying NTSB's proposals.
EMERGENCY FUND
The conferees agree to provide $600,000 as proposed by the
House and Senate.
Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conferees agree to provide $4,725,000 as proposed by
the House and Senate.
Federal Election Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conferees agree to provide $51,240,000 instead of
$50,440,000 as proposed by both the House and Senate. The
additional $800,000 is to support the Office of Election
Administration, which was not included in the President's
budget request in anticipation of the establishment of the
Election Assistance Commission. Due to delay in the
establishment of the EAC, the conferees agree to provide OEA
with funding, on the condition that any unobligated balances
be transferred to the EAC upon its establishment. Of the
total amount, the conferees also agree to provide that no
less than $6,389,900 shall be available for internal
automated data processing systems, as proposed by the House.
Election Assistance Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conferees agree to provide $1,200,000, instead of
$5,000,000 as proposed by the House and no funding as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees agree to provide the
amount as a separate appropriation as proposed by the House.
ELECTION REFORM PROGRAMS
(including transfer of funds)
The conferees agree to provide $500,000,000 for Election
Reform Programs, instead of $1,500,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate and $495,000,000 as proposed by the House. Consistent
with language proposed by the House, the conferees agree to
provide that the General Services Administration will have
the authority to administer available funds, including the
funds appropriated in this Act, until the establishment of
the Election Assistance Commission. The conferees agree to
provide that no more than $100,000 shall be available to GSA
for administrative expenses. Within the amount provided, the
conferees also agree to provide $750,000 for the Help America
Vote Foundation, $750,000 for the Help America Vote College
Program, and $200,000 for the National Student/Parent Mock
Election, all of which are authorized by the Help America
Vote Act.
Federal Labor Relations Authority
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conferees agree to provide $29,611,000 as proposed by
the House and Senate.
Federal Maritime Commission
salaries and expenses
The conference agreement includes $18,471,000 as proposed
by the House and the Senate.
Information Technology.--The Conferees direct the
Commission to submit a report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations no later than 45 days after
enactment of this Act, summarizing the Commission's current
information technology improvement initiatives and long-term
technology improvement plan.
General Services Administration
REAL PROPERTY ACTIVITIES
FEDERAL BUILDINGS FUND
LIMITATIONS ON AVAILABILITY OF REVENUE
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
The conference agreement provides total obligational
availability of $7,216,464,000 from the federal buildings
fund in fiscal year 2004. This includes limitations on
obligations of $6,758,208,000 and an appropriation from the
general fund of $446,000,000.
CONSTRUCTION
The conference agreement provides $708,268,000 for
construction instead of $406,168,000 as proposed by the House
and $659,668,000 as proposed by the Senate. The following
table compares the budget estimate, House bill, Senate bill,
and conference agreement by project:
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Conference
estimate House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Border Stations:
Jackman, ME............................... $7,712 $7,712 $7,712 $7,712
Champlain, NY............................. 35,031 31,031 31,031 31,031
Detroit, MI............................... 25,387 25,387 25,387 25,387
Blaine, WA................................ 9,812 9,812 9,812 9,812
Del Rio, TX............................... 23,966 23,966 23,966 23,966
Eagle Pass, TX............................ 31,980 31,980 31,980 31,980
San Diego, CA............................. 34,211 34,211 34,211 34,211
McAllen, TX............................... 17,938 17,938 17,938 17,938
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................ 186,037 182,037 182,037 182,037
=================================================================
Courthouses:
Anniston, AL.............................. 0 0 4,400 4,400
Los Angeles, CA........................... 0 0 50,000 50,000
Orlando, FL............................... 0 0 7,200 7,200
Charlotte, NC............................. 0 0 8,500 8,500
Toledo, OH................................ 0 0 6,500 6,500
Harrisburg, PA............................ 0 0 26,000 26,000
Greenville, SC............................ 0 0 11,000 11,000
San Antonio, TX........................... 0 0 8,000 8,000
Richmond, VA.............................. 0 0 83,000 83,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................ 0 0 204,600 204,600
=================================================================
Other:
Census Bldg, Suitland, MD................. 146,451 146,451 146,451 146,451
FBI Bldg, Houston, TX..................... 58,080 58,080 58,080 58,080
Non-prospectus construction............... 10,000 9,000 10,000 9,000
Federal (Tuttle) Bldg, Atlanta, GA........ 0 10,600 0 10,600
Federal Bldg, Tuscaloosa, AL.............. 0 0 7,500 7,500
Denver Federal Center, CO................. 0 0 6,000 6,000
FDA Consolidation, MD..................... 0 0 45,000 42,000
DOT headquarters, DC...................... (45,000) (45,000) 0 42,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................ 214,531 224,131 273,031 321,631
=================================================================
Total, GSA construction................. 400,568 406,168 659,668 708,268
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FDA Consolidation at White Oak, Montgomery County, MD.--The
conferees deem the $42,000,000 appropriated for FDA
Consolidation at White Oak sufficient for the design and
construction of the engineering physics lab and office
building for FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health
(CDRH). If this sum is insufficient, the conferees expect GSA
to submit a reprogramming request to the Committees on
Appropriations for funds sufficient to design and construct
the engineering physics lab and office building for CDRH.
REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS
The conference agreement provides $991,300,000 for repairs
and alterations instead of $1,010,454,000 as proposed by the
House and $1,000,939,000 as proposed by the Senate. The bill
specifies the following funds for certain projects which were
proposed in either the House or Senate bills:
Project Amount
Terre Haute Post Office, IN..................................$4,600,000
Bellingham Federal Building, WA...............................2,610,000
Tuttle Annex, Atlanta, GA.....................................6,725,000
[[Page 31727]]
Bellingham, WA federal building.--The conference agreement
includes language proposed by the Senate transferring funds
for the Bellingham federal building to the City of
Bellingham, subject to disposal of the building to the city.
Eisenhower Executive Building.--The conference agreement
does not include language, proposed by the House, withholding
funds until a report is submitted on the use of non-federal
funding for renovation efforts for the Eisenhower office
building. The report has been submitted, making the provision
unnecessary.
INSTALLMENT ACQUISITION PAYMENTS
The conference agreement provides $169,745,000 for
installment acquisition payments as proposed by both the
House and the Senate.
RENTAL OF SPACE
The conference agreement provides $3,280,187,000 instead of
$3,278,187,000 as proposed by the Senate and $3,308,187,000
as proposed by the House.
BUILDING OPERATIONS
The conference agreement provides $1,608,708,000 as
proposed by both the House and the Senate.
General Activities
GOVERNMENT-WIDE POLICY
The conference agreement provides $56,383,000 as proposed
by the House instead of $61,781,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
e-travel.--The conferees agree that GSA has been responsive
to the House's concerns that the e-travel initiative should
not involve mandatory participation by Federal agencies.
Furthermore, the conferees agree that, in its management of
e-travel prime contractors, GSA should seek to preserve that
portion of the federal travel agent business that is
currently served by small businesses and local entrepreneurs.
OPERATING EXPENSES
The conference agreement provides $88,110,000 instead of
$79,110,000 as proposed by the House and $85,083,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Within the funds provided, the
conferees direct GSA to make the following distributions:
Project Amount
Web Wise Kids..................................................$600,000
Exhibitions on the enslaved north, NY Historical Society........250,000
Public service recognition week.................................100,000
Center for Jewish History archival preservation project, New Yor328,000
B&O Railroad Museum emergency restoration, Baltimore, MD........372,000
Balls Ferry Historic Park, Wilkinson County, GA...............1,000,000
Saenger Restoration Project, AL.................................500,000
Homeless school access project, Washington DOT, WA............1,000,000
Hurricane Isabel repairs, NDRF, Fort Eustis, VA...............1,850,000
Alaska statehood celebration....................................450,000
2003 Women's World Cup Tournament.............................1,800,000
Ruffner Mountain Educational Facility, AL.......................300,000
Rural government outreach initiative.............................75,000
Hawaii statehood celebration....................................225,000
Upper Great Plains Native American Telehealth program...........100,000
Iowa communications network......................................50,000
Public service recognition week.--The conferees recognize
that public service recognition week, a program of the Public
Employees Roundtable, has educated America about the value of
the career workforce, which carries out the daily operations
of government. This program, which has existed for over 10
years, plays an important role in educating our nation's
youth by providing them with timely information about their
government. The conferees urge GSA to support the mission of
the Public Employees Roundtable, and provides $100,000 in
administrative and logistical assistance to public service
recognition week activities, the same level as provided for
fiscal year 2003.
Office of Inspector General
The conference agreement provides $39,169,000 as proposed
by both the House and the Senate.
Electronic Government Fund
(including transfer of funds)
The conference agreement provides $3,000,000 instead of
$1,000,000 as proposed by the House and $5,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees agree that none of
these funds should be used for performance awards.
Allowances and Office Staff for Former Presidents
(including transfer of funds)
The conference agreement provides $3,393,000 as proposed by
both the House and the Senate.
General Provisions--General Services Administration
The bill includes a provision (sec. 401) as proposed by
both the House and the Senate related to the crediting of
proper appropriations for GSA expenses.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 402) as proposed by
both the House and the Senate allowing GSA funds to be used
for motor vehicle rental expenses.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 403) as proposed by
both the House and the Senate requiring transfer of federal
building funds among various activities only to the extent
necessary to meet program requirements and subject to prior
approval of the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 404) as proposed by
both the House and the Senate mandating any fiscal year 2005
budget request for courthouse construction reflect the
priorities of the Judicial Conference of the United States,
meet design guide standards, and be accompanied by a
courtroom utilization study.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 405) as proposed by
both the House and the Senate requiring federal agencies to
pay rental rates established by GSA in order to receive
certain building support services such as cleaning and
security enhancements.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 406) as proposed by
both the House and the Senate related to federal buildings
fund savings from the implementation of pilot information
technology projects.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 407) as proposed by
both the House and the Senate allowing savings from
construction projects to be used to settle claims of less
than $250,000 in other construction projects, subject to
prior notification to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations.
The bill deletes a provision proposed by the House related
to implementation of the e-travel service. The Senate bill
included no similar provision.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 408) as proposed by the
Senate directing GSA to acquire property in Portsmouth, NH
for a federal office building to replace the McIntyre Federal
Building, and authorizing GSA to give the McIntyre Building
to the City of Portsmouth under certain conditions. The House
bill included no similar provision.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 409) proposed by the
House allowing GSA to make certain election reform payments,
if necessary, prior to appointment of the Election Assistance
Commission. The Senate bill included no similar provision.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 410) proposed by the
House prohibiting funds to establish a Quick Response Team
Processing Center in Chattanooga, TN. The Senate bill
included no similar provision.
The bill includes a provision (sec. 411) facilitating the
completion of a land conveyance in San Joaquin County,
California.
Merit Systems Protection Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(including transfer of funds)
The conferees agree to provide $32,877,000 as proposed by
the House and Senate. The conferees also agree to provide
$2,626,000 as a limitation on administrative expenses to be
transferred from the appropriate trust fund, rather than
providing the amount as a direct appropriation as requested
by the President.
Morris K. Udall Foundation
Morris K. Udall Trust Fund
The conference agreement provides $1,996,000 as proposed by
the Senate instead of $1,300,000 as proposed by the House.
The bill modifies a provision proposed by the House relating
to a financial audit of the program. The modification allows
up to $50,000 for this purpose instead of $100,000. The
agreement allows 60 percent of funds to be provided to the
Native Nations Institute as proposed by the Senate instead of
70 percent as proposed by the House.
Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund
The conference agreement provides $1,309,000 as proposed by
the Senate instead of $1,300,000 as proposed by the House.
National Archives and Records Administration
Operating Expenses
The conference agreement provides $256,700,000 instead of
$255,191,000 as proposed by the House and $258,191,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The bill includes $600,000 regarding
the records of the Freedmen's Bureau as proposed by the House
instead of no funding as proposed by the Senate.
Working group pursuant to the Japanese Imperial Government
Disclosure Act.--The conference report includes language
extending working group activities under the Japanese
Imperial Government Disclosure Act for one additional year.
The conferees believe that no further extensions should be
granted. All remaining activities of the Interagency Working
Group are to be completed within the additional 12 months
allotted.
Electronic Records Archive
The conference agreement provides $35,914,000 as proposed
by the House instead of no funds as proposed by the Senate.
Repairs and Restoration
The conference agreement provides $13,708,000 instead of
$6,458,000 as proposed by
[[Page 31728]]
the House and $13,483,000 as proposed by the Senate. The bill
specifies that $500,000 is provided for a Military Personnel
Records Center requirements study, $2,250,000 is for a new
regional archives and records facility in Anchorage, Alaska,
and $5,000,000 is for repair and restoration of the plaza
surrounding the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in
Austin, Texas. Each of these projects were in either the
House or Senate bills.
Nixon Presidential records.--The bill includes a provision
allowing the transfer of Nixon Administration Presidential
records and materials outside the Washington, D. C.
metropolitan area, subject to the control of the Archivist
and consistent with current laws governing the transfer and
storage of Presidential records.
National Historical Publications and Records Commission--Grants Program
The conference agreement provides $10,000,000 as proposed
by the House instead of $5,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Office of Government Ethics
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
The conferees agree to provide $10,738,000 as proposed by
the House and Senate.
Office of Personnel Management
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(including transfer of trust funds)
The conferees agree to provide $119,498,000 as proposed by
the House instead of $118,748,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Of this amount, the conferees agree to provide $750,000 for
continuation of the retirement readiness project. The
conferees also agree to provide $135,914,000 as a limitation
on administrative expenses to be transferred from the
appropriate trust funds, as proposed by the Senate, rather
than $126,854,000 as proposed by the House.
FRANKLIN/HAMPSHIRE/HAMPDEN COUNTIES, MASSACHUSETTS
The conferees are aware that the Federal Salary Council has
recommended that Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties,
Massachusetts, be included into the Hartford Locality Pay
Area. The conferees are concerned about the difficulties some
Federal agencies have documented in retaining and attracting
Federal employees in the Connecticut River Valley.
Accordingly, the conferees direct OPM to consider the
implementation of the Federal Salary Council's recommendation
to include Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties into the
Hartford Locality Pay Area.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
The conferees agree to provide $1,498,000 as proposed by
the House and Senate.
HUMAN CAPITAL PERFORMANCE FUND
The conferees agree to provide $1,000,000, instead of
$2,500,000 as proposed by the House and no funds as proposed
by the Senate.
Office of Special Counsel
salaries and expenses
The conferees agree to provide $13,504,000 as proposed by
the House and Senate.
United States Postal Service
payment to the postal service fund
The conferees agree to provide $65,521,000, as proposed by
the House and Senate. Of this amount $36,521,000 is provided
as an advance appropriation for free mail for the blind and
overseas voters. The conferees include $29,000,000 for prior
year reimbursement shortfalls.
postal facility construction
The conferees are aware that the Postal Service has had a
freeze on construction of new postal facilities since 2001.
The conferees are also aware that some areas are in desperate
need of a new facility, and that some facilities are in dire
need of renovation. The conferees direct the Postal Service
to evaluate these needs and report within 90 days of the
enactment of this Act on localities that require a new postal
facility, the current conditions of post offices in need of
renovation, and when a new facility or replacement will be
built.
tinton falls, new jersey
The conferees are concerned about the postal needs of the
citizens of Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Although Tinton Falls
was placed among the top priority postal construction
projects in line to receive funding in 1996, funding
constraints stopped all construction of new facilities for
several years. The conferees recommend that the Postal
Service carefully consider the significant need for a new
facility in Tinton Falls, and direct the Postal Service to
report to the Committees on Appropriations on this matter no
later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act.
United States Tax Court
salaries and expenses
The conferees agree to provide $40,187,000 as proposed by
the House and Senate.
White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance
The conferees agree to provide $250,000 as proposed by the
House and Senate.
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
This Act
(including transfers of funds)
Section 501 allows funds to be used for aircraft; motor
vehicles; liability insurance; uniforms; or allowances, as
authorized by law.
Section 502 requires pay raises to be funded within
appropriated levels.
Section 503 limits appropriations for services authorized
by 5 U.S.C. 3109 to the rate for an Executive Level IV.
Section 504 continues the provision prohibiting funds in
this Act for salaries and expenses of more than 106 political
and Presidential appointees in the Department of
Transportation, and prohibits political and Presidential
personnel to be assigned on temporary detail outside the
Department of Transportation.
Section 505 prohibits pay and other expenses for non-
Federal parties in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings
funded in this Act.
Section 506 prohibits obligations beyond the current fiscal
year and prohibits transfers of funds unless expressly so
provided.
Section 507 limits consulting service expenditures in
procurement contracts to those of public record.
Section 508 prohibits funds for the implementation of
section 404 of title 23, USC.
Section 509 continues the provision prohibiting recipients
of funds made available in this Act to release personal
information, including a social security number, medical or
disability information, and photographs from a driver's
license or motor vehicle record without express consent of
the person to whom such information pertains; and prohibits
the Secretary from withholding funds provided in this Act for
any grantee if a state is in noncompliance with this
provision.
Section 510 allows funds received by the Federal Highway
Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and the
Federal Railroad Administration from States, counties,
municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources
for expenses incurred for training to be credited to each
agency's respective accounts.
Section 511 authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to
allow issuers of any preferred stock to redeem or repurchase
preferred stock sold to the Department of Transportation.
Section 512 continues the provision prohibiting funds in
this Act unless the Secretary of Transportation notifies the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than
three full business days before any discretionary grant
award, letter of intent, or full funding grant agreement
totaling $1,000,000 or more is announced by the department or
its modal administration.
Section 513 defines the city of Norman, Oklahoma, as part
of the Oklahoma City Transportation Management Area.
Section 514 prohibits funds for the Office of the Secretary
of Transportation to approve assessments or reimbursable
agreements pertaining to funds appropriated to the modal
administrations in this Act, unless such assessments or
agreements have completed the normal reprogramming process
for Congressional notification.
Section 515 prohibits funds in this Act to be transferred
without express authority.
Section 516 allows funds received from certain sources to
be credited to appropriations using fair and equitable
criteria.
Section 517 reduces the Transportation Working Capital Fund
by $17,816,000.
Section 518 includes a new provision allowing that amounts
from improper payments to a third party contractor that are
lawfully recovered by the Department of Transportation shall
be available to cover expenses incurred in recovery of such
payments.
Section 519 authorizes the transfer of unexpended sums from
``Office of the Secretary, Salaries and expenses'' to
``Minority Business Outreach.''
Section 520 is a limitation involving section 307 of the
Tariff Act of 1930.
Section 521 modifies a Senate provision regarding stadium
overflights.
Section 522 concerns the employment rights of Federal
employees who return to their civilian jobs after assignment
with the Armed Forces.
Section 523 requires entities receiving funds to comply
with the ``Buy America Act''.
Section 524 is a sense of the Congress regarding the
purchase of American-made equipment and products and requires
the Secretary of the Treasury to provide a notice describing
to all recipients of Federal assistance.
Section 525 regards the ineligibility of persons found
guilty of violating ``Made in America'' labeling provisions
from receiving funds.
Section 526 provides that fifty percent of unobligated
balances may remain available for certain purposes.
Section 527 restricts the use of funds for the White House
to request official background reports without the written
consent of the subject individual.
Section 528 exempts contracts under FEHBP from certain cost
accounting standards.
Section 529 regards travel by the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) with respect to non-foreign area cost of
living allowances and allows OPM to accept and utilize,
without regard to any restriction on unanticipated travel
expenses imposed in an Appropriations Act, funds made
available pursuant to court approval.
[[Page 31729]]
Section 530 prohibits the use of funds by any person or
entity convicted of violating the Buy American Act.
Section 531 prohibits FEHBP funds from being used to cover
an abortion.
Section 532 disallows the previous section if the life of
the mother is at risk or in the case of rape or incest.
Section 533 outlines the guidelines for the reprogramming
of funds in the Act.
Section 534 limits funding for traffic signs in a language
other than English.
Section 535 exempts from certain procurement limitations
commercially available information technology.
Section 536 provides a sense of the House of
Representatives that empowerment zones within cities should
have the necessary flexibility to expand to include relevant
communities so that empowerment zone benefits are equitably
distributed.
Section 537 provides a sense of the House of
Representatives that all census tracts contained in an
empowerment zone, either fully or partially, should be
equitably accorded the same benefits.
Section 538 prohibits the use of funds for a proposed rule
by Treasury relating to the determination that real estate
brokerage is a financial activity.
Section 539 provides a sense of Congress that the
Department of Transportation should consider programs to
reimburse certain airports for financial losses due to
Government actions subsequent to the terrorist actions of
September 11, 2001.
Section 540 provides a sense of the House of
Representatives that public private partnerships could help
eliminate some cost drivers on certain highway and transit
projects.
Section 541 extends the Breast Cancer Stamp authorization
(39 USC 414 (h)) until 2005.
Section 542 restricts funds regarding rules and regulations
concerning travel agent service fees.
Section 543 allows the transfer of Nixon Administration
Presidential records and materials outside the Washington, D.
C. metropolitan area, subject to the control of the Archivist
and consistent with current laws governing the transfer and
storage of Presidential records.
Section 544 amends the Oklahoma City National Memorial Act
of 1997.
Section 545 redesignates unobligated funds from Public Law
102-240 and Public Law 105-178 to carry out existing bridge
and ferry projects.
Section 546 amends Section 345(6), Division I, Public Law
108-7.
Section 547 makes certain projects and activities eligible
to receive fiscal year 2004 grants.
TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS
DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND CORPORATIONS
Section 601 authorizes agencies to pay costs of travel to
the United States for the immediate families of Federal
employees assigned to foreign duty in the event of a death or
a life threatening illness of the employee.
Section 602 requires agencies to administer a policy
designed to ensure that all of its workplaces are free from
the illegal use of controlled substances.
Section 603 regards price limitations on vehicles to be
purchased by the Federal Government.
Section 604 allows funds made available to agencies for
travel, to also be used for quarters allowances and cost-of-
living allowances.
Section 605 prohibits the government, with certain
specified exceptions, from employing non-U.S. citizens whose
posts of duty would be in the continental U.S.
Section 606 ensures that agencies will have authority to
pay GSA bills for space renovation and other services.
Section 607 allows agencies to finance the costs of
recycling and waste prevention programs with proceeds from
the sale of materials recovered through such programs.
Section 608 provides that funds may be used to pay rent and
other service costs in the District of Columbia.
Section 609 prohibits payments to persons filling positions
for which they have been nominated after the Senate has voted
not to approve the nomination.
Section 610 prohibits interagency financing of groups
absent prior statutory approval.
Section 611 authorizes the Postal Service to employ guards
and give them the same special police powers as other Federal
guards.
Section 612 prohibits the use of funds for enforcing
regulations disapproved in accordance with the applicable law
of the U.S.
Section 613 limits the pay increases of certain prevailing
rate employees.
Section 614 limits the amount of funds that can be used for
redecoration of offices under certain circumstances.
Section 615 allows for interagency funding of national
security and emergency telecommunications initiatives.
Section 616 requires agencies, with exceptions, to certify
that a Schedule C appointment was not created solely or
primarily to detail the employee to the White House.
Section 617 requires agencies to administer a policy
designed to ensure that all workplaces are free from
discrimination and sexual harassment.
Section 618 prohibits the payment of any employee who
prohibits, threatens or prevents another employee from
communicating with Congress.
Section 619 prohibits Federal training not directly related
to the performance of official duties.
Section 620 prohibits the expenditure of funds for
implementation of agreements in nondisclosure policies unless
certain provisions are included.
Section 621 prohibits propaganda, publicity and lobbying by
executive agency personnel in support or defeat of
legislative initiatives.
Section 622 prohibits any Federal agency from disclosing an
employee's home address to any labor organization, absent
employee authorization or court order.
Section 623 prohibits funds from being used to provide non-
public information such as mailing or telephone lists to any
person or organization outside the government without the
approval of the Committees on Appropriations.
Section 624 prohibits the use of funds for propaganda and
publicity purposes not authorized by Congress.
Section 625 directs agency employees to use official time
in an honest effort to perform official duties.
Section 626 authorizes the use of funds to finance an
appropriate share of the Joint Financial Management
Improvement Program.
Section 627 authorizes agencies to transfer funds to GSA to
finance an appropriate share of the Joint Financial
Management Improvement Program, et al.
Section 628 prohibits the use of funds to limit the options
of federal agencies in selecting the online employment
information service of their choice.
Section 629 permits breast-feeding in a Federal building or
on Federal property if the woman and child are authorized to
be there.
Section 630 permits interagency funding of the National
Science and Technology Council and provides for a report on
the budget and resources of the National Science and
Technology Council.
Section 631 requires documents involving the distribution
of Federal funds to indicate the agency providing the funds
and the amount provided.
Section 632 extends the authorization for franchise fund
pilots for one year in order to allow the Administration to
evaluate their results and make a decision regarding
permanent authority.
Section 633 prohibits the use of funds to monitor personal
information relating to the use of Federal Internet sites to
collect, review, or create any aggregate list that includes
personally identifiable information relating to access to or
use of any federal Internet site of such agency.
Section 634 requires health plans participating in the
FEHBP to provide contraceptive coverage and provides
exemptions to certain religious plans.
Section 635 provides recognition of the U.S. Anti-Doping
Agency as the official anti-doping agency.
Section 636 requires a report by the Inspector Generals
detailing policies and procedures for implementing portions
of the Rural Development Act, 1972.
Section 637 prohibits funds made available in this or any
other Act from being used to purchase goods or services from
Federal Prison Industries, Inc., unless such goods or
services provide the best value.
Section 638 requires each agency to evaluate the
creditworthiness of an individual before issuing the
individual a specific charge card.
Section 639 allows the extension of the Federal Election
Commission's administrative fine program for two years.
Section 640 requires that the adjustment in rates of basic
pay for the statutory pay systems that takes effect in fiscal
year 2004 shall be an increase of 4.1 percent.
Section 641 allows for the timely filing of reports with
the Federal Election Commission using overnight delivery,
priority, or express mail.
Section 642 allows funds appropriated for official travel
to participate in the fractional aircraft ownership pilot
program.
Section 643 restricts the ability of federal agencies to
construct or lease federal law enforcement training
facilities except with Congressional approval.
Section 644 prohibits the use of funds to implement or
enforce regulations for locality pay areas that are
inconsistent with Federal Salary Council recommendations.
Section 645 requires a report from each Federal agency on
acquisitions from entities that manufacture the articles,
materials, or supplies outside of the United States.
Section 646 prohibits OPM from using any funds to implement
the proposed regulations relating to the detail of executive
branch employees to the legislative branch, with technical
modifications.
Section 647 prohibits the use of funds to convert an
activity or function of an Executive agency to contractor
performance, with certain exceptions.
Section 648 provides for the funding of airport operations
at Midway Atoll Airfield.
Conference Total--With Comparisons
The total new budget (obligational) authority for the
fiscal year 2004 recommended by the Committee of Conference,
with comparisons to the fiscal year 2003 amount, the
[[Page 31730]]
2004 budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for
2004 follow:
[In thousands of dollars]
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003.......$44,637,545
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year45,507,343
House bill, fiscal year 2004.................................45,553,216
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004................................46,276,508
Conference agreement, fiscal year 2004.......................45,267,993
Conference agreement compared with.....................................
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003......+630,448
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal ye-239,350
House bill, fiscal year 2004...............................-285,223
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004............................-1,008,515
DIVISION G--DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
The language and allocations set forth in House Report 108-
235 and Senate Report 108-143 should be complied with unless
specifically addressed to the contrary in the conference
report and statement of the managers. Report language
included by the House which is not changed by the report of
the Senate or the conference and Senate report language which
is not changed by the conference is approved by the committee
of the conference. The statement of the managers, while
repeating some report language for emphasis, does not intend
to negate the language referred to above unless expressly
provided herein. In cases where the House or Senate have
directed the submission of a report, such report is to be
submitted to both House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations.
Operating Plan and Reprogramming Procedures
The conferees continue to have a particular interest in
being informed of reprogrammings which, although they may not
change either the total amount available in an account or any
of the purposes for which the appropriation is legally
available, represent a significant departure from budget
plans presented to the Committees in an agency's budget
justifications, the basis of this appropriations Act.
Consequently, the conferees direct the departments,
agencies, boards, commissions, corporations and offices
funded at or in excess of $100,000,000 in this bill, to
consult with the Committees on Appropriations in both the
House and Senate prior to each change from the approved
budget levels in excess of $500,000 between programs,
activities, object classifications or elements unless
otherwise provided for in the statement of the managers
accompanying this Act. For agencies, boards, commissions,
corporations and offices funded at less than $100,000,000 in
this bill, the reprogramming threshold shall be $250,000
between programs, activities, object classifications or
elements unless otherwise provided for in the statement of
the managers accompanying this Act. Additionally, the
conferees expect the Committees on Appropriations to be
promptly notified of all reprogramming actions which involve
less than the above-mentioned amounts. If such actions would
have the effect of significantly changing an agency's funding
requirements in future years, or if programs or projects
specifically cited in the statement of the managers or
accompanying reports of the House and Senate are affected by
the reprogramming, the reprogramming must be approved by the
Committees on Appropriations regardless of the amount
proposed to be moved. Furthermore, the conferees direct that
the Committees on Appropriations be consulted regarding
reorganizations of offices, programs, and activities prior to
the planned implementation of such reorganizations.
The conferees also direct that the Departments of Veterans
Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, as well as the
Corporation for National and Community Service, the
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the
Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Chemical Safety
and Hazard Investigation Board shall submit operating plans,
signed by the respective secretary, administrator, or agency
head, for review by the Committees on Appropriations of both
the House and Senate within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
Other agencies within this Act should continue to submit
operating plans consistent with prior year policy, or as
directed in this statement of the managers.
The conferees reiterate language proposed by the House
regarding the Committees' longstanding position that while
the Committees reserve the right to call upon all offices in
the departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, access to
the budget offices is essential.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
In addition to the directives above, the conferees direct
that no changes may be made to any account or objective,
except as approved by the Committees, if it is construed to
be policy or change in policy. It is the intent of the
conferees that all carryover funds in the various
appropriations accounts are subject to the normal
reprogramming requirements outlined above. The Department is
directed to notify the Committees on Appropriations should
the loan limitation of any program administered by the
Department be met or exceeded.
Veterans Benefits Administration
COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $29,845,127,000 for compensation and pensions
as proposed by both the House and the Senate, of which not
more than $17,056,000 is to be transferred to general
operating expenses and medical services.
READJUSTMENT BENEFITS
Appropriates $2,529,734,000 for readjustment benefits as
proposed by both the House and the Senate.
VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES
Appropriates $29,017,000 for veterans insurance and
indemnities as proposed by both the House and the Senate.
VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates such sums as may be necessary for costs
associated with direct and guaranteed loans from the veterans
housing benefit program fund program account as proposed by
both the House and the Senate, plus $154,850,000 to be
transferred to and merged with general operating expenses.
EDUCATION LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $1,000 for the costs of direct loans from the
education loan fund program account as proposed by both the
House and the Senate, plus $70,000 to be transferred to and
merged with general operating expenses.
Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $52,000 for the costs of direct loans from the
vocational rehabilitation loans program account as proposed
by both the House and the Senate, plus $300,000 to be
transferred to and merged with general operating expenses.
NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $571,000 for administrative expenses of the
native American housing loan program account to be
transferred to and merged with general operating expenses as
proposed by both the House and the Senate. Provides a loan
limitation of $50,000,000 for the program instead of
$40,000,000 as proposed by the House. The Senate did not
provide a loan limitation for this program.
GUARANTEED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING LOANS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS PROGRAM
ACCOUNT
Provides up to $600,000 of the funds available in medical
services and general operating expenses to carry out the
guaranteed transitional housing loans for homeless veterans
program instead of $350,000 as proposed by the House and
$750,000 as proposed by the Senate. Retains the reporting
requirement regarding the status of the loan program as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees are concerned that this
program simply does not meet the needs of the organizations
for which it is intended.
Veterans Health Administration
The conferees have agreed to provide total resources of
$28,569,220,000 to fund the various operating programs of the
Veterans Health Administration (VHA), an increase of
$1,570,000,000 over the appropriation request level. None of
the funds are contingent upon an emergency declaration.
Further, the conferees have agreed to fund VHA through a new
account structure comprised of four accounts: medical
services, medical administration, medical facilities, and
medical and prosthetic research. The conferees have taken
this action to provide better oversight and receive a more
accurate accounting of funds.
MEDICAL SERVICES
Provides $17,867,220,000 to finance medical services for
all veterans and beneficiaries in VA, State, and contract
medical facilities.
Deletes bill language proposed by the House and the Senate
delaying the availability of funds.
Retains bill language making $1,100,000,000 available until
September 30, 2005, as proposed by the Senate.
Retains bill language providing the Secretary with the
authority to establish a priority system for veterans seeking
medical care as proposed by the Senate. The House included
similar authority as an administrative provision.
Retains bill language proposed by the Senate allowing the
Secretary to give priority to medical services for priority
1-6 veterans. The House instead proposed a separate account
for priority 1-6 veterans.
Retains bill language allowing the transfer of up to
$400,000,000 to the construction,
[[Page 31731]]
major projects account for the purposes of implementing
Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES)
recommendations as proposed by the Senate. The conferees
direct the VA to notify the Committees on Appropriations
prior to the transfer of funds for this purpose as stated in
Senate Report 108-143.
Modifies bill language proposed by the Senate allowing the
Secretary to fill privately written prescriptions from VA
facilities for designated veterans. The conferees agree that
such benefit should not result in additional cost to the VA.
The House did not include a similar provision. The conferees
direct the Secretary to collect and independently verify data
on the costs and benefits of this new drug benefit and submit
a report to the Committees on Appropriations by March 2,
2004, detailing the number of veterans who would utilize such
benefit, as well as costs or savings to the VA.
Moves bill language proposed by the Senate in medical care
directing the Secretary to conduct a recovery audit program.
Instead, the conference agreement includes the provision
under administrative provisions as proposed by the House.
Moves bill language proposed by the Senate transferring the
balances from the medical care collections fund into medical
care for the purposes of that account. Instead, the
conference agreement includes a similar provision as a
separate section under administrative provisions.
Reiterates report language included in House Report 108-235
directing the establishment of two Mental Illness Research,
Education and Clinic Centers.
Reiterates language included in Senate Report 108-143
directing VA to collaborate fully with the Department of
Defense in the VET-HEAL program.
The conferees encourage the VA to continue developing
collaborative agreements with medical schools at Historically
Black Colleges and Universities and minority serving
institutions in the areas of research, residency programs and
the delivery of health care services.
The conferees strongly encourage the Department to pursue
aggressively new technologies available for diagnosing
colorectal cancer which are less invasive, less expensive and
provide equal or better patient evaluations than older
methods.
The conferees urge the Department to provide by April 2,
2004, information on VA compliance rates with VHA Directive
2003-017, the treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI),
and an evaluation of FDA-approved technologies which could
assist doctors in meeting the goals of that directive.
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
Appropriates $5,000,000,000 for the expenses of the
headquarters offices of the Veterans Health Administration as
well as the costs of Veterans Integrated Service Network
(VISN) offices and facility directors, all information
technology hardware and software, legal services, billing and
coding activities, procurement, and related activities.
Includes language allowing $150,000,000 of the funds to be
available until September 30, 2005.
The conferees agree that the Department must continue
research oversight activities at a level not less than
directed in the fiscal year 2003 appropriations Act. Further,
the conferees reiterate the language contained in House
Report 108-235 regarding the reporting and consulting
requirements of the oversight board.
The conferees are concerned that the realignment
recommendations of the CARES Commission may lead to a
reduction in long-term care, domiciliary care, and mental
health services. The VA is expected to expedite the strategic
planning process for these services. Based on the Secretary's
statements the conferees urge that no closures or reduction
in long-term care, domiciliary care, and mental health
services will take place until the full analysis is
completed. The VA should submit updates on their progress in
this effort to the Committees on Appropriations.
The conferees encourage the VA to consider all travel
issues, such as road conditions, number of lanes on access
highways, and seasonal changes in and other factors relating
to the weather, in any analysis on the future needs of
veterans health care. Further, the CARES Commission should
give as much attention to solving the special needs of
veterans who live in rural areas as it does to providing for
the health care needs of veterans living in more highly
populated areas and include in its recommendations
investments and initiatives to achieve the Department's
accessibility standard for primary health care in rural and
highly-rural health care markets.
The conferees recognize the benefits of and the need to
have CARES-related hearings within 30 miles of all facilities
facing closure or a significant realignment of services, as
well as the need for veterans participation at these
hearings. The VA is encouraged to hold hearings in all
affected communities following the Secretary's final
recommendation.
Finally, the conferees direct the Secretary, prior to
implementing any facility closure as recommended in the final
CARES plan, to develop recommendations for future use of such
facilities (including, but not limited to, enhanced-use lease
opportunities and clinics) and submit a report to the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations on the
recommendations for each facility.
To ensure improved security, greater control, and unified
manageability of information technology systems, the
conferees direct the VA to consolidate critical applications
including all business/corporate applications, messaging,
office automation, and relevant medical systems applications
at no more than six sites nationwide for the purpose of
providing business continuity capabilities between each site
to ensure continuity of operations of mission critical VA
activities.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
Appropriates $4,000,000,000 for the operation, maintenance
and security of VHA's capital infrastructure. Included under
this heading are provisions for the costs associated with
utilities, engineering, capital planning, leases, laundry and
food services, groundskeeping, garbage, housekeeping,
facility repair, and property disposition and acquisition.
None of the funds for the land and structures object
classifications are subject to delay.
Inserts new language allowing $150,000,000 of the funds to
be available until September 30, 2005.
The conferees direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
make the North Chicago VA Medical Center available to the
Navy to the maximum extent feasible, including the
modification of its surgical suites. The conferees also
direct the Secretary to finalize, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Navy, site selection for a new joint Navy/VA
ambulatory care center to serve both veterans and active duty
naval personnel in this community. The conferees urge the
Secretary to study the placement of the clinic adjacent to
the North Chicago VA Medical Center. The Secretary shall
report to the Committees on Appropriations on the site
selection and progress on the surgical suite and urgent care
modifications by July 30, 2004.
The conferees are aware of a pending enhanced-use lease
agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the
City of Fort Thomas, Kentucky for twelve residential
buildings. The conferees direct the Secretary, prior to
executing the enhanced use lease agreement, to offer to
transfer one of the residential properties to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to be used as the residence for the
Commander of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, if the
Secretary determines it is cost-beneficial to the Department.
As a condition of the transfer, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers will assume responsibility and costs for all
utilities and all related access issues of the transferred
property, and property compliance with City historic
preservation codes and any residential association
regulations. Further, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will
grant an access easement to recognize the existing alley that
is used for vehicular access to the adjacent properties.
medical and prosthetic research
Appropriates $408,000,000 for medical and prosthetic
research as proposed the House instead of $413,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees direct the continued
partnership with the National Technology Transfer Center at
the current level of effort.
Departmental Administration
general operating expenses
Appropriates $1,283,272,000 for general operating expenses
as proposed by both the House and Senate.
Provides not less than $1,005,000,000 for the Veterans
Benefits Administration (VBA) as proposed by the House
instead of $1,004,704,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Provides two-year availability for $66,000,000 as proposed
by the House instead of $64,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Deletes the travel limitation proposed by the House. The
Senate did not include a travel limitation.
The conferees direct VA to proceed with information
technology initiatives supporting the Department's enterprise
architecture and continuity of operations capabilities and
direct that not less than $25,000,000 be allocated for these
activities Department-wide.
The conferees encourage the Department to undertake the
conversion of paper claims at the VBA to a digital format
consistent with the paperless claim initiative.
national cemetery administration
Appropriates $144,203,000 for the National Cemetery
Administration as proposed by the Senate instead of
$144,223,000 as proposed by the House. Provides two-year
obligation authority for $7,200,000 of the appropriated funds
as proposed by the Senate instead of one-year availability
for all funds as proposed by the House.
The conferees strongly urge the Department to continue
efforts at the Johnson's Island Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio to
determine if veterans are interned under a roadway bordering
the cemetery and report back to the Committees on
Appropriations of their findings.
office of inspector general
Appropriates $62,000,000 for the Office of Inspector
General instead of $62,250,000 as proposed by the Senate and
$61,750,000 as proposed by the House.
[[Page 31732]]
construction, major projects
Appropriates $272,690,000 for construction, major projects
as proposed by the Senate instead of $274,690,000 as proposed
by the House. The conferees have included bill language
proposed by the Senate which defines a major construction
project as one where the estimated cost is more than the
amount set forth in 38 U.S.C. 8104(a)(3)(A), instead of a
definite dollar amount as proposed by the House. The
conferees are aware that the authorizing committees of
jurisdiction have legislation pending which would raise the
current $4,000,000 project threshold and have referenced the
appropriate citation in lieu of a dollar amount in
anticipation of new legislation.
The conference agreement includes $181,000,000 to support
construction projects supporting recommendations of the CARES
plan, instead of $173,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$183,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Additional
recommendations of the conferees are as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House Report Senate Report Conference
Description 108-235 108-143 Agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CARES..................................................... $173,000,000 $183,000,000 $181,000,000
VHA Advance Planning Fund................................. $25,000,000 $15,000,000 $15,000,000
VHA Asbestos.............................................. $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000
VHA Claims................................................ $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000
VHA Judgment.............................................. $10,000,000 $10,000,000 $10,000,000
VHA Hazardous Waste....................................... $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000
VBA....................................................... $271,000 $271,000 $271,000
NCA Phase I Development: Detroit, MI...................... $8,700,000 $8,700,000 $8,700,000
NCA Expansion: Ft. Snelling, MN........................... $24,800,000 $24,800,000 $24,800,000
NCA Expansion: Barrancas, FL.............................. $12,000,000 $12,000,000 $12,000,000
NCA Design Funds.......................................... $6,000,000 $6,000,000 $6,000,000
NCA Advance Planning Fund................................. $4,919,000 $2,919,000 $4,919,000
Staff Offices............................................. $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The conferees direct continued efforts and planning to co-
locate the Denver VA Medical Center with the University of
Colorado Hospital and a Department of Defense medical
facility at the Fitzsimmons campus.
The conference agreement does not include specific planning
funds for a clinic at the Defense Supply Center due to a lack
of authorization, but the conferees encourage the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to continue working with the Secretary of
Defense to identify a suitable construction site in
anticipation of future project authorization.
The conferees direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
continue the current development of a cemetery annex on
property transferred from the Miramar Naval Air Station.
The conferees reiterate language included in Senate Report
108-143 and House Report 108-235 regarding the disposal of
the Lakeside VA Medical Center, full funding for
implementation of the CARES recommendations, public-private
partnerships for new facility construction, a requirement
that the Department submit a comprehensive CARES plan, and
the requirement that all construction be consistent with
CARES or the national cemetery studies.
construction, minor projects
Appropriates $252,144,000 for construction, minor projects
as proposed by both the House and the Senate. The conferees
have included bill language proposed by the Senate which
defines a minor construction project as one where the
estimated cost is equal to or less than the amount set forth
in 38 U.S.C. 8104(a)(3)(A), instead of a definite dollar
amount as proposed by the House. The conferees are aware that
the authorizing committees of jurisdiction have legislation
pending which would raise the current $4,000,000 project
threshold and have referenced the appropriate citation in
lieu of a dollar amount in anticipation of new legislation.
The conference agreement provides up to $40,000,000,
instead of $35,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$42,000,000 as proposed by the Senate, for construction
projects implementing CARES recommendations, to be available
upon notification of and approval by the Committees on
Appropriations.
The conferees strongly urge the Department to allocate a
greater percentage of its construction budget for quality and
safety improvements to research facilities.
The conferees reiterate language contained in House Report
108-235 regarding the requirement that all VA construction be
consistent with CARES or the national cemetery studies,
project approval by a central VA capital review board, and
Deputy Secretary approval for any group of projects where the
total costs exceed the major/minor construction threshold.
The conferees direct the Department to proceed with the
planned acquisition and development of a parking lot at the
St. Louis VA Medical Center, John J. Cochran Division, using
appropriations previously provided for in construction, minor
projects. The Department is encouraged to explore the
possibility of an enhanced-use lease partnership to establish
a structured parking facility on the site.
parking revolving fund
The conference agreement does not include the House
proposal for a separate parking revolving fund account.
Rather, the conferees have agreed to the administrative
provision proposed by the Senate which deposits receipts from
the parking revolving fund into the medical are collections
fund for medical services. Authority for construction or
alteration of a parking facility is now included under the
construction, major projects and construction, minor projects
accounts.
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES
Appropriates $102,100,000 for grants for construction of
state extended care facilities as proposed by both the House
and the Senate.
The conferees encourage the Department to work with the
State of New Jersey as that state applies for a grant.
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES
Appropriates $32,000,000 for grants for construction of
state veterans cemeteries as proposed by both the House and
the Senate.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
(INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS)
Retains the first twelve administrative provisions which
were carried in both the House and Senate bills, and which
have been carried in previous years.
Retains the provision proposed by the Senate allowing the
Department to reimburse the Office of Resolution Management
up to $29,318,000 and the Office of Employment Discrimination
Complaint Adjudication up to $3,059,000 from fiscal year 2004
salary and expenses accounts.
Retains the provision proposed by the House providing
$25,000,000 of VA's total information technology budget for
enterprise architecture activities under the Office of the
Chief Information Officer.
Retains the provision proposed by the Senate regarding
implementation of Public Law 107-287 by prohibiting funds for
implementation of section 2 and section 5.
Deletes the provision proposed by the House allowing the
Secretary to establish a priority system for veterans seeking
medical services. The conference agreement instead includes
in medical services a similar provision proposed by the
Senate in medical care.
Retains the provision proposed by the Senate merging
various receipt accounts of the Department of Veterans
Affairs into the Medical Care Collections Fund.
Retains the provision proposed by the House directing the
Secretary to conduct a recovery audit program.
Retains the provision proposed by the Senate allowing the
Secretary to transfer enhanced-use lease revenue from the
Medical Care Collections Fund to the construction accounts.
Retains the provision proposed by the House allowing the
Secretary to furnish recreation services and pay funeral
expenses. The Senate proposed an almost identical provision
under medical care.
Modifies the provision transferring all balances in the
medical care collections fund to medical services. Both the
House and Senate included provisions transferring the
receipts from the medical care collections fund to medical
accounts in different parts of the bill.
Modifies language proposed by the House allowing the
transfer of funds between Veterans Health Administration
accounts.
Deletes without prejudice language proposed by the House
renaming the Houston VAMC. The conferees defer to the
jurisdiction of the relevant authorizing committees.
Deletes the provision proposed by the House directing the
Secretary to report on sharing agreements with the Department
of Defense. Report language is instead included under the
medical facilities account.
Inserts a provision directing VA to implement the revised
VHA account structure within 90 days of enactment and to
submit the fiscal year 2005 budget justification using the
account structure included in this Act.
Inserts a provision rescinding $270,000,000 of prior year
funds from medical care. This funding is re-appropriated to
medical services. The Senate proposed an identical provision
under medical care.
TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
The conferees restate the reprogramming requirements with
respect to amounts approved for each appropriations account
within this title. The Department must limit the
[[Page 31733]]
reprogramming of funds between the programs, projects, and
activities within each account to not more than $500,000
without prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations.
Unless otherwise identified in this statement of managers or
committee reports, the most detailed allocation of funds
presented in the budget justifications shall be considered to
be approved, with any deviation from such approved allocation
subject to the normal reprogramming requirements outlined
above. Further, it is the intent of the conferees that all
carryover funds in the various accounts, including recaptures
and deobligations, are subject to the normal reprogramming
requirements outlined above. Further, no changes may be made
to any program, project, or activity if it is construed to be
policy or a change in policy, without prior approval of the
Committees. Finally, the conferees expect to be notified
regarding reorganizations of offices, programs or activities
prior to the planned implementation of such reorganizations,
as well as be notified, on a monthly basis, of all ongoing
litigation, including any negotiations or discussions,
planned or ongoing, regarding a consent decree between the
Department and any other entity.
Public and Indian Housing
HOUSING CERTIFICATE FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFER AND RESCISSION OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $19,371,481,762 instead of $18,580,606,000 as
proposed by the House and $18,433,606,000 as proposed by the
Senate. This amount is $2,259,868,941 over the amounts
provided in fiscal year 2003 and represents a 13.2 percent
increase. The conference agreement does not include language
proposed by the Senate to require the Secretary to make
available other funds should funds provided be insufficient.
In lieu of any direction included in the House and Senate
reports, unless otherwise provided for below, the Department
is directed to use the guidance set forth below in
administering the programs under this account in fiscal year
2004.
The conference agreement includes language to allocate
funds among the various activities as follows:
Renewals.--The conference agreement provides a total of
$17,635,130,745 for renewals of section 8 vouchers, section 8
project-based assistance, and moderate rehabilitation
contracts, instead of $16,445,578,000 as proposed by the
House and $16,202,616,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
amount provided represents a $2,467,419,924, or 16 percent,
increase over the fiscal year 2003 level for renewals.
Pursuant to the budget request, the conference agreement
assumes funding for project-based section 8 contract
amendment needs in fiscal year 2004 will be met through
recaptures.
The conferees are concerned about the spiraling increase in
the cost of providing assistance under the voucher program.
The conferees are aware that the national average cost per
voucher has increased at a rate of more than double the
average increase in the private rental market in each of the
last two years, including a 10 percent increase in 2002 and
an additional estimated 9 percent increase in 2003. At the
same time, the rental housing market has softened. The
conferees are aware that the Secretary has the administrative
authority to control the rapidly rising costs of renewing
expiring annual contributions contracts (ACC), including the
budget based practice of renewing expiring ACCs, and expect
the Secretary to utilize these tools.
Because of the alarming increases to the cost of rents
under the section 8 tenant-based program the conferees direct
HUD to report to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations by July 31, 2004, on the underlying reasons
for these annual increases in the average costs of section 8
rents. While the conferees support efforts by PHAs to
increase their utilization of vouchers to serve additional
families, PHAs must manage their programs in a prudent manner
to maximize the number of families served. Therefore, the
report needs to (1) identify all the laws, regulations and
policies that currently govern the setting of voucher rents;
(2) review the implementation of these laws, regulations and
policies by public housing agencies and HUD in areas where
the voucher rents appear to be inconsistent with the cost of
comparable housing in the unsubsidized rental housing market;
(3) the costs associated with such laws, regulations and
policies; and (4) recommendations to maximize the delivery of
assistance under the section 8 program.
Language proposed by the Senate is not included to limit
the contract terms for renewals under the Emergency Low
Income Housing Preservation Act of 1987 (ELIHPRA) and the Low
Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of
1990 (LIHPRA). The House did not propose a similar provision.
To the extent that the renewal of such contracts is in the
best interest of the Federal government, the Department may
enter into contract terms consistent with other project-based
programs. However, the conferees direct that funding for such
renewals be limited to a one-year term as required in the
annual appropriations Act.
Language is included, modified from language proposed by
the House and Senate, to renew expiring section 8 tenant-
based annual contributions contracts for each public housing
agency based on the total number of unit months reported
under lease by the PHA on its most recent end-of-year
financial statement or as adjusted by such additional
information submitted by the PHA as of August 1, 2003, and by
applying an inflation factor based on local or regional
inflation factors to the actual per unit cost.
Language is included as proposed by the House prohibiting
funds from being used to support a total number of unit
months under lease which exceeds a PHA's authorized level of
units under contract, instead of language proposed by the
Senate authorizing funds to be used to fund over-leased units
under certain conditions.
The conferees direct the Department to allow maximum
flexibility under the law in order to allow PHAs to be
temporarily over-issued and/or over-leased due to efforts to
reach full leasing. While PHAs may become temporarily over-
leased, they may not, at any time, exceed their total unit
month allocation (12 months times total number of authorized
vouchers) for its fiscal year.
If a PHA over-issues and over-leases vouchers to such an
extent that it exceeds its total unit month allocation for
its fiscal year, the Department shall take any appropriate
action to ensure that funding for such over-leasing does not
occur, including the recapture or withholding of funds. In
addition, the Department may take whatever administrative
actions are available to it to reprimand or sanction PHAs
that have over-issued or over-leased in a manner that
displays a negligent or intentional disregard for the limits
on voucher renewals and leasing set by the Congress.
The conferees understand that during 2003 some PHAs over-
issued and over-leased vouchers to a level that exceeds their
maximum total unit month allocation. The conferees expect
such PHAs to take all actions necessary to stay within their
fiscal year 2004 total unit month allocation and direct the
Department to ensure compliance with such limitation. In the
interim, such PHAs may use balances derived from funds
provided prior to fiscal year 2003 that remain in their
administrative fee reserves and program reserves, if
necessary, to ensure that currently housed families may
continue to use their section 8 vouchers. However, in no case
shall funds derived from fiscal year 2003 appropriations or
funds provided in this Act be used for such purpose.
Central Reserve Fund.--$136,846,017 for a central reserve
fund instead of $568,503,000 as proposed by the House and
$461,329,000 as proposed by the Senate. Modified language is
included to allow the Secretary to use the Central Fund, as
necessary, for additional units not under lease on August 1,
2003, but not to exceed the authorized contracted level.
Language proposed by the House and Senate is not included to
allow the Central Fund to also be used for increased per unit
costs as such costs have been reflected in the amount
provided for renewals.
Language is included as proposed by the House prohibiting
funds made available in the central fund from being used to
support a total number of units under lease in excess of a
PHA's authorized level of units. The Senate proposed language
to require the Secretary to make available funds for
additional units under lease to maintain a PHA's authorized
voucher level throughout the year, including turnover and
reissued vouchers is not included. In addition, language
proposed by the Senate requiring the Secretary to make
available other funds should the amount provided be
insufficient to maintain such a level is not included.
Language proposed by the Senate is not included authorizing
the Secretary to use up to $36,000,000 from the central fund
for incremental vouchers for non-elderly and disabled
families impacted by elderly-only designations in public
housing. The House did not include similar language.
Modified language is included, similar to language proposed
by the House, requiring the Secretary to submit quarterly
reports to the Committees on Appropriations on the obligation
of funds provided in the central fund. Such report shall
include the following: the amounts made available from the
central fund provided for additional units not under lease as
of August 1, 2003, delineated by PHA, and the total balance
remaining in the fund. The first such report is due no later
than May 1, 2004.
Tenant Protection.--$206,495,000 for rental subsidies for
tenant protection activities to replace project-based section
8 assistance with section 8 vouchers, for conversion of
section 202 and section 23 projects to section 8 assistance,
for the family reunification program and for the witness
protection program, as proposed by the House instead of
$252,203,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Family Self Sufficiency Coordinators.--$48,000,000 for
service coordinator staff in each public housing agency as
proposed by the House, instead of $72,000,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
Administrative Costs--Section 8 Voucher Program.--Not to
exceed $1,242,000,000 for PHA administrative costs and other
expenses, instead of $1,209,020,000 as proposed by the House
and $1,339,448,400 as proposed by the Senate.
In lieu of language proposed by the Senate to allocate
funds pursuant to the formula
[[Page 31734]]
specified in section 8(q) of the United States Housing Act of
1937 and language proposed by the House giving the Secretary
the flexibility to determine the allocation of funds, the
conference agreement includes new language as described
below.
Of this amount, not to exceed $1,192,000,000 shall be
allocated on a pro rata basis to PHAs based on the amount of
funding they were eligible to receive in 2003 or would have
been eligible to receive notwithstanding the reductions due
to excess administrative fee balances pursuant to the fiscal
year 2003 Act. In addition, up to $50,000,000 is available to
be allocated at the Secretary's discretion to PHAs that need
additional funds to administer their section 8 programs in
fiscal year 2004. New language is also included requiring
that these funds be distributed as provided for in this Act
notwithstanding any other provision of law.
Language is included as proposed by the House prohibiting
any funds provided under this, or any other Act, from being
used to supplement the amounts designated in this account for
administrative expenses. The Senate did not include similar
language.
Modified language is included similar to language proposed
by the House limiting the use of section 8 administrative
reserves to activities related to the provision of section 8
rental assistance, including related development activities.
The Senate did not include similar language.
Language proposed by the House is not included to require
the Secretary to recapture certain unspent administrative
fees. The Senate did not include similar language.
The conferees are concerned that neither HUD nor the public
housing agencies complied fully with requirements in the FY
2003 appropriations Act that reduced the payment of section 8
administrative fees to public housing agencies based on the
amount of funds in their administrative fee accounts as of
January 31, 2003. The conferees understand that the amounts
PHAs disclosed to HUD to comply with the requirements of the
Act were far less than expected. Therefore, the conferees
direct GAO to review compliance with the provisions of the
Act. GAO is expected to report on these issues no later than
April 10, 2004, to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations.
Administrative Costs--Project-Based Section 8 Program.--
$100,000,000 for contractors to administer the project-based
section 8 program, the same amount proposed by the House and
Senate.
Working Capital Fund.--Not less than $3,010,000 for
transfer to the Working Capital Fund for the development of
and modifications to information technology systems as
proposed by both the House and the Senate.
The conference agreement does not include a provision
proposed by the Senate bill to designate up to $3,000,000 for
an outside audit of the funds included for the various
programs covered by the Housing Certificate Fund. The House
did not include a similar provision. Instead, the conferees
direct GAO to conduct an audit of this account, including a
review of how funds are accounted for and allocated by
program and activity. The report should identify the sources
and uses for section 8 funds obligated by the Department in
fiscal years 2002 and 2003. In particular, GAO should review
HUD's method of accounting for all programs and activities
covered by this account as well as how public housing
agencies maintain and account for their use of these funds
for each program and activity (including the use of section 8
reserves and how public housing agencies track expenditures).
The final report on the findings in the audit is due to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than
July 15, 2004, and is directed to include recommendations to
improve the quality and timeliness of information as to the
actual costs of each program and activity and the amount of
any carryover or unused funds.
The conferees direct the Department to provide a report to
the Committees on Appropriations no later than April 1, 2004,
on the status of implementation of the Public and Indian
Housing Information Center (PIC).
Language is included as proposed by the House allowing the
Secretary to transfer up to 15 percent of the funds provided
for renewals, the central fund and administrative fees to
supplement amounts provided for renewals and the central fund
under certain circumstances and in accordance with certain
procedures. The Senate proposed similar language.
Includes language permanently requiring all PHAs to submit
accounting data for funds provided under this account in this
Act or any other Act by source of funds and purpose of such
funds as proposed by the Senate. The House did not include
similar language.
Includes language rescinding $2,844,000,000 from
unobligated balances of funds appropriated in fiscal year
2003 and prior years, instead of $1,372,000,000 as proposed
by the House and the Senate. Includes language allowing
unobligated balances in programs governed by reallocation
provisions to be used to meet this rescission as proposed by
the House and the Senate.
PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $2,712,255,000 for the public housing capital
fund as proposed by the House instead of $2,641,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Does not include language proposed by the House and Senate
designating a portion of funds to be allocated only to those
PHAs that have met certain obligation and expenditure
requirements, nor is language included proposed by the House
to nullify such requirements upon publication of a final rule
implementing the obligation and expenditure requirements set
forth in the Quality Housing and Workforce Responsibility Act
of 1998 (QHWRA). The conferees note that the provisions
proposed in both bills were carried in prior appropriations
Acts as an interim procedure to allocate funds to high
performing PHAs until such time as the Department implemented
the timeliness requirements set forth in section 9(j) of
QHWRA. The conferees understand that the Department has
implemented such provisions and will allocate the amounts
provided in fiscal year 2004 in accordance with the
procedures and requirements set forth in such section,
obviating the need for the interim procedures.
Includes modified language, similar to language proposed by
the House and Senate and carried in prior years, regarding
the delegation of waiver authority and the definition of the
term ``obligate''.
Includes $50,000,000 for technical assistance including up
to $13,000,000 for remediation services to certain troubled
PHAs as proposed by the Senate, instead of $51,000,000 for
technical assistance including up to $13,000,000 for
remediation services to troubled PHAs as proposed by the
House.
Includes no less than $10,610,000 for information
technology systems and up to $500,000 for section 23 projects
as proposed by both the House and Senate.
Includes up to $40,000,000 for emergency capital needs
resulting from emergencies or natural disasters in fiscal
year 2004 as proposed by the House. The Senate proposed
similar language.
Includes $15,000,000 for Neighborhood Networks grants to be
awarded on a competitive basis as proposed by the Senate. The
House did not include funding for this purpose. Language is
included, similar to language proposed by the Senate,
requiring such funds to be competitively awarded. The
conferees remind HUD that these funds, and all other funds
provided in this Act, are to be awarded on a competitive
basis in accordance with the requirements set forth in
section 205 under administrative provisions in this title.
The conference agreement does not include $125,000,000 for
a new loan financing program of public housing proposed by
the Senate to be authorized in an administrative provision in
this title. The conferees further understand that 92 PHAs
have successfully utilized $313,556,000 in public housing
funds to leverage $1,012,149,000 in private sector financing
to address capital modernization needs. The conferees
encourage PHAs to continue to pursue such partnerships. The
conferees encourage the authorization committees to explore
additional alternative financing tools to leverage private
sector financing for capital improvements in public housing.
The House did not include similar funding or language.
The conferees reiterate the direction included in the House
report regarding quarterly reports on the obligation and
expenditure of capital funds with the first report due no
later than February 2, 2004.
PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND
Appropriates $3,600,000,000 for the public housing
operating fund as proposed by the House instead of
$3,576,600,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Language is included specifying that funds provided in this
Act are to be used only for 2004 payments to public housing
authorities as proposed by the House. Language is also
included permanently prohibiting funds provided in this Act
and any other Act from being used for payments to public
housing agencies for the operating costs of public housing
for any year prior to the current year of such Act as
proposed by Senate. The House proposed similar language. The
conferees have included such language to ensure that funds
appropriated are used for current year operating subsidies
payments rather than to augment the amount of prior year
operating subsidy payments above the level appropriated in
such year, a previous practice which the Committees have
questioned as a violation of appropriations law.
Language is included making $10,000,000 available for
programs to assist in the investigation, prosecution and
prevention of criminal activities in public housing to be
administered through a reimbursable agreement with the
Department of Justice (DOJ). The conferees expect that HUD
determine, in consultation with DOJ, the priorities in the
allocation of these funds.
REVITALIZATION OF SEVERELY DISTRESSED PUBLIC HOUSING (HOPE VI)
Appropriates $150,000,000 for the revitalization of
severely distressed public housing program (HOPE VI), instead
of $195,115,000 as proposed by the Senate and $50,000,000 as
proposed by the House.
Language is included making funds available for obligation
until September 30, 2005, as proposed by the House, instead
of providing no-year authority as proposed by the Senate.
[[Page 31735]]
Of the amount provided, the conference agreement includes
$4,000,000 for technical assistance, instead of $5,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $3,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Language is not included setting forth certain conditions
and requirements on the recapture of funds from grants
awarded under the HOPE VI program prior to fiscal year 1998
as proposed by the Senate. The House did not address this
matter. The conferees encourage HUD to continue to work with
public housing authorities to ensure timely completion of
projects, but recognize that not all grantees are making such
progress. The conferees understand the Secretary has the
authority to take action against grantees which have failed
to meet the requirements associated with such grants,
including but not limited to, the recapture of funds. The
conferees understand that beginning in March 2002 HUD began
to take a series of actions to improve its oversight of HOPE
VI grantees including developing and implementing enforcement
actions, remedies and penalties for nonperformance. In
addition, a May 2003 General Accounting Office (GAO) review
of HUD's HOPE VI grant selection and oversight processes made
several recommendations including development of a formal
written enforcement policy to hold public housing authorities
accountable for the status of their grants. The conferees
request the Department submit a report to the Committees on
Appropriations, no later than February 1, 2004, which
identifies the changes implemented and planned to improve
HUD's oversight of HOPE VI grantees; the status of each HOPE
VI project funded prior to 1999 and any actions taken to
ensure timely completion of such project; the Department's
plans for implementing the recommendations made by GAO; and
proposed alternative housing strategies to mitigate the
impact of a recapture of funds on residents of failed HOPE VI
projects.
NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANTS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $654,100,000 instead of $661,600,000 as
proposed by the House and $646,600,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Of the total amount, $4,500,000 is for inspections,
training, and technical assistance instead of $5,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $4,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Of the total amount, $2,000,000 is for guaranteed loans to
subsidize a total guaranteed loan principal of up to
$16,658,000 as proposed by the Senate instead of $1,000,000
to subsidize a total loan volume of up to $8,049,000 as
proposed by the House.
The Department is directed to submit the report required by
section 9 of Public Law 107-292 on the extent of black mold
infestation of Native American housing in the United States,
and recommendations to address the infestation, by December
15, 2004.
INDIAN HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $5,300,000 for guaranteed loans for Native
American housing on trust lands to subsidize a total loan
principal of up to $197,243,000 as proposed by the House and
the Senate.
NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $1,035,000 for guaranteed loans for Native
Hawaiian housing to subsidize a total guaranteed loan
principal of up to $39,712,000 as proposed by the Senate
instead of $1,000,000 to subsidize a total loan principal of
up to $35,347,985 as proposed by the House.
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS
Appropriates $296,500,000 for housing opportunities for
persons with AIDS (HOPWA) instead of $302,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $291,000,000 as proposed the Senate.
Language proposed by the Senate to exempt existing grantees
from changes resulting from Federal government-wide changes
in designations in metropolitan statistical areas is not
included. The House did not include a similar provision.
RURAL HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Appropriates $25,000,000 for rural housing and economic
development as proposed by both the House and Senate.
Language is included requiring funds to be awarded
competitively as proposed by the House. The Senate included
similar language. The Department is reminded that these funds
are to be distributed on a competitive basis in accordance
with the requirements set forth in section 205 under
administrative provisions in this title.
EMPOWERMENT ZONES/ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES
Appropriates $15,000,000 for grants to the second round of
empowerment zones as proposed by the House. The Senate did
not include funding for this activity. The conferees expect
the Secretary to implement recommendations from the Inspector
General's audits of the round II empowerment zones and to
provide a report to the Committees not later than March 1,
2004, on the status of the resolution of all audit findings.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $4,950,000,000 for various activities funded
in this account as proposed by the Senate instead of
$4,959,000,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees agree
to the following:
--$4,356,550,000 for formula grants under the Community
Development Block Grant program (CDBG), instead of
$4,538,650,000 as proposed by the House and $4,545,700,000 as
proposed by the Senate;
--$72,000,000 for grants to Indian tribes as proposed by
the House instead of $72,500,000 as proposed by the Senate;
--$3,300,000 for the Housing Assistance Council as proposed
by the House and Senate;
--$2,500,000 for the National American Indian Housing
Council instead of $2,400,000 as proposed by the House and
$2,600,000 as proposed by the Senate;
--$52,000,000 for section 107 grants, instead of
$43,000,000 as proposed by the House and $52,500,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Within the amount provided for
section 107 grants, the conference agreement provides the
following:
$7,000,000 for insular areas;
$10,500,000 for historically black colleges and
universities, of which up to $2,000,000 may be used for
technical assistance;
$3,000,000 for community development work study; $7,000,000
for Hispanic Serving Institutions; $7,000,000 for the
Community Outreach Partnerships program; $3,000,000 for
tribal colleges and universities;
$3,500,000 for Alaska Native-Serving Institutions and
Native HawaiianServing Institutions;
$9,500,000 for assistance under the Hawaiian Homelands
Homeownership Act of 2000; and $1,500,000 for technical
assistance.
--$5,000,000 for the National Housing Development
Corporation for continuation of its program of acquisition,
rehabilitation, and preservation of at-risk affordable
housing, including $2,000,000 for operating expenses as
proposed by the House. The Senate did not propose funding for
this program;
--$5,000,000 for the National Council of La Raza HOPE Fund,
of which $500,000 is for technical assistance and fund
management and $4,500,000 is for investments and financing as
proposed by the House. The Senate did not propose funding for
this program;
--$27,000,000 for grants to eligible grantees under section
11 of the Self-Help Housing Opportunity Program (SHOP),
instead of $28,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$12,000,000 as proposed by the Senate;
--$34,750,000 for capacity building, of which $30,000,000
is for the Community Development and Affordable Housing
program for LISC and the Enterprise Foundation for activities
as authorized by section 4 of the Department of Housing and
Urban Development Demonstration Act, as in effect before June
12, 1997, including $5,000,000 for rural areas; and of which
$4,750,000 is for Habitat for Humanity International. The
House proposed $33,250,000 for capacity building including
$28,250,000 for LISC and the Enterprise Foundation and
$5,000,000 for Habitat for Humanity; and the Senate proposed
$35,500,000 for such activities including $31,500,000 for
LISC and the Enterprise Foundation and $4,000,000 for Habitat
for Humanity. The conferees direct that the increase provided
above the fiscal year 2003 level for Habitat for Humanity be
used to expand the ability of Indian tribes to participate in
SHOP and other Habitat for Humanity programs;
--$65,000,000 for YouthBuild as proposed by the House
instead of $60,000,000 as proposed by the Senate;
--$278,000,000 for economic development initiatives instead
of $137,500,000 as proposed by the House and $140,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Language is included prohibiting
funds from being used for program operations as proposed by
the House. The Senate did not include a similar provision.
The conferees note that projects receiving funds must comply
with the environmental review requirements set forth in
section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property
Disposition Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 3547). The conferees will
not entertain waivers of such requirements. In addition,
funds provided for projects shall not be used for
reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the receipt of
economic development initiative funding. Modified language is
included, similar to language proposed by the House and
Senate, to target funds made available under this program.
Targeted grants shall be made as follows:
1. $25,000 to the 21st Century Council Impact Learning
Center in Jackson County, Alabama for completion of facility
build out;
2. $50,000 to the Huntsville Achievement School in
Huntsville, Alabama for completion of facility renovations;
3. $75,000 to the Children's Museum of the Shoals in
Florence, Alabama for planning and design of a Native
American exhibit;
4. $75,000 to the City of Uniontown, Alabama for renovation
of the old Uniontown Middle School;
5. $100,000 to Boaz, Alabama for construction and
renovation for the Boaz Community Activities Center;
6. $100,000 to the City of Luverne, Alabama for sidewalks,
street furniture and facade improvements;
7. $100,000 to the Madison County Commission for
construction of the Woody Anderson Library in Monrovia,
Alabama;
[[Page 31736]]
8. $200,000 to the City of Opelika, Alabama for
rehabilitation of the historic Dallas Armory;
9. $200,000 to the Burritt Center in Huntsville, Alabama
for building construction;
10. $250,000 to Lamar County, Alabama for Industrial Park
site development;
11. $250,000 to Guntersville, Alabama for renovation of the
Community Cultural Arts Center;
12. $300,000 to Wallace Community College in Dothan,
Alabama for facilities construction and renovations for the
Southeast Alabama Nursing Initiative;
13. $300,000 to the City of Huntsville, Alabama for
streetscape, beautification and greenways improvements;
14. $400,000 to Arab, Alabama for construction of a senior
center;
15. $500,000 to the National Children's Advocacy Center in
Huntsville, Alabama for facilities planning and improvements;
16. $900,000 to Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama for
construction of a new library;
17. $75,000 to the Bishop State Community College in
Mobile, Alabama for construction of a business technology
center;
18. $150,000 for the Selma Downtown Revitalization Project
in Selma, Alabama;
19. $4,000,000 for construction of the Parnell Memorial
Library in Montevallo, Alabama;
20. $3,000,000 for the City of Tuscaloosa for the 21st
Avenue Urban Renewal Project in Tuscaloosa, Alabama;
21. $400,000 for the University of South Alabama for
improvements related to the Mitchell College of Business
Library in Mobile, Alabama;
22. $75,000 for the Elmore County Economic Development
Authority for business and economic development activities in
Elmore County, Alabama;
23. $100,000 for the City of Millport, Alabama for
construction costs associated with the Regional Cultural
Center;
24. $200,000 for the Tuscaloosa County Commission for
Community Development in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama;
25. $100,000 for the Montgomery Boys and Girls Club,
Alabama for facility improvements;
26. $250,000 for the City of Fairhope, Alabama for
construction of the Fairhope Library;
27. $100,000 for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention
and Visitors Bureau for furnishing of the Visitors Center in
Huntsville, Alabama;
28. $475,000 for the Crenshaw County Economic/Industrial
Development Authority for industrial site preparation in
Crenshaw County, Alabama;
29. $100,000 for the Rockford Council of Arts and Crafts
for renovation of the Old Rockford School in Rockford,
Alabama;
30. $150,000 for the City of Eufaula, Alabama for the Broad
Street Revitalization project;
31. $100,000 for the City of Northport, Alabama for
community development;
32. $1,000,000 for the Anchorage Museum, Anchorage, Alaska
for facilities expansion;
33. $30,000 for the City of Palmer, Alaska for public
facility improvements;
34. $200,000 for the City of North Pole, Alaska for
recreation improvements;
35. $150,000 for Juneau, Alaska for port facilities;
36. $500,000 for the Bering Straits Native Corporation for
the Cape Nome quarry upgrade, Nome, Alaska;
37. $1,000,000 for the Tongass Coast Aquarium, Ketchikan,
Alaska for improvements;
38. $750,000 for the J.P. Jones Community Development
Center, Fairbanks, Alaska for improvements;
39. $400,000 for Love, Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska for a social
service facility;
40. $1,000,000 for Cordova, Alaska costs associated with
the construction of a community center;
41. $750,000 for the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Kenai, Alaska
for recreation facilities;
42. $500,000 for the City of Sitka, Alaska for the Sawmill
Cove jobs center;
43. $500,000 for the Valdez Senior Center, Valdez, Alaska
for improvements;
44. $150,000 for the Anchorage Economic Development
Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska for a global logistics center;
45. $250,000 for the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum,
Anchorage for improvements;
46. $175,000 to the City of Phoenix, Arizona for design and
construction of the Rio Salado Audubon Nature Center;
47. $200,000 to the Town of Guadalupe, Arizona for
construction and renovation to the Mercado shopping center;
48. $900,000 to the Dunbar Coalition, Inc. for renovation
of facilities for the African-American Historical Museum and
Cultural Center in Tucson, Arizona;
49. $75,000 to the Bullion Plaza Museum Association in
Miami, Arizona for renovation of the museum building;
50. $75,000 to Arkansas State University Mountain Home for
construction of the Vada Sheid Community Development Center;
51. $75,000 to the Old Independence Regional Museum in
Arkansas for facilities renovation;
52. $75,000 to Arkansas State University Newport for
facilities construction at the commercial driver training
range;
53. $75,000 to the Camden Boys and Girls Club in Camden,
Arkansas for construction of recreational facilities;
54. $270,000 for the City of Conway, Arkansas for downtown
revitalization;
55. $75,000 to the Bryant Youth Association in Bryant,
Arkansas for land acquisition and construction of a Boys and
Girls Club facility;
56. $150,000 to North Arkansas College in Harrison,
Arkansas for construction of the Conference and Training
Center;
57. $500,000 for the Central Arkansas Resource Conservation
and Development Council in Helena, Arkansas for the Cherry
Street Historic Preservation Project;
58. $250,000 for the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas for
streetscapes improvements to Garrison Avenue;
59. $250,000 for the Studio for the Arts in Pocahontas,
Arkansas for construction of a theatre;
60. $75,000 to the East Valley YMCA in North Hollywood,
California for facilities renovation;
61. $75,000 to the Valley Family Center in the San Fernando
Valley, California for facilities construction;
62. $75,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of San Fernando
Valley, California for facilities renovation;
63. $75,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Oxnard
and Port Hueneme in California for structural facility
improvements;
64. $75,000 to the City of Oxnard, California for design
and construction of an addition to the public library;
65. $75,000 to Daguhoy Lodge in Stockton, California for
facility restoration;
66. $75,000 to the City of Long Beach, California for
renovation of the Museum of Latin American Art;
67. $75,000 to the City of Alhambra, California for
renovation of recreational facilities;
68. $75,000 to the City of Covina, California for
renovation of a facility for the homeless;
69. $75,000 to the City of West Covina, California for
construction of a regional community center;
70. $75,000 to the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese
Community Center in California for construction of a social
hall;
71. $90,000 to the City of Fontana, California for
acquisition and construction needs at Jack Bulik Park;
72. $100,000 to the City of Simi Valley, California for
buildout and upgrades for the Simi Valley Senior Citizens
Center;
73. $100,000 to North County Solutions for Change for the
Futures for Families project to construct regional
transitional housing in San Diego, California;
74. $100,000 to Search to Involve Pilipino Americans in Los
Angeles, California for facilities renovation at the Royal
Morales Pilipino American Community and Cultural Center;
75. $100,000 to the Valley Economic Development Center,
Inc. in Los Angeles, California for building renovation as
part of the Highland Park Commercial Revitalization project;
76. $100,000 to Santa Clara University in California for
planning and design for construction of the `Information
Commons';
77. $100,000 to the City of Palo Alto, California for
children's library renovations;
78. $100,000 to the City of La Puente, California for
construction to expand the city's youth learning center;
79. $100,000 to the County of Los Angeles, California for
planning and construction of a cultural and performing arts
center at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park;
80. $100,000 to the City of Huntington Park, California for
development of a downtown redevelopment master plan;
81. $100,000 to ONEgeneration in the San Fernando Valley,
California for construction of an intergenerational daycare
center;
82. $100,000 to the City of West Sacramento, California for
construction of the Collins Teen Center;
83. $100,000 to the City of Woodland, California for
parking construction;
84. $125,000 to the City of San Jose, California for
construction of a youth facility;
85. $125,000 to the City of Anaheim, California for land
acquisition to expand the La Palma Park;
86. $150,000 to Food Share, Inc. for facilities expansion
and construction for a community kitchen in Ventura County,
California;
87. $150,000 to the City of Oceanside, California for
construction of a senior citizens center;
88. $150,000 to the City of Lancaster, California for
development of a Regional Youth Baseball Complex;
89. $150,000 to the City of Long Beach, California for
construction of multi-use facilities at the Stearns Park
Community Center;
90. $150,000 to the East Los Angeles YMCA in Los Angeles,
California for facilities renovation;
91. $1,000,000 to the City of Inglewood, California for
design and construction of a senior center;
92. $150,000 to the City of Lawndale, California for design
and construction of a library;
93. $175,000 to the Rio Linda Union School District in
North Highlands, California for construction of the Oakdale
Community Center;
94. $175,000 to Goodwill Industries of Sacramento,
California for construction of a community training center;
95. $200,000 to the City of San Francisco, California for
facility renovation to house emancipated foster children;
[[Page 31737]]
96. $225,000 to the City of Corona, California for
construction of the Corona Community Center;
97. $225,000 to the City of Redding, California for
property acquisition and site preparation for the Stillwater
Business Park;
98. $225,000 to the City of Adelanto, California for
construction of a retail shopping center;
99. $225,000 to the City of Lancaster, California for
construction of public recreation facilities, parking
facilities and property acquisition for the North Downtown
Transit Village Project;
100. $225,000 to the City of Diamond Bar, California for
construction of a senior center;
101. $225,000 to the City of Citrus Heights, California for
streetscape improvements along the Auburn Boulevard
Commercial Corridor;
102. $225,000 to the Town of Groveland, California for
purchase of a youth center;
103. $225,000 to the Mission Preservation Foundation in San
Juan Capistrano, California for the Great Stone Church
restoration project;
104. $225,000 to Sonoma State University in California for
construction of the Green Music Center;
105. $275,000 to the City of Westminster, California for
construction of a community cultural and education center;
106. $275,000 to Kern County, California for infrastructure
improvements for the Imperial Way Industrial Park;
107. $400,000 for Shelter from the Storm, Inc. in Palm
Desert, California for facilities renovations and
improvements;
108. $300,000 to the City of Lincoln, California for the
design and construction of a Cultural and Business Center;
109. $300,000 to the City of Santa Monica, California for
renovation of a historic structure for use as a visitors
center;
110. $300,000 for Vanguard University in Costa Mesa,
California for facilities upgrades and equipment for a
science center;
111. $325,000 to the City of Salinas, California for
construction of a swimming pool;
112. $350,000 to the Palomar YMCA in Escondido, California
for construction of an aquatics facility;
113. $350,000 to the International Agri-Center in Tulare,
California for improvements to the Heritage Complex Learning
Center and to continued construction of a new exhibit
pavilion;
114. $400,000 to the City of Atascadero, California for
facilities renovation for a Youth Recreation Center;
115. $450,000 to the City of Monrovia, California for site
preparation at the Santa Anita and Sawpit Channels for
economic development activities;
116. $450,000 to Los Angeles County, California for the
construction of a new library;
117. $450,000 to the City of La Mesa, California for
facilities construction for the La Mesa PARKS Project;
118. $450,000 to the City of Desert Hot Springs, California
for facilities construction for a civic and community center;
119. $450,000 to the City of Tracy, California for
construction of the Tracy Youth Sports Facility;
120. $1,000,000 to the California Academy of Sciences in
San Francisco, California for renovation of its facility;
121. $500,000 to the Town of Apple Valley, California for
Phase One of Civic Center Park;
122. $250,000 for the City of San Francisco, California for
the Old Mint redevelopment project;
123. $750,000 for the City of San Diego, California for the
construction of low income housing;
124. $250,000 for the City of Orange Cove, California for
the Commercial Redevelopment Project;
125. $250,000 for the City of East Palo Alto, California to
build a new town civic center;
126. $275,000 to the City of Aurora, Colorado for
facilities renovation and construction for the Fitzsimmons
Commons;
127. $1,000,000 for Fort Westernaire, Golden, Colorado for
the expansion of the Westernaire museum;
128. $200,000 for YouthBiz, Inc., Denver, Colorado for
construction needs related to an inner-city youth business
training program;
129. $1,000,000 for Colorado UpLift, Denver, Colorado for
construction needs related to a program benefiting ``at-
risk'' inner-city youth in Denver;
130. $1,000,000 for the Denver Art Museum, Colorado for
continued design and development of the Center for American
Indian Art;
131. $200,000 for the City of Arvada, Colorado for the
design phase of the community's arts and humanities center;
132. $500,000 for Mercy Housing, Inc., Denver, Colorado for
the development of affordable housing in Durango, Colorado;
133. $90,000 to the University of Hartford in Hartford,
Connecticut for building renovation to house the Hartt School
Performing Arts Center;
134. $90,000 to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in
Hartford, Connecticut for facility renovation and expansion;
135. $100,000 to Wesleyan University in Middletown,
Connecticut for facilities renovation of a former school;
136. $100,000 to the Town of North Haven, Connecticut for
streetscape improvements in the Montowese area;
137. $100,000 to the City of West Haven, Connecticut for
streetscape improvements along Campbell Avenue;
138. $200,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower
Naugatuck Valley in Ansonia, Connecticut for facilities
renovation;
139. $225,000 to the Town of Enfield, Connecticut for
construction of the Family Resource Center;
140. $500,000 to the Charles D. Smith, Jr. Foundation for
facilities construction for the Stratfield Avenue
Redevelopment Project in Bridgeport, Connecticut;
141. $500,000 for the City of Hartford, Connecticut for the
Hartford Home Ownership Initiative;
142. $250,000 for the Southside Institutions Neighborhood
Alliance, Hartford, Connecticut for rehabilitation of
dilapidated housing stock;
143. $275,000 for the Beebe Medical Center in Lewes,
Delaware for facilities expansion;
144. $225,000 to Easter Seals, Delaware and Maryland's
Eastern Shore for construction of a new facility in
Georgetown, Delaware;
145. $500,000 for Sacred Heart Village, Inc., Wilmington,
Delaware to complete the construction of an affordable
housing facility for seniors;
146. $500,000 for the Wilmington Senior Center, Wilmington,
Delaware for renovations for the Lafayette Court senior
apartments;
147. $200,000 to Arena Stage in Washington, District of
Columbia for design and construction of a new facility;
148. $275,000 to the Good Samaritan Foundation in the
District of Columbia for acquisition and construction of the
Anacostia Training and Outreach Center;
149. $300,000 to Gonzaga High School in Washington,
District of Columbia for facilities renovation and
construction;
150. $450,000 for Food and Friends of Washington, District
of Columbia for facilities buildout and equipment;
151. $250,000 for the Greater Washington Urban League, in
Washington, District of Columbia for renovations to their new
headquarters;
152. $100,000 to the Sebring Airport Authority, Florida for
planning for the development of a light industrial/commercial
business park;
153. $1,000,000 for facilities construction for Tampa Bay
Watch in Florida;
154. $100,000 to the City of St. Petersburg, Florida for
facilities expansion for the Museum of History;
155. $100,000 to Lake Mary, Florida for a downtown
development improvement program;
156. $100,000 to the City of St. Petersburg, Florida for
restoration of the Jordan School;
157. $125,000 to the George Washington Carver Community
Center in Crystal River area, Florida for facilities
construction;
158. $150,000 to Mainstreet Fort Pierce, Inc. for the
restoration and renovation of the Sunrise Theatre building in
Fort Pierce, Florida;
159. $200,000 to the City of Ocoee, Florida for
construction of a senior citizen/veterans services facility;
160. $200,000 to the City of Clearwater, Florida for the
Homeless Intervention Project;
161. $225,000 to the Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton,
Florida for facilities reconstruction and restoration;
162. $250,000 to Osceola County, Florida for construction
of a homeless shelter to be operated by Transition House in
Kissimmee, Florida;
163. $200,000 to St. Cloud, Florida for a special needs
evacuation, senior, multipurpose center;
164. $300,000 to the Mainstreet DeLand Association in
DeLand, Florida for the Athens Theatre Renovation project;
165. $300,000 for facilities expansion of the Dali Museum
in St. Petersburg, Florida;
166. $300,000 for the expansion of Ruth Eckerd Hall in
Clearwater, Florida;
167. $200,000 to Orange County, Florida for construction of
a senior center;
168. $350,000 to Central Florida Community College in
Ocala, Florida for construction for an Information Technology
Center;
169. $300,000 to Pinellas County, Florida for the
renovation of an aviation high technology facility;
170. $350,000 to Pinellas County, Florida for facilities
construction for a folk cultural center;
171. $450,000 to the City of Boca Raton, Florida for
streetscape improvements for the implementation of the Pearl
City Master Plan;
172. $450,000 to the City of Clearwater, Florida for
waterfront facilities construction of the ``Beach by Design
Initiative'';
173. $500,000 to the City of St. Petersburg, Florida for
land acquisition, relocation, demolition and conveyance for
the Midtown retail redevelopment project;
174. $500,000 to the City of St. Petersburg, Florida for
Dome Industrial and Jordan Park facilities renovation and
construction;
175. $775,000 for facilities construction for the Stetson
University College of Law, Tampa, Florida campus;
176. $900,000 to South Florida Goodwill in Miami, Florida
for facilities renovations and upgrades;
177. $1,000,000 for construction and redevelopment of the
Historic Carlington (Roosevelt) Hotel in Jacksonville,
Florida to include residential and commercial property;
[[Page 31738]]
178. $875,000 for Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida
for the expansion of the Youth Opportunity and Development
Center;
179. $1,400,000 to the City of Dunedin, Florida for
construction of recreation center facilities;
180. $300,000 for Miami-Dade County, Florida for the
construction of the Miami-Dade County Performing Arts Center;
181. $350,000 for Volusia County, Florida for the
construction of a community performing arts center;
182. $425,000 for the City of Coral Gables, Florida for the
Biltmore Complex Restoration Project;
183. $75,000 to the Town of Lumpkin, Georgia for Westville
Village's History Alive building restoration;
184. $75,000 to the City of Richland Downtown Development
Authority in Richland, Georgia for renovation of the Old
Richland Hotel;
185. $75,000 to Thomasville, Georgia for Historic Douglas
High School Alumni Association Complex renovation;
186. $75,000 to the University of Georgia for facility
buildout to support a program to support southwest Georgia
value-added product development;
187. $275,000 to DeKalb County, Georgia for planning and
construction of a senior center;
188. $100,000 to the City of Macon, Georgia for renovation
of the historic Coca-Cola building;
189. $100,000 to the Tubman Museum, in Macon, Georgia for
building construction;
190. $75,000 to the Clayton County, Georgia Board of
Commissioners for planning and construction of a senior
center in Jonesboro;
191. $100,000 to the City of Plains, Georgia for the
construction and facilities buildout at the Rural History
Resource Center;
192. $100,000 to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in
Dougherty County, Georgia for building renovation;
193. $400,000 to Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta,
Georgia for land acquisition and building expansion;
194. $100,000 to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia for
construction of facilities to house the African American
Archival Program;
195. $100,000 to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia for
construction of a performing arts center;
196. $115,000 to Albany, Georgia for renovation and
construction of the Faith Community Outreach Center
Incorporated, and renovation of the kitchen at the SOWEGA
Council of Aging's Site One Senior Kitchen;
197. $150,000 to the Joint Development Authority of Ben
Hill and Irwin Counties, Georgia for parkland enhancements
for Fitzgerald Millennium Technology Pointe;
198. $160,000 for the Pine Mountain Beautification and
Economic Development project in Harris County, Georgia for
streetscape improvements;
199. $225,000 to the City of Monticello, Georgia for
recreational facilities improvements and pedestrian pathways
for the development of Funderburg Park;
200. $225,000 to Cobb County, Georgia for construction of
the South Cobb Regional Library;
201. $275,000 to the City of Powder Springs, Georgia for
refurbishment of the Coach George E. Ford Center;
202. $325,000 to the Golden Harvest Food Banks in Augusta,
Georgia for facilities construction and improvements for the
``Feed the People'' campaign;
203. $360,000 to Columbus, Georgia for land acquisition for
the Wilson Camp project;
204. $525,000 to the City of Moultrie, Georgia for
demolition and initial construction of the Swift property;
205. $100,000 to the City of Atlanta, Georgia for
renovation and restoration of the historic Paschal's
restaurant and motel;
206. $130,000 to the Waianae, Hawaii YMCA for facilities
construction;
207. $500,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii,
Nanakuli, Hawaii for the planning and construction of a new
facility;
208. $500,000 for the Oahu Continuum of Care, Wainae,
Hawaii for the construction and renovation of permanent
supportive housing;
209. $500,000 for the Hawaii Nature Center, Wailuku, Hawaii
for the Maui Renovation Project;
210. $500,000 for the County of Kauai, Hawaii for a
technology training facility in Kauai, Hawaii;
211. $250,000 for the Kapahulu Senior Center, Honolulu,
Hawaii for improvements and renovations to the senior center;
212. $900,000 for the Clearwater Economic Development
Association, Idaho, to continue implementation of a Lewis and
Clark Bicentennial commemoration plan;
213. $300,000 to Franklin County, Idaho for the moving,
renovation, restoration of the Oneida Stake Academy building
in Preston, Idaho;
214. $700,000 to Idaho State University for facilities
construction for the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing
Arts Center;
215. $100,000 to the University of Idaho for planning and
design of the Lionel Hampton Center;
216. $800,000 for Boise State University, Idaho, for
construction on an Environmental Science and Economic
Development Building;
217. $900,000 for the City of Salmon, Idaho, for expansion
of the Sacajawea Cultural and Arts Center expansion;
218. $900,000 for the University of Idaho, for construction
related to a Performance and Education Facility;
219. $75,000 to Lawrence Hall Youth Services in Chicago,
Illinois for facility construction;
220. $100,000 for the Tazewell-Woodford Head Start program
in East Peoria, Illinois for the continued construction of a
new facility;
221. $100,000 to the Southeast Chicago Development
Commission in Chicago, Illinois for building construction for
a shopping center;
222. $150,000 to the Canal Corridor Association for the
Port of LaSalle Project in LaSalle, Illinois including
construction of an outdoor interpretive center, a replica
mule barn, and construction of a lock-tender's house;
223. $175,000 to the Rebirth of Englewood Community
Development Corporation in Chicago, Illinois for purchase and
renovation of a building to serve as a community center;
224. $200,000 to the Northfield Park District, Illinois for
facilities renovation and rehabilitation;
225. $225,000 for the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois
for construction of a new visitor center;
226. $225,000 for the Rialto Square Theater in Joliet,
Illinois for facilities restoration and improvements;
227. $250,000 for Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln,
Illinois for the restoration of the Earl C. Hargrove
Auditorium;
228. $250,000 to the Village of Homewood, Illinois for
purchase and renovation of the Canadian National Railroad
Depot;
229. $250,000 to Western Springs Park District, Illinois
for construction of a storage facility and park amphitheater;
230. $650,000 to Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois for
renovation of Bradley Hall;
231. $700,000 to the City of DeKalb, Illinois for
revitalization of East Lincoln Highway including building
rehabilitation, streetscape improvements and beautification;
232. $1,000,000 to Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical
Center in Chicago, Illinois for facilities construction;
233. $150,000 for the Center for the Prevention of Abuse in
Peoria, Illinois for the construction of a facility;
234. $500,000 for the City of Peoria, Illinois for
construction on a proposed medical/technical district in
Peoria, Illinois;
235. $500,000 for Access Living, Chicago, Illinois for the
construction of a new community service facility;
236. $350,000 for Children's Advocacy Center, Chicago,
Illinois for costs associated with expansion;
237. $200,000 for the City of Des Plaines, Illinois for
infrastructure improvements;
238. $100,000 for the Merit School of Music in Chicago,
Illinois for facility improvements;
239. $300,000 for the Chicago Department of Cultural
Affairs, Illinois for restoration of the Chicago Cultural
Center Domes;
240. $250,000 for the City of East Moline, Illinois for
necessary upgrades to infrastructure for economic development
purposes, including the Quarter project and revitalization of
the central business district;
241. $200,000 for improvements to the Field Museum,
Chicago, Illinois;
242. $200,000 for Manteno Township, Manteno, Illinois for
economic redevelopment activities;
243. $250,000 for the City of Springfield, Illinois for
infrastructure improvements to support economic development;
244. $200,000 to the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana for
renovation of the Carnegie Library;
245. $300,000 to the City of Anderson, Indiana for
facilities construction of the Anderson Business Development
Center;
246. $200,000 to the African American Achievers Youth
Corporation in Gary, Indiana for renovation of the Glen
Theater;
247. $300,000 to the University of Saint Francis in Fort
Wayne, Indiana for construction and buildout of the proposed
Professional Development Center;
248. $400,000 to the City of South Bend, Indiana for site
acquisition and demolition for the Studebaker Corridor
redevelopment initiative;
249. $500,000 to the James Whitcombe Riley Hospital for
Children in Indianapolis, Indiana for the expansion and
renovation of the Children's Emergency and Trauma Center;
250. $600,000 to North Township, Indiana for renovation and
construction of recreational facilities, parking, lighting
and landscaping improvements at Wicker Memorial Park;
251. $500,000 for the University of Saint Francis in Fort
Wayne, Indiana for facilities construction for the Health
Sciences Resource Library;
252. $800,000 for the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana for the
expansion of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center;
253. $200,000 for the Indiana Association of Cities and
Towns, Indianapolis, Indiana for downtown revitalization;
254. $350,000 for the Delaware County Commissioners, City
of Muncie, Indiana for building improvements to the
Fairgrounds facilities;
[[Page 31739]]
255. $100,000 to the Family Violence Center in Des Moines,
Iowa for facilities renovation;
256. $100,000 to the Town of Grinnell, Iowa for restoration
and rehabilitation of downtown buildings;
257. $150,000 for the North Central Iowa Regional Solid
Waste to Energy Facility in Fort Dodge, Iowa for facilities
construction;
258. $450,000 to Systems Unlimited, Inc. located in Iowa
City, Iowa for facilities construction;
259. $300,000 for the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa for the
23rd Avenue Housing Project;
260. $250,000 for the Scott County Housing Council,
Davenport, Iowa for the construction and rehabilitation of
housing;
261. $200,000 for the Iowa Department of Economic
Development for the enhancement of regional economic
development capabilities;
262. $250,000 for the Mid America Housing Partnership in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the housing trust fund;
263. $100,000 for the Iowa State Fair Board in Des Moines,
Iowa for a statewide awareness and education/exhibit;
264. $280,000 for the City of Waterloo, Iowa for the John
Deere brownfield and bio-based incubator project;
265. $300,000 for the Witwer Senior Center, Cedar Rapids,
Iowa for facility expansion and renovation;
266. $600,000 for the City of Clinton, Iowa for the Liberty
Square brownfields redevelopment project;
267. $1,000,000 for the Hunter Clinic in Wichita, Kansas
for construction;
268. $2,000,000 to Catholic Housing of Wyandotte County,
Kansas for development and improvements in the St. Peter/
Waterway/Strawberry Hill Redevelopment Project;
269. $175,000 to the Wichita Art Museum in Wichita, Kansas
for facilities renovation, construction and improvements for
the second Art Investigation Gallery;
270. $200,000 to Sedan, Kansas for renovation of the
historic Bradford Hotel;
271. $500,000 for Railroad Heritage, Inc. for construction
costs associated with the Great Overland Station Renovation
and Restoration Project in Topeka, Kansas;
272. $1,000,000 for the El Zocalo Hispanic Community
Center, Wichita, Kansas for construction costs;
273. $75,000 to the Louisville Jefferson County
Metropolitan Government, Kentucky for the renovation of the
Sun Valley Community Center;
274. $100,000 to the Fivco Area Development District in
Kentucky for construction of a multipurpose facility at
EastPark;
275. $100,000 for North Star Productions, Inc. in Bracken
County, Kentucky for construction of an amphitheater;
276. $200,000 to the City of Renfro Valley, Kentucky for
construction of a municipal conference and civic center;
277. $225,000 to Cumberland College in Williamsburg,
Kentucky for renovation of the campus science complex;
278. $225,000 to the London-Laurel County Tourism
Committee, Kentucky for construction of the Blue-Gray Civil
War Theme Park;
279. $225,000 to Casey County, Kentucky for development and
engineering for the Agricultural and Exposition Center;
280. $450,000 to the Center for Rural Development in
Somerset, Kentucky for facilities renovation and expansion;
281. $925,000 to the Louisville Medical Center Development
Corporation for property acquisition for development of a
research park in Louisville, Kentucky;
282. $250,000 for the YMCA of Franklin, Kentucky for
facilities construction;
283. $3,000,000 for the H.L. Neblett Center in Owensboro/
Daviess County, Kentucky for the construction of a new
facility;
284. $500,000 for the Crittenden County Economic
Development Corporation in Marion, Kentucky, for the Marion/
Crittenden County Technology-Economic Development Training
Center;
285. $100,000 for Harrison County, Kentucky for
improvements to the Harrison County Courthouse;
286. $400,000 for Hopkinsville, Kentucky for construction
related to the Hopkinsville' Christian County Conference and
Convention Center;
287. $500,000 for the Louisville Science Center, Kentucky
for renovation and construction related to the Science
Education Wing;
288. $50,000 to St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana for
construction of a veterans memorial;
289. $75,000 to the Downtown Development District in New
Orleans, Louisiana for sidewalk replacements and
enhancements;
290. $125,000 to the Town of Ferriday, Louisiana for Main
Street streetscape work;
291. $500,000 for Alexandria Central Economic Development
District, Louisiana for an economic revitalization study and
revitalization of the Red River waterfront;
292. $200,000 to the Amistad Research Center at Tulane
University in New Orleans, Louisiana for facilities
restoration of the Tilden Library to house Center records;
293. $225,000 to the Town of New Roads, Louisiana
facilities construction and renovation, and sidewalks, street
furniture and facade improvements;
294. $450,000 to the National Center for Community Renewal
for facilities renovation and expansion in Shreveport,
Louisiana;
295. $450,000 to the Audubon Nature Institute for
facilities construction in Baton Rouge and New Orleans,
Louisiana;
296. $500,000 for PACE Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana
for the renovation of a building for a senior adult day
center;
297. $750,000 for the State of Louisiana for the Poverty
Point restoration project;
298. $250,000 to the Biomedical Research Foundation for the
InterTech Science Park, Louisiana;
299. $100,000 for the Comprehensive Central City Initiative
of New Orleans, Inc., Louisiana for neighborhood
revitalization;
300. $200,000 for the City of Opelousas, Louisiana for the
redevelopment of the historic downtown district;
301. $100,000 for the City of Bogalusa, Louisiana for
recreation improvements;
302. $100,000 for facility improvements at the American
Rose Center in Shreveport, Louisiana;
303. $100,000 to the Maine Environmental Research Institute
(MERI) in Blue Hill, Maine for facilities renovation;
304. $100,000 to Rumford Hospital in Maine for facility
renovation;
305. $500,000 for the City of Caribou, Maine to improve and
repair gymnasium and related facilities in the Armory
building;
306. $125,000 for the Center Theater for the Performing
Arts in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine to improve and repair the
Center Theater;
307. $125,000 for the Town of Fort Fairfield, Maine to
improve and repair the Armory facility;
308. $220,000 for the University of Maine (Jonesboro and
Orono), Blueberry Hill Farm to renovate the blueberry
research facility;
309. $200,000 for the Central Maine Technical College-
Western Maine University and Technical Center, South Paris,
Maine to assist in development of technical college center;
310. $250,000 for the City of Bangor, Maine for further
development of the Penobscot Riverfront Park;
311. $250,000 for the City of Brewer, Maine to assist the
city's shoreline stabilization project;
312. $120,000 for Sagadahoc County, Maine to repair granite
steps at the Sagadahoc County Courthouse;
313. $210,000 for the Town of Thomaston, Maine to fund
construction of sidewalk in business district;
314. $600,000 for the City of Baltimore, Maryland for the
Main Streets Initiative project;
315. $100,000 for the Baltimore Child Abuse Center in
Baltimore, Maryland for building renovations;
316. $500,000 for the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore,
Maryland for building renovations;
317. $250,000 for the Great Blacks in Wax Museum in
Baltimore, Maryland for the Museum Expansion Project;
318. $250,000 for Harford County, Maryland for the Havre de
Grace Youth & Senior Center;
319. $500,000 for Howard County, Maryland for
Revitalization of the Route 1 Corridor;
320. $750,000 for Montgomery County, Maryland for
pedestrian linkages in Silver Spring;
321. $300,000 for the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland for
the Gaithersburg Youth Center;
322. $650,000 for Prince George's County, Maryland to
develop an African American Cultural & Community Center in
the Gateway Arts District;
323. $300,000 for Washington County, Maryland for the
Smithsburg Library;
324. $260,000 for the City of Laurel, Maryland for
improvements to Route 1;
325. $65,000 for the Woodlawn Community Education &
Development Association in Baltimore County, Maryland for the
Woodlawn Community Auditorium Project;
326. $320,000 for the City of District Heights, Maryland
for facade and building renovations in the city's commercial
area;
327. $75,000 to the City of Rockville, Maryland for
construction of a park at King Mill;
328. $90,000 to the Melwood Horticultural Training Center
in Prince George's County, Maryland for facilities
renovation;
329. $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater
Washington in Silver Spring, Maryland for purchase of the
D.C. Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Club facility;
330. $150,000 to the Olney Theatre for the Arts in Olney,
Maryland for construction of a theater;
331. $160,000 to the Bowie Regional Arts Vision Association
in Bowie, Maryland for construction of a new community
theater;
332. $175,000 to the 20th Street H.O.P.E. House in
Baltimore, Maryland for facilities expansion and renovation;
333. $200,000 to the Gateway Arts District along the Route
1 Corridor in the areas covering the communities of Mount
Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood and Hyattsville in Prince
George's County, Maryland;
334. $350,000 for the National Federation of the Blind
Research and Training Institute in Baltimore, Maryland for
facilities construction;
335. $100,000 to YMCA Camp Letts in Anne Arundel County,
Maryland for facilities upgrades and related improvements;
336. $50,000 to the Chelsea Green Space and Recreation
Committee in Massachusetts for construction of a park,
including a boardwalk and benches;
337. $75,000 to the Town of Randolph, Massachusetts for the
rehabilitation of the historic Stetson Town Hall;
[[Page 31740]]
338. $100,000 to the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club in
Roxbury, Massachusetts for renovation of the Roxbury
Clubhouse;
339. $100,000 to Salem State College in Salem,
Massachusetts for construction of a theatre;
340. $100,000 to the Essex National Heritage Commission for
Community Resource in Massachusetts for development of a plan
for a visitors services and archives center;
341. $325,000 for Main South Community Development
Corporation, Worcester, Massachusetts for the Gardner-Kilby
Hammond Neighborhood Revitalization Project;
342. $175,000 to the Lawrence, Massachusetts Boys and Girls
Club for recreational facilities renovations;
343. $300,000 to the City of Springfield, Massachusetts for
design development and renovation of an existing public
market;
344. $700,000 to Springfield College, in Springfield,
Massachusetts for planning and construction of a field house;
345. $300,000 to North Adams, Massachusetts for renovation
of the North Adams Armory into a community center;
346. $200,000 to Greenfield, Massachusetts for renovation
of the First National Bank Building;
347. $350,000 to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and
Health Sciences in Worcester, Massachusetts for construction
of new multi-use education facilities;
348. $200,000 to Holyoke Community College in Holyoke,
Massachusetts for land acquisition;
349. $150,000 for the City of Boston, Massachusetts for the
City of Boston Affordable Housing Environmental Remediation
Project;
350. $100,000 for the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund, Boston,
Massachusetts for the planning, design and implementation of
a memorial;
351. $100,000 for St. Mary's College in Orchard Lake,
Michigan for renovation of library and dormitory facilities;
352. $125,000 for Lawrence Tech in Southfield, Michigan for
facilities renovation and enhancements for the Center for
Innovative Materials for Infrastructure Security;
353. $125,000 for the Michigan Jewish Institute for
construction, buildout, and equipment for the College
Academic Center;
354. $125,000 to Genesee County, Michigan for land
acquisition in support of the Genesee County Land
Reutilization Plan, in collaboration with the City of Flint;
355. $175,000 to the City of Detroit, Michigan for
demolition of abandoned housing stock;
356. $175,000 to the City of Detroit, Michigan for design
and construction of the Belle Isle Natural Zoo;
357. $200,000 for Boysville of Michigan for renovations and
upgrades at various locations;
358. $200,000 to the National Center for Manufacturing
Sciences in Ann Arbor, Michigan for facilities improvements
and buildout related to the development and deployment of
advanced technologies to the manufacturing base;
359. $300,000 to Focus: HOPE in Detroit, Michigan for
facilities renovation;
360. $200,000 to the Arab Community Center for Economic and
Social Services in Dearborn, Michigan for construction of an
Arab American National Museum and Cultural Center;
361. $225,000 to the City of Menominee, Michigan for
renovation of recreational facilities;
362. $300,000 to Mercy Hospital Cadillac in Cadillac,
Michigan for facilities construction and renovations for the
Healthcare Improvement and Access Initiative;
363. $450,000 for Automotion Alley for facilities
construction, improvements and buildout for a Technology
Center in Troy, Michigan;
364. $1,000,000 for the State of Michigan for costs
associated with the relocation of the A.E. Seaman Mineral
Museum;
365. $250,000 for the City of Detroit, Michigan for the
Detroit Riverfront revitalization project;
366. $500,000 for the City of Saginaw, Michigan for the
South Washington Street Improvement Initiative;
367. $500,000 for the Mexicantown Community Development
Corporation, Detroit, Michigan for the construction of a
welcome center;
368. $225,000 for the City Opera House Heritage
Association, Traverse City, Michigan for costs associated
with restoration;
369. $250,000 for the City of Parchment, Michigan for the
Parchment Brownfield Redevelopment Project;
370. $100,000 to the Audubon Center of the North Woods in
Minnesota for facilities construction and renovation;
371. $100,000 to Leech Lake Tribal College in Minnesota for
planning and site development for establishment of a new
campus;
372. $125,000 to Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College
in Minnesota for design and construction of a multi-use
facility;
373. $150,000 to the Minneapolis American Indian Center in
Minneapolis, Minnesota for facility renovation and
construction;
374. $150,000 to the Greater Minneapolis Council of
Churches in North Minneapolis, Minnesota for construction of
the Center for Families;
375. $150,000 to the Northside Residents Redevelopment
Council in Minneapolis, Minnesota for building construction;
376. $150,000 to the Labor Interpretive Center in Minnesota
for construction of a memorial;
377. $225,000 to the Redwood County Agricultural Society in
Minnesota for fairground grandstand renovation and
construction of facilities;
378. $187,500 for the City of St. Paul, Minnesota for
rehabilitation needs at the Ames Lake Neighborhood/Phalen
Place Apartments;
379. $187,500 for the Shelter House in Willmar, Minnesota
for a new building project;
380. $187,500 for Minnesota Corn Growers Association in
Shakopee, Minnesota for the construction of a new facility;
381. $187,500 for the City of Roseau, Minnesota for the
rehabilitation of damaged housing;
382. $500,000 for Tchula, for the development of the
Mississippi Municipal Complex;
383. $500,000 for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for the
City of Oxford Innovation and Outreach Center;
384. $1,000,000 for the City of Meridian, Mississippi for
the rehabilitation of the Riley Education and Performing Arts
Center;
385. $1,000,000 for Mississippi State University for the
renovation of the Lloyd-Ricks Building;
386. $250,000 for the City of Richton, Mississippi for
repairs associated with the City of Richton's Municipal
Complex;
387. $500,000 for Brookhaven, Mississippi for the
rehabilitation of the Lincoln County and City of Brookhaven's
Courthouse;
388. $500,000 for the City of Pearl, Mississippi for the
renovation of the City of Pearl's Community Center;
389. $500,000 for the City of Holly Springs, Mississippi
for the North Memphis Street District Redevelopment and
Revitalization;
390. $250,000 for John C. Stennis Institute of Government,
Mississippi State, Mississippi, for the Capacity Development
Initiative;
391. $100,000 to the Town of Bolton Development Corporation
in Bolton, Mississippi for acquisition and renovation of a
multipurpose community facility;
392. $150,000 to Harrison County, Mississippi for
construction of waterfront facilities;
393. $325,000 to the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council in Oxford,
Mississippi for facilities renovation;
394. $60,000 to the City of Joplin, Missouri for a
feasibility study and facilities improvements for the
restoration of the Joplin Union Depot;
395. $100,000 for the Eugene Field House Foundation in St.
Louis, Missouri for the Eugene Field House restoration;
396. $75,000 to the City of St. Louis, Missouri for
streetscape improvements;
397. $75,000 to St. Louis County, Missouri for streetscape
improvements;
398. $75,000 to Jefferson County, Missouri for streetscape
improvements along Jeffco Boulevard;
399. $100,000 to the Liberty Memorial Museum in Kansas
City, Missouri for museum renovation;
400. $450,000 to the City of Kansas City, Missouri for the
Union Hill Redevelopment Project, including but not limited
to streetscape improvements;
401. $175,000 to the City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri for
the painting of a mural on the Cape Girardeau, Missouri flood
wall;
402. $225,000 to the Missouri Soybean Association for the
purchase of a building for use as an Incubation Center in
Kansas City, Missouri;
403. $900,000 to the City of Springfield, Missouri for
construction of a community multipurpose facility;
404. $450,000 to Carrolton, Missouri for the Downtown
Revitalization Project;
405. $400,000 to Community Builders of Kansas City,
Missouri for the Blue Parkway Town District Project;
406. $450,000 to Kansas City, Missouri for the Columbus
Park Redevelopment Project;
407. $250,000 to the Harvesters Food Bank in Kansas City,
Missouri for the Capital Campaign Construction project;
408. $500,000 to the City of St. Louis, Missouri for
equipment and training for the Lead Abatement Project;
409. $250,000 to the Central Missouri Food Bank, Columbia,
Missouri for a new Capital Campaign Construction Project;
410. $360,000 to the St. Patrick Center in St. Louis,
Missouri for renovations and improvements for the homeless
partnership center;
411. $250,000 for the Stars and Stripes Museum/Library
Association in Stoddard County, Missouri for archiving
facility upgrades and equipment;
412. $500,000 for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in
Kansas City, Missouri for renovations to the Buck O'Neil
Research and Education Center;
413. $90,000 for the Capitol City Area Council for Special
Services in Cole County, Missouri for costs associated with
the construction of the Low Income Family Program expansion;
414. $600,000 for the City of Maryville, Missouri for
neighborhood revitalization;
415. $1,000,000 for the Metropolitan Parks & Recreation
District in St. Louis, Missouri for feasibility, engineering,
and design of the Choteau Lake and Greenway Project;
[[Page 31741]]
416. $250,000 for the Mid-Missouri Regional Planning
Commission, Ashland, Missouri for construction costs related
to the Life Sciences Technology Incubator;
417. $500,000 for the City of Raytown, Missouri for
downtown revitalization;
418. $500,000 for the Urban League of Kansas City, Missouri
for costs associated with construction;
419. $500,000 for Grand Center, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri
for construction of a multipurpose facility for the Charmaine
Chapman Community Center;
420. $450,000 for the City of Clarksville, Missouri for
costs associated with construction of the Riverfront
Development Project;
421. $500,000 for the Friends of the RB Project, Inc. in
Stockton, Missouri for costs associated with construction of
the Friends of RB Stockton Lake Community Project;
422. $1,000,000 for the University of Missouri-Kansas City
for construction of the Cardiovascular Proteomics Center;
423. $400,000 for the National Children's Cancer Society in
St. Louis, Missouri for construction;
424. $500,000 for the Daly Mansion Preservation Trust,
Hamiliton, Montana for the Marcus Daly Mansion Renovation
Project;
425. $500,000 for the Story Mansion, Bozeman, Montana for
historical renovations and improvements;
426. $650,000 for the Deaconess Billings Clinic, Billings,
Montana for additions to the research division;
427. $500,000 for St. Vincent's Foundation, Billings,
Montana for construction of a senior citizens facility;
428. $900,000 for the Big Sky Economic Development
Authority, Billings, Montana for economic development
outreach;
429. $150,000 for the Great Falls Development Authority,
Great Falls, Montana for economic development outreach;
430. $400,000 for the Southwest Boys and Girls Club,
Bozeman, Montana for construction of a new facility;
431. $200,000 for Missoula Aging Services, Missoula,
Montana for expansions and renovations;
432. $400,000 to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in
Billings, Montana for facilities construction and
renovations;
433. $350,000 for the Bozeman Library, Bozeman, Montana for
renovations and infrastructure;
434. $250,000 for the City of Omaha, Nebraska for
infrastructure redevelopment to use in connection with the
conversion and redevelopment of the Heritage Services
redevelopment project;
435. $375,000 for the Omaha Performing Arts Society in
Omaha, Nebraska for construction costs associated with the
Omaha Performing Arts Center;
436. $625,000 for the North Omaha Housing Initiative in
Omaha, Nebraska for the development of affordable housing;
437. $325,000 to Girls and Boys Town of Boys Town, Nebraska
for the national priority projects of Girls and Boys Town
USA;
438. $450,000 for Falls City, Nebraska for the development
of infrastructure for an industrial park;
439. $450,000 to the Boys and Girls Home of Nebraska for
renovation of the Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus,
Nebraska;
440. $385,000 for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada for
renovations to a historic post office building;
441. $75,000 to the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada for
planning and construction of a public library;
442. $200,000 to the City of Henderson, Nevada for the
purchase and renovation of buildings to revitalize the
downtown area;
443. $225,000 to the City of Sparks, Nevada for
rehabilitation of the Deer Park Pool facilities;
444. $350,000 for the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada for a
neighborhood beautification project;
445. $350,000 for the City of Reno, Nevada for the
construction of the Reno Homeless Resource Center;
446. $350,000 for Community Chest, Inc., Virginia City,
Nevada for construction of a youth and community resource
center;
447. $350,000 for the City of Reno through the Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce, Nevada for streetscaping improvements;
448. $200,000 for WestCare Foundation in Las Vegas, Nevada
for renovations of facilities;
449. $50,000 for the YMCA of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas
for facility renovations;
450. $1,000,000 for the V.I.C.T.M. Family Center in Washoe
County, Nevada for the construction of a facility for multi-
purpose social services referral and victim counseling;
451. $790,000 for the City of Nashua, New Hampshire to
renovate and expand the Nashua Senior Center;
452. $500,000 for the City of Nashua, New Hampshire for the
restoration of Mines Falls Park;
453. $700,000 for the Greater Manchester YMCA, Manchester,
New Hampshire for renovation of facilities;
454. $550,000 for City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire to
assist in the creation of a safe pedestrian link (Portsmouth
Piscataqua Riverwalk) between scenic and historic
destinations and New Hampshire's only working deep-water
seaport;
455. $100,000 for the Town of Troy, New Hampshire for the
Troy Economic Development Initiative;
456. $500,000 for the City of Claremont, New Hampshire, for
the Claremont Economic Development Initiative/Renovation of
Historic Mills;
457. $400,000 for the City of Concord, New Hampshire for
the renovation of Penacook Mills;
458. $80,000 for the Lancaster Main Street Program in
Lancaster, New Hampshire for facilities renovations and
improvements for the Great North Woods Welcome Center;
459. $1,000,000 for the State of New Jersey for
construction costs associated with the South Jersey Rural
Economic Development Corporation;
460. $1,000,000 for the New Jersey Community Development
Corporation in Paterson, New Jersey for construction of a
Transportation Opportunity Center;
461. $75,000 to Ujima Ministries, Inc. in Mercer County,
New Jersey for facilities construction;
462. $75,000 to the County of Hunterdon, New Jersey for
design and construction of a senior center;
463. $125,000 to the Essex County Environmental Center in
Roseland, New Jersey for renovation and construction to
accommodate facilities expansion;
464. $175,000 to the Robert Wood Johnson University
Hospital in New Jersey for construction related to the
expansion of the children's hospital;
465. $200,000 to the Jersey City Medical Center in New
Jersey for construction;
466. $225,000 to the Morris Area YMCA, Morris County, New
Jersey for facilities construction and renovation;
467. $225,000 to the Somerset Hills YMCA in Basking Ridge,
New Jersey for facilities construction and renovation;
468. $225,000 to Ramapo College of New Jersey for
construction of the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation
Center;
469. $225,000 to Rutgers University in New Jersey for land
acquisition for LEAP University High School;
470. $250,000 to the Edison Preservation Foundation in New
Jersey for building rehabilitation;
471. $300,000 to the Township of Mount Holly, New Jersey,
for an economic planning study for the Mount Holly bypass
corridor ($50,000) and for construction of affordable housing
units ($250,000);
472. $380,000 to the Borough of North Arlington, New Jersey
for sidewalk, curbs and facade improvements in the Morton
Avenue neighborhood;
473. $500,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Fe, New
Mexico to construct a new facility;
474. $500,000 to the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to
complete construction and renovation of buildings occupied by
the Cuidando los Ninos program for homeless children and
families (the John Marshal Renovation Project, Phase II,
Cuidando los Ninos site);
475. $700,000 for the Hobbs Industrial Air Park
redevelopment project in Hobbs, New Mexico;
476. $640,000 for the Village of Tijeras, New Mexico for
construction of an addition to the Tijeras Village Hall;
477. $360,000 for the Town of Taos, New Mexico, for the
DreamTree Project Transitional Living Program Apartments to
serve homeless, abused, and neglected youth;
478. $1,600,000 for the Town of Taos, New Mexico, to
complete construction and lining of the Paseo del Canon
Drainage Channel and related safety fencing;
479. $200,000 for Dona Ana County, New Mexico, for the
Veterans Memorial Wall to honor war veterans;
480. $100,000 to the Hubbard Museum of the American West
located in Ruidoso, New Mexico for facilities expansion;
481. $225,000 to the Wheels Museum, Inc. for planning and
land acquisition in New Mexico;
482. $250,000 for the Sephardic Community Center, Brooklyn,
New York for a building addition for seniors, adults,
teenagers and children;
483. $250,000 for the Broome-Tioga Workforce Development
System in New York to create a business incubator;
484. $250,000 for Schines Theatre, Auburn, New York for
restoration of the facility;
485. $250,000 for the Foothills Performing Arts Center,
Inc., Oneonta, New York for construction of a new facility;
486. $250,000 for Southern Tier Sports and Recreation
Center, Inc. in Binghamton, New York for development of a
Community Center Complex;
487. $200,000 to Sephardic Bikur Holim in New York for
facilities construction;
488. $50,000 to the Lackawanna Area Chamber of Commerce, in
conjunction with the Lackawanna Community Development
Corporation and local veterans organizations, for the
Veterans' Stadium Restoration Project in Lackawanna, New
York;
489. $60,000 to the Town of Niagara, New York to complete
buildout of a community center;
490. $100,000 to Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport,
New York for facilities renovation;
491. $100,000 to the Town of Brookhaven, New York for
construction of the Gorden Heights Community Center;
[[Page 31742]]
492. $75,000 to the Broome County Jewish Community Center
in Binghamton, New York for renovation and construction of an
early childhood development center;
493. $75,000 to the United Cerebral Palsy Association of
Greater Suffolk, Inc. in Suffolk County, New York for land
acquisition;
494. $75,000 to the Town of Freeport, New York for
renovations of buildings;
495. $75,000 to the Town of North Hempstead, New York for
streetscape, facade and building renovation in the hamlet of
New Cassel;
496. $75,000 to the Cross Island YMCA of Queens, New York
for facilities expansion and renovation;
497. $75,000 to the Jamaica YMCA of Jamaica in New York,
New York for facilities expansion and renovation;
498. $75,000 to 1409 Enterprises, Inc. in Buffalo, New York
for facilities renovation;
499. $80,000 to Wayne County, New York for relocation of
and renovations to the Wolcott Carriage House;
500. $80,000 to the Castle Hill, Bronx, New York YMCA for
facilities construction;
501. $100,000 to the Staten Island Economic Development
Corporation located in New York for completion of an updated
Overall Economic Development Plan;
502. $350,000 to the Metropolitan Development Association
in Syracuse, New York for the VISION 2010 Economic
Development plan;
503. $100,000 to Wayne County, New York for a feasibility
study on the planned reuse of the surplus real estate of the
Newark Developmental Center Area;
504. $100,000 to the City of Syracuse, New York for
renovations to the Redhouse Theater;
505. $100,000 to the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club in the
Bronx, New York for facilities renovation;
506. $100,000 to the Town of Greenburgh, New York for
expansion and renovation of a public library;
507. $100,000 to the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, New
York for renovations to a senior and youth community center;
508. $100,000 to the Village of Briarcliff Manor, New York
for streetscape improvements;
509. $100,000 to the Regional Foodbank of Northeastern New
York for construction and renovation of facilities;
510. $100,000 to the 59th Street Recreation Center in New
York, New York for facilities renovation;
511. $100,000 to the City of New York's Department of Parks
and Recreation for construction of a nature center in Crotona
Park;
512. $110,000 to Cayuga County, New York for rehabilitation
of the Sterling Renaissance Performance Artist Guild
facilities in the Town of Sterling, New York;
513. $100,000 to the Erie Canalway National Heritage
Corridor Commission in New York State to finalize planning
activities for the Commission's comprehensive management
plan;
514. $125,000 to the Village of Saugerties, New York for
streetscape including sidewalk replacement;
515. $125,000 to the Town of Sleepy Hollow, New York for
construction of a new senior center;
516. $280,000 to the City of Yonkers, New York for
renovation of the Nepperhan Valley Technology Center;
517. $125,000 to Alianza Dominicana Inc. in New York, New
York for facilities construction;
518. $125,000 to Boricua College in New York for building
renovation;
519. $125,000 to the Washington Heights' Armory Foundation
for facilities renovations in New York;
520. $140,000 to the Broadway Market Management Corp. in
Buffalo, New York for renovation of the Broadway Market;
521. $150,000 to the Staten Island University Hospital for
the construction of the Regina McGinn Education Center in New
York;
522. $150,000 to On Your Mark in Staten Island, New York
for facilities renovations for a community center;
523. $150,000 to the Town of Lancaster, New York for
construction activities of the Landmark Clock project;
524. $150,000 to the Village of Owego, New York for
construction of a community center;
525. $150,000 to LaGuardia Community College in New York
for facilities renovation to house a small business
incubator;
526. $150,000 to the Brooklyn Public Library in New York
for restoration of the central plaza;
527. $200,000 to the Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted Center in
Cheektowaga, New York for construction of an affordable
housing project for handicapped individuals with an emphasis
on individuals with visual impairments;
528. $200,000 to the City of Syracuse, New York for
renovation of the Girls Inc. building;
529. $200,000 for Cornwall, New York for Main Street
revitalization;
530. $200,000 to Onondaga County, New York for restoration
of the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct in Camillus, New York;
531. $200,000 to the Hebrew Academy for Special Children in
Brooklyn, New York for construction and renovation of a
facility;
532. $200,000 to Schenectady, New York for expansion of
Proctor's Theatre;
533. $200,000 to the Greater Ridgewood Restoration
Corporation in New York for streetscape improvements along
the Brooklyn/Queens border;
534. $225,000 to Putnam County, New York for streetscape
improvements along the Rt. 52 Corridor;
535. $225,000 to D'Youville College in Buffalo, New York
for facilities renovation, expansion and buildout for the
D'Youville College Library Improvement project;
536. $250,000 to the City of Syracuse, New York for
renovations to a stone building in Elmwood Park;
537. $250,000 to the City of Syracuse, New York for
facilities renovation of the Open Hand Theater;
538. $250,000 to Onondaga County, New York for construction
and expansion of the North Area YMCA;
539. $250,000 to the State University of New York
Environmental School of Forestry for facility renovations and
improvements in Onondaga Park;
540. $250,000 to the City of Syracuse, New York for
Automobile Row streetscape improvements;
541. $275,000 to the Natural History Museum of the
Adirondacks for construction of a new museum in New York;
542. $280,000 to the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA in Brooklyn,
New York for renovation and construction of a youth and
family center;
543. $300,000 to Houghton College, New York for renovation
of the Paine Science Center;
544. $300,000 to Wayne County, New York for demolition and
facilities construction improvements at Sodus Point Park;
545. $350,000 to Per Scholas: Workforce Enterprise Service
in the Bronx, New York for renovation of warehouse space to
house the WorkSmart program;
546. $400,000 to the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center
in the Bronx, New York for construction of the Austin Jacobo
Center for Community Leadership;
547. $350,000 to the State University of New York College
of Environmental Science and Forestry for the acquisition,
renovation and construction of facilities for the North
Country Campus Economic Development and Improvement Program
in Clayton, New York;
548. $100,000 to the Battle of Plattsburgh Association in
Plattsburgh, New York to rehabilitate a building on the
former Plattsburgh Air Force Base;
549. $450,000 to the Belmont Shelter Corporation for the
construction of the Shawnee Landing Senior Apartments in
Wheatfield, New York;
550. $450,000 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
City for facade restoration improvements;
551. $220,000 to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City
for expansion and renovations to the Education and Research
Center;
552. $450,000 to Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City
for facilities construction;
553. $450,000 to the New York Public Library in New York
City for renovations to their Map Division;
554. $500,000 to Onondaga County, New York for renovations
to the Fayetteville Library;
555. $500,000 to the City of Syracuse, New York for
facilities restoration and expansion of the Landmark Theater;
556. $500,000 to the WXXI Public Broadcasting Council in
Rochester, New York for facilities construction and
improvements for an Educational Outreach Center;
557. $500,000 to Wayne County, New York to construct a new
Livestock building at the Wayne County fairgrounds;
558. $750,000 to the New York State Olympic Regional
Development Authority for facilities construction;
559. $1,000,000 to Nazareth College in Rochester, New York
for renovations of their Academic Center;
560. $1,250,000 to Utica College of Syracuse in Utica, New
York for design and construction for the expansion of science
facilities;
561. $100,000 to the City of Utica, New York for
construction of the North Utica Senior Citizens Recreation
Center;
562. $100,000 to the City of Mount Vernon, New York for
restoration of an abandoned building into a job training and
cultural center;
563. $215,000 to the Simon Wiesenthal New York Tolerance
Center in New York City for facilities renovation;
564. $250,000 to Greene County, New York for the Michael J.
Quill Irish Cultural and Sports Centre for facilities
renovations;
565. $75,000 to CAARE, Inc. in Durham County, North
Carolina for construction, renovation and buildout of a one-
stop service center for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS;
566. $100,000 to the City of Greenville, North Carolina for
building demolition and building renovation in the West
Greenville neighborhood;
567. $100,000 to the North Carolina Institute of Minority
Economic Development for restoration, renovation and buildout
of a building in downtown Durham, North Carolina;
568. $125,000 to North Carolina Community Development
Initiative Capital, Inc. for capitalization of a loan fund;
569. $125,000 to the Food Bank of North Carolina for
renovation and buildout of a food bank facility;
[[Page 31743]]
570. $300,000 for Bennett College, Greensboro, North
Carolina for a community revitalization project;
571. $150,000 to the Center for Community Self-Help in
Durham, North Carolina for acquisition of property;
572. $175,000 to the City of Raleigh, North Carolina for
reuse planning for the Fayetteville Street Mall and for
streetscape improvements, pedestrian benches, street lights,
tree planting, entertainment space construction and water
fountain construction;
573. $200,000 to the Town of Wadesboro, North Carolina for
facilities renovations to the Ansonia Theatre;
574. $200,000 to the City of Durham, North Carolina for
revitalizing Historic Parrish Street, including facilities
construction/renovation and buildout; economic development
planning assistance; sidewalks, street furniture, and facade
improvements; and land acquisition;
575. $200,000 to the Grape Arbor Development Corporation
for construction and buildout of a Youth Enhancement Center;
576. $150,000 to Scotland County, North Carolina for
facilities expansion and construction for the Scotland County
Recreation Center;
577. $200,000 to North Carolina Central University for
construction, buildout, and equipment for a bioprocessing
research institute;
578. $265,000 to Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine,
North Carolina for facilities renovations for the Lexington
project;
579. $100,000 for the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum,
Hatteras, North Carolina to complete construction;
580. $125,000 to the Central Piedmont Community College
American Academy of Applied Forensics in Charlotte, North
Carolina for facilities construction;
581. $275,000 to the Town of Troy, North Carolina for a
pilot program for the construction of affordable housing;
582. $750,000 to the Pisgah Forest Institute at Brevard
College in Brevard, North Carolina for facilities
construction;
583. $200,000 to the North Carolina Museum of Natural
Sciences for construction of the Nature Research Center;
584. $500,000 for Transylvania County, North Carolina for
construction of a library;
585. $600,000 for the City of Rugby, North Dakota to
complete information technology and energy projects;
586. $400,000 for Lewis and Clark CommunityWorks, Bismarck,
North Dakota for the Mandan Library Square project;
587. $500,000 for the Northwest Venture Communities Inc.,
Minot, North Dakota for the construction of the Northwest
Career and Technology Center;
588. $500,000 for Three Affiliated Tribes Tourism
Department, New Town, North Dakota for a cultural
interpretive center;
589. $600,000 to Sitting Bull College on the Standing Rock
Sioux Reservation in North Dakota for facilities planning and
construction;
590. $100,000 for Jamestown, Ohio to renovate the Jamestown
Opera House;
591. $100,000 to Tuscarawas County, Ohio for infrastructure
for an industrial park;
592. $100,000 to Ross County, Ohio for construction of a
regional multipurpose facility in Chillicothe, Ohio;
593. $100,000 to the Center for Families and Children in
Cleveland, Ohio for design and construction of a medical
campus;
594. $100,000 to COMPASS Toledo in Toledo, Ohio for
facilities rehabilitation;
595. $100,000 to Ohio Theatre, Inc. in Toledo, Ohio for
marquee and facade rehabilitation of the Ohio Theatre;
596. $100,000 to North River Development Corporation in
Toledo, Ohio for economic development planning for the Galena
Street Redevelopment Project;
597. $100,000 to the Bay Area Neighborhood Development
Corporation in Sandusky, Ohio for facilities improvements and
construction in blighted areas;
598. $125,000 to the Ottawa Community Development
Corporation in Toledo, Ohio for building construction and
renovation along Monroe Street;
599. $125,000 to the East Toledo Family Center in Toledo,
Ohio for building renovations;
600. $200,000 to Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio for
construction to support the East College Street Project;
601. $200,000 to the City of Toledo, Ohio for renovation of
a community recreation facility;
602. $200,000 to the J. Frank Troy Senior Center in Toledo,
Ohio for renovation and construction;
603. $225,000 to the Dayton/Montgomery County Port
Authority, Ohio for land acquisition, demolition, and site
development for a commercial office center at Patterson
Place;
604. $275,000 to the City of St. Clairsville, Ohio for
restoration of the Clarendon Hotel;
605. $300,000 for Ohio Wesleyan University to renovate
Merrick Hall;
606. $300,000 for Catholic Social Services in Springfield,
Ohio for renovation of a facility to house the Second Harvest
Foodbank;
607. $300,000 for the Springfield Arts Council for
renovation of the Veterans Park Amphitheater in Springfield,
Ohio;
608. $350,000 to the Cincinnati Museum Center in
Cincinnati, Ohio for restoration and expansion of facilities;
609. $350,000 to Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio for
construction of an athletic and wellness center;
610. $450,000 to the Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce in
Portsmouth, Ohio for construction of the Sciot County Welcome
Center;
611. $2,300,000 to the City of Canton, Ohio for land
acquisition and related site preparation activities;
612. $500,000 to the Dayton Development Coalition, Ohio for
land and site acquisition, demolition, site preparation and
facilities construction;
613. $700,000 for Franklin County Metro Parks, Franklin
County, Ohio for the purchase of land in the Darby Creek
Watershed;
614. $1,000,000 for the City of Dayton, Ohio for the
development of structures in the W. Third Street Historic
District;
615. $500,000 for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
for the Northwest Ohio Brownfield Restoration Initiative;
616. $300,000 for the Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing
Program [CAMP], Ohio to renovate and continue construction of
the Cleveland Manufacturing Technology Complex [CMTC];
617. $450,000 for the Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center,
Inc. in Ashland County, Ohio for construction of facilities;
618. $800,000 to the Dayton Development Coalition for the
development of a commercial and industrial site near the
airport in Dayton, Ohio;
619. $250,000 to the Village of Cedarville, Ohio for the
construction of a library;
620. $500,000 for Miami University of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio
for construction of biological science facilities;
621. $150,000 to the Heartland of American Foundation for
facilities construction for the Heartland of America Museum
in Weatherford, Oklahoma;
622. $150,000 to Area Neighbors in Wagoner, Oklahoma for
facilities construction;
623. $225,000 to the Lawton/Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce
and Industry in Lawton, Oklahoma for construction of the
National Army Museum of the Southwest;
624. $225,000 to the Standing Bear Museum and Education
Center in Ponca City, Oklahoma for facilities construction;
625. $90,000 to the City of Portland, Oregon for Portland
Central City streetscape and neighborhood integration
planning;
626. $100,000 to the City of Portland, Oregon for
architectural and engineering design for the Portland Public
Market;
627. $200,000 to the City of Salem, Oregon for construction
of a civic center;
628. $275,000 for Union and Wallowa Counties, Oregon for
purchase of a railroad line for tourism development;
629. $200,000 for the City of The Dalles, Oregon for the
completion of a fiber optic loop;
630. $800,000 for the Portland Development Commission,
Portland, Oregon for the South Waterfront Greenway Project;
631. $400,000 for the Portland Development Commission,
Portland, Oregon for affordable housing in North Macadam
Central District;
632. $200,000 for the City of Portland, Oregon for the
Central City Eastside Streetcar project;
633. $100,000 for the City of Astoria, Oregon for
restoration to the Astoria Column Cultural Heritage Center;
634. $50,000 for the Umatilla Community Recreation Center,
Oregon for construction;
635. $75,000 to the Penn-Brad Oil Museum in Bradford,
Pennsylvania for facilities improvements and landscaping;
636. $110,000 to the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for
Blue Horizon facade restoration and facilities
rehabilitation;
637. $75,000 to the Rock School in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania for facilities renovation;
638. $200,000 to the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for
building demolition, renovation, and streetscape improvements
as part of the Pittsburgh Neighborhood Needs Program;
639. $75,000 to the Lawrenceville Corporation in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for land acquisition and site
preparation;
640. $75,000 to the Shadyside, Pennsylvania Chamber of
Commerce for streetscape and lighting improvements along the
Walnut Street business corridor;
641. $100,000 for the Urban Redevelopment Authority, in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to revitalize the Centre Avenue
Corridor through acquisition and redevelopment of vacant
structures and lots in the community;
642. $100,000 to the Borough of Morrisville, Pennsylvania
for a redevelopment study;
643. $100,000 to the Hepatitis B Foundation in conjunction
with Delaware Valley College for the planning and design of a
Biotechnology Research Complex in the Philadelphia suburbs of
Bucks County, Pennsylvania;
644. $120,000 to the National Trust for Historic
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for restoration of the Majestic
Theater;
645. $100,000 to the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
in York City, Pennsylvania for facilities renovation;
646. $100,000 to the Sultan Ahmad Community Foundation in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for community center construction;
647. $100,000 to ONUNDE, Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
for facility construction;
[[Page 31744]]
648. $100,000 to the Absalom Jones Foundation in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for renovation of the Historic
Grand Lodge;
649. $100,000 to the Philadelphia Dance Company in
Pennsylvania for renovation of performance facilities;
650. $100,000 to the Greater Germantown Housing Development
Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for renovations to
buildings;
651. $100,000 to the Parkside Historic Preservation
Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for renovations to
buildings;
652. $100,000 to Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania for
renovations to buildings;
653. $135,000 to Mt. Airy USA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
to continue a redevelopment and urban renewal initiative;
654. $100,000 to the Beech Capital Venture Corporation in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for renovations to buildings;
655. $100,000 to Mercy-Douglass Center of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania for facilities renovation;
656. $100,000 to the Borough of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
for renovation of a theater;
657. $100,000 to the Borough of Minersville, Pennsylvania
for streetscape improvements;
658. $100,000 to the Seldom Seen Mine in Patton,
Pennsylvania for facilities renovations to permit display of
equipment;
659. $125,000 to the City of Lebanon, Pennsylvania for
demolition and building restoration;
660. $125,000 to the City of Lebanon, Pennsylvania for
construction of recreation facilities for the Lebanon Valley
Family YMCA;
661. $125,000 to the City of Pittston, Pennsylvania for
land acquisition, facilities renovation and demolition;
662. $125,000 to the City of Scranton, Pennsylvania for
land acquisition, facilities renovation and demolition;
663. $250,000 for the Scranton Cultural Center at the
Masonic Temple for facilities renovation and expansion;
664. $150,000 to the Pennridge Senior Center for the
planning, design, and construction of a senior center in
Perkasie, Pennsylvania;
665. $150,000 to the Borough of Donora, Pennsylvania for
construction of a pavilion at Palmer Park;
666. $300,000 to Indiana University of Pennsylvania for
construction of an on-campus multi-use facility;
667. $100,000 to the Borough of Northern Cambria,
Pennsylvania for construction of a community recreation
center;
668. $200,000 to Fayette County, Pennsylvania for
renovation of the Wellness and Research Center;
669. $200,000 to Greene County, Pennsylvania for renovation
of a community center;
670. $225,000 to the Phoenixville Area Economic Development
Corporation for restoration of the Phoenixville Foundry
building in Phoenixville Borough, Pennsylvania;
671. $225,000 to the Westmoreland County Industrial
Development Corporation for property acquisition and
demolition for the Jeannette, Pennsylvania Downtown
Redevelopment Plan;
672. $250,000 to the Urban Education Research and Retreat
Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for facility renovations
at the 4601 Market Street Building;
673. $250,000 to the City of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania
for construction of recreational facilities at Community
Park, including a pavilion;
674. $250,000 to Seton Hill College in Greensburg,
Pennsylvania for construction of recreational facilities;
675. $300,000 to the Borough of Brownsville, Pennsylvania
for building renovation;
676. $300,000 to Washington & Jefferson College in
Washington, Pennsylvania for renovation of downtown
buildings;
677. $300,000 to Ford City, Pennsylvania for renovation of
industrial park buildings;
678. $300,000 to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania for
building renovation in the Monessen Riverfront Industrial
Park;
679. $325,000 to the University Technology Park, Inc. in
Chester, Pennsylvania for facilities construction;
680. $350,000 to the Oil Creek Railway Historical Society
located in Titusville, Pennsylvania for facilities
renovations, upgrades, landscaping and for the purchase of
railway cars;
681. $350,000 for construction of a community center in
Dushore, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania;
682. $450,000 to the City of Johnstown, Pennsylvania for
continuation of construction of a war memorial and conference
center;
683. $200,000 to the City of Uniontown, Pennsylvania for
construction related to Bailey Park and downtown streetscape,
beautification, building renovation and restoration;
684. $150,000 to the Borough of Mount Pleasant,
Pennsylvania for facilities improvements to the Veterans Park
including construction of a veterans wall, monumental
fountain, and ceremonial stage;
685. $150,000 to the City of Johnstown, Pennsylvania for
renovations of historic Point Stadium;
686. $100,000 for Universal Community Homes in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to continue the conversion of
more than 500 parcels of land into for-sale units to low- and
moderate-income families;
687. $100,000 to the Erie Municipal Airport Authority in
Erie, Pennsylvania, for the redevelopment of the recently
acquired, former Fenestra window manufacturing facility to
serve the needs of major air express carriers as an on-
airport integrated service center;
688. $300,000 to the Community Initiatives Development
Corporation, Our City Reading, in Reading, Pennsylvania, for
the rehabilitation of abandoned houses and parks to provide
quality home ownership opportunities to low-income families;
689. $50,000 for the City of Erie, Pennsylvania, for site
preparation and redevelopment of the vacant and blighted
Koehler Brewery Building;
690. $150,000 for the Borough of Lehighton, Pennsylvania,
to establish a Market Towns Community Technology Center,
which will serve as a community technology center to support
the Corridor Market Towns regional revitalization initiative;
691. $125,000 for Downtown Chambersburg, Inc., in
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to construct the Capitol Theatre
Center and preserve the 1927 Capitol Theatre as part of a
regional arts initiative;
692. $100,000 for the Chester Economic Development
Authority, in Chester, Pennsylvania, for the redevelopment of
the blighted and vacant waterfront district, including the
former PECO power station into office space;
693. $75,000 for the Warner Theater Preservation Trust, in
Erie, Pennsylvania, to restore and expand the historic Warner
Theater, which will serve as the centerpiece of a regional
performing arts venue;
694. $100,000 for the City of Bradford, Pennsylvania, to
assist with the rehabilitation of the Old City Hall Building
as the cornerstone of the city's urban redevelopment plan;
695. $250,000 for the Greater WilkesBarre Chamber of
Business and Industry, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, for the
acquisition and redevelopment of the historic Irem Temple,
which will be converted into a cultural center;
696. $75,000 for Nueva Esparanza, in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, to create a Latino Corridor, as part of an
inner city development initiative to transform neighborhood
vacant lots and abandoned homes into a vibrant commercial
corridor;
697. $150,000 for Jefferson Square Community Development
Corporation, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a home
ownership development initiative aimed at rejuvenating the
inner-city through blight removal and construction of modern,
low-income homes;
698. $75,000 for Enterprise Center CDC, in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, for the design and development of Enterprise
Heights, which will contain 50,000 square feet of new and
rehabilitated office and retail space;
699. $100,000 for the Allegheny County Department of
Economic Development in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, for
the redevelopment of the former U.S. Steel Carrie Furnace
site, as part of an effort to stabilize the community through
the integration of the former industrial area, the adjacent
neighborhoods and the riverfront;
700. $200,000 for the Allegheny County Department of
Economic Development for the construction of an Industrial
Park in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, including the
rehabilitation of a former USX Tube Works site utilizing high
performance building techniques;
701. $75,000 for the City of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, for
the Pine Street Neighborhood Development Project, including
the acquisition and demolition of a blighted warehouse, as
well as construction of affordable housing and an office
building to house area nonprofit organizations, which will
offer social services to city residents;
702. $75,000 for the South Philadelphia Area Revitalization
Corporation, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the
construction of low-and moderate-income housing;
703. $100,000 for the Greater Johnstown Regional
Partnership, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to construct a
regional technology center as part of a community
revitalization initiative;
704. $75,000 for the Columbia Alliance for Economic Growth,
in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, for technological infrastructure
improvements for the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center;
705. $300,000 for the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania for
the development of an entertainment/retail complex;
706. $75,000 for the Historic Preservation Trust of
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, for rehabilitation of
facilities at the Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith
historic site;
707. $200,000 to the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to
support the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, which
will demolish abandoned homes as well as revitalize the
Philadelphia region;
708. $125,000 to the Ogontz Avenue Revitalization
Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to assist with
substantial rehabilitation of severely deteriorated vacant
properties that will be developed as a part of the West Oak
Lane community development rebuilding initiative;
709. $100,000 to the Philadelphia Chinatown Development
Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the
construction of a Chinatown Community Center;
[[Page 31745]]
710. $75,000 to the Invest Erie Community Development
Corporation in Erie, Pennsylvania, for the acquisition and
development of property to establish a Parade Street Plaza;
711. $100,000 to the Town of Burrillville, Rhode Island for
health/fitness and recreational facilities construction and
renovation at the Branch River and Hauser Memorial Field Park
areas, including pedestrian walkways;
712. $250,000 to the City of Central Falls, Rhode Island
for recreational facilities construction and renovation;
713. $200,000 to Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode
Island facilities renovations to accommodate laboratory
facilities;
714. $700,000 for the Salvation Army of Rhode Island,
Providence, Rhode Island for construction of a day care
center;
715. $130,000 for the City of North Providence, Rhode
Island for construction of a senior center;
716. $300,000 for the YMCA of Greater Providence, Rhode
Island for the Village of Promise project;
717. $300,000 for the Sexual Assault and Trauma Center of
Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island to purchase a building
for the Children's Advocacy Center;
718. $300,000 for the Providence Public Library, Rhode
Island for renovations;
719. $450,000 for the Johnston Senior Citizens Center,
Johnston, Rhode Island for the construction of a new senior
center;
720. $170,000 for AS220 and Perishable Theatre, Providence,
Rhode Island for building refurbishment;
721. $300,000 for the Pawtucket Armory Association in
Pawtucket, Rhode Island for the renovation of the Pawtucket
Armory as an arts center;
722. $200,000 for the Warwick Boys and Girls Club, Warwick,
Rhode Island for building renovations;
723. $150,000 for the Trinity Repertory Theatre,
Providence, Rhode Island for the construction of the Pell
Chafee Performance Center;
724. $100,000 for Travelers Aid in Providence, Rhode Island
for building renovations;
725. $100,000 for the Institute for the Study and Practice
of Nonviolence for the renovation of the institute in Rhode
Island;
726. $100,000 for the Town of Bristol, Rhode Island for the
redevelopment of the waterfront complex;
727. $100,000 for the Roger Williams Park in Providence,
Rhode Island for the construction of the Botanical Gardens;
728. $50,000 for the Seabee Museum and Memorial park in
North Kingstown, Rhode Island for costs associated with
construction;
729. $50,000 for Harmony Hill School in Chepachet, Rhode
Island for construction of Harmony House;
730. $100,000 to the Eau Claire Development Corporation in
South Carolina for land acquisition near Farrow Road;
731. $150,000 to the Golden Harvest Food Bank in Aiken,
South Carolina for facilities expansion for the Feed the
People project;
732. $150,000 to Lee County, South Carolina for Ashwood
Gymnasium renovations;
733. $150,000 to Calhoun County, South Carolina for
construction of a community recreational facility;
734. $225,000 to the South Carolina School for the Deaf and
Blind in Spartanburg, South Carolina for facilities
renovation;
735. $1,000,000 for the Five Rivers Community Development
Corporation, Georgetown, South Carolina for economic
development and affordable housing;
736. $500,000 to the Winchester Conservation Museum,
Edgefield, South Carolina for expansion;
737. $2,000,000 for Wakpa Sica Historical Society in Fort
Pierre, South Dakota for the Wakpa Sica Reconciliation
Center;
738. $400,000 for the City of Parker, South Dakota for the
development of a community center;
739. $400,000 for the City of Beresford, South Dakota for
the Beresford Industrial Infrastructure Development project;
740. $200,000 for the Aberdeen Workforce Development
Council, Aberdeen South Dakota for costs associated with the
Workforce Development Center;
741. $50,000 for the Canton Economic Development
Corporation, Canton, South Dakota for infrastructure
development;
742. $1,000,000 for Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell,
South Dakota for facilities construction for the McGovern
Library and Center for Public Service;
743. $350,000 for the City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota for
the expansion and rehabilitation of the Orpheum Theatre;
744. $200,000 for the City of Vermillion, South Dakota for
the expansion of the Center for Children and Families;
745. $100,000 for the City of Redfield, South Dakota for
renovations and improvements to the Carnegie Library;
746. $250,000 to the 28th Legislative District Community
Development Corporation for planning activities for the
redevelopment of the Bushtown community in Chattanooga,
Tennessee;
747. $100,000 to the Cocaine & Alcohol Awareness Program,
Inc. in Tennessee for renovation and construction of
facilities;
748. $500,000 to Hamilton County, Tennessee for facilities
construction for a Center for Entrepreneurial Growth
Incubator;
749. $450,000 to Knox County, Tennessee for facilities
preservation, construction, renovation and expansion at the
Beck Cultural Exchange Center, the Blount Mansion, the Ramsey
House and at Willow Creek Youth Park for the Knox Cultural
and Tourism initiative;
750. $575,000 to the Bijou Theatre Center in Knoxville,
Tennessee for facilities renovations;
751. $100,000 to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee
for facilities construction,
752. $900,000 for the Five Points Commercial Development
Project in Knoxville, Tennessee to develop abandoned,
blighted, and underdeveloped commercial areas;
753. $500,000 for Rolling Mill Hills in Nashville,
Tennessee to revitalize distressed urban areas;
754. $500,000 for the New Town Center at Soulsville in
Memphis, Tennessee to support economic and community
development;
755. $500,000 for the Chattanooga Riverfront Development
Project, Chattanooga, Tennessee to create new park space and
other improvements along the riverfront;
756. $100,000 for the Historic Rugby Economic Development
Project in Rugby, Tennessee to develop new visitor facilities
and encourage economic growth;
757. $500,000 for the Tennessee State University
Communications Enhancement Initiative in Nashville, Tennessee
to complete a performing arts center and support community
programs;
758. $75,000 to the San Antonio Food Bank in San Antonio,
Texas for land acquisition and facility buildout;
759. $100,000 to Williamson County, Texas for construction
of a community center;
760. $100,000 to the City of Temple, Texas for land
acquisition and building demolition--along Martin Luther King
Boulevard;
761. $100,000 to the McAllen Boys and Girls Club in
McAllen, Texas for construction;
762. $220,000 for the City of Beaumont, Texas for the
Downtown Improvement Program;
763. $100,000 to the Marshall Downtown Development
Corporation Marshall, Texas for planning and renovation to
permit reuse of a downtown building;
764. $100,000 to the Abilene Preservation League, in
Abilene, Texas for restoration of the Swenson House;
765. $100,000 to the San Angelo Old Town Conservancy, Inc.
in San Angelo, Texas for restoration of the Runkles and
Rackley Building for reuse;
766. $150,000 to the City of Houston, Texas for
construction of the Townwood Community Center;
767. $150,000 to the City of Dallas, Texas for Farmers
Market renovation;
768. $150,000 to the City of El Paso, Texas for restoration
of the Plaza Theatre;
769. $150,000 to the City of San Angelo, Texas for
renovation of tourism facilities;
770. $200,000 to the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in
Midland, Texas for facilities renovations and improvements;
771. $200,000 to the City of Fort Worth, Texas for
renovation of the Clark's Department store building for
reuse;
772. $225,000 to the Brazos Valley Family Medicine Center
in Bryan, Texas for facilities improvements and buildout for
the Center for Excellence in Family Medicine and Rural
Primary Care;
773. $225,000 to the City of La Feria, Texas for
construction of a Boys and Girls Club;
774. $400,000 to the City of Waco, Texas for construction
of a community center;
775. $350,000 to the Old Red Courthouse, Inc. in Dallas,
Texas for facilities restoration and improvements;
776. $950,000 to Rice University for construction of the
Rice University-Texas Medical Center Joint Research Facility
in Houston, Texas;
777. $1,000,000 to the City of Fort Worth, Texas for
construction of urban waterfront improvements for the Trinity
River Vision Project;
778. $900,000 for Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital
in San Antonio, Texas for facilities upgrades;
779. $100,000 to the City of Greenville, Texas for
renovations to downtown buildings;
780. $240,000 to the City of Dallas, Texas for restoration
of the Texas Theatre;
781. $100,000 to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community
Center (King Center) in Houston, Texas for facilities
renovations;
782. $100,000 to Harris County, Texas for an economic
development study for the Precinct 2 Harris County
Unincorporated Revitalization Program;
783. $100,000 to the City of Brownsville, Texas for
construction and facilities buildout needs for a family and
business development center;
784. $200,000 to the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in
Hunt County, Texas for construction of the Hunt County
Veterans Memorial and the Audie Murphy Hall of American
Heroes;
785. $500,000 to the University of the Incarnate Word in
San Antonio, Texas for facilities renovation for the Math,
Science and Engineering Center;
786. $250,000 for the City of San Angelo, Texas for the
Innovative Low Income Housing Financing Initiative;
787. $450,000 for the Greater Kelly USA Development
Authority, San Antonio, Texas for the Kelly USA Economic
Development for Commerce for a manufacturing site served by
rail;
[[Page 31746]]
788. $200,000 for the City of Denton, Texas for the
downtown redevelopment and infrastructure improvements;
789. $300,000 for the City of Dallas, Texas for the Eagle
Ford Low Income Housing Project for the development of
affordable housing for low and moderate-income families;
790. $200,000 for Camp Fire USA, Texas for costs associated
with multiple construction projects;
791. $200,000 for the Border Trade Alliance, Texas for the
Economic Health of the Southwest Border project;
792. $200,000 for the City of Austin, Texas for the SMART
(Safe, Mixed-Income, Accessible, Reasonably-Priced and
Transit-Oriented) Housing Program;
793. $300,000 for the Chinese Community Center, Houston,
Texas to develop a new center site;
794. $200,000 for Holt Hotel in Wichita Falls, Texas for
continued renovations to the Holt Hotel;
795. $200,000 for the Science Spectrum in Lubbock, Texas
for the Science Spectrum Aerospace Exhibit to design and
construct a 5,000 square foot permanent, hands-on exhibition
demonstrating the science and engineering principles of
powered flying machines, including aerospace concepts;
796. $400,000 for the City of Austin, Texas for renovations
needed, associated with the 2006 World Congress on
Information Technology, to the Austin Community Center;
797. $300,000 for the St. Philip's Development Board,
Dallas, Texas for the St. Philip's Neighborhood Development
Plan;
798. $100,000 to the Utah Shakespearean Festival for
architectural and engineering design of a performance
facility;
799. $100,000 to Salt Lake City, Utah for streetscape
improvements in the Ninth and Ninth neighborhood;
800. $150,000 to West Valley City, Utah for facilities
construction and renovation for the Cultural Celebration
Center;
801. $225,000 to the City of Tremonton, Utah for
construction of a Historic Wagon Museum;
802. $1,000,000 for the City of Provo, Utah for the Pioneer
Neighborhood Revitalization project;
803. $1,000,000 for the City of Ogden, Utah for the Ogden
Central Neighborhood Redevelopment project;
804. $500,000 for the City of Logan, Utah for Northwest
Public Park project;
805. $500,000 for Salt Lake City, Utah for the Pete Suazo
Business Center to purchase building space;
806. $500,000 for Syracuse City, Utah for the Syracuse City
Senior Citizen and Community Center for construction;
807. $500,000 for the Vermont Institute of Natural Science,
Woodstock, Vermont for the construction of a wildlife
rehabilitation facility;
808. $400,000 for the Vermont Housing and Conservation
Board, Montpelier, Vermont for the creation of affordable
rental housing in downtown Brattleboro;
809. $100,000 for the City of Burlington, Vermont for the
construction of the Lake Champlain Navy Memorial;
810. $1,000,000 for the Vermont Center on Emerging
Technologies, Burlington, Vermont for the development of a
technology incubator;
811. $200,000 for the Vermont Housing and Conservation
Board, Montpelier, Vermont for construction of affordable
housing in St. Albans, Vermont;
812. $250,000 for the Northern Community Investment
Corporation, St. Johnsbury, Vermont for development of the
Newport Area Family Services project;
813. $400,000 for the Vermont Housing and Conservation
Board, Montpelier, Vermont for construction of affordable
housing in Essex, Vermont;
814. $150,000 for the Vermont Broadband Council to expand
broadband services in rural Vermont;
815. $90,000 to the Southern Vermont Recreation Center
Foundation, in Springfield, Vermont for the construction of a
community center;
816. $100,000 to the Department of Buildings and General
Services of the State of Vermont for construction of veterans
memorials in Springfield and Putney, Vermont;
817. $75,000 for the Rockfish Community Center in Nelson
County, Virginia for roof replacement;
818. $75,000 for the Town of Boydton, Virginia for downtown
revitalization;
819. $100,000 to the Lorton Arts Foundation, Incorporated
in Lorton, Virginia for facilities renovation and
construction;
820. $100,000 for the Sedalia Center in Bedford County,
Virginia to assist with construction costs of this regional
cultural center;
821. $100,000 for the Colonial Theater in the Town of South
Hill, Virginia to assist with renovation efforts;
822. $100,000 to the John Singelton Mosby Museum Foundation
in Warrenton, Virginia for facilities renovations;
823. $100,000 to the Arlington Housing Corporation in
Arlington County, Virginia for property acquisition, building
demolition and facilities rehabilitation;
824. $100,000 to the Reston Association in Reston, Virginia
for construction of the Reston Southgate Community Center;
825. $100,000 to Fairfax County, Virginia for construction
of the Richmond Highway Town Center;
826. $100,000 to Volunteers of America, Chesapeake, Inc.
for renovation of the Bailey's Crossroads Community Shelter
in Virginia;
827. $100,000 to Community Lodgings in Alexandria, Virginia
for renovations to a family learning center;
828. $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Hampton
Roads, Virginia for facilities renovations and upgrades;
829. $100,000 to the Children's Museum of Virginia in
Portsmouth, Virginia for facilities renovation and expansion;
830. $125,000 to Craig County, Virginia for construction of
a library;
831. $125,000 to the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
in Virginia for construction of the Virginia Packaging
Applications Center;
832. $150,000 to the City of Suffolk, Virginia for
construction of the Great Dismal Swamp Visitors Center;
833. $150,000 for the North Theater in the City of
Danville, Virginia to assist with renovation efforts;
834. $200,000 to the Imani Intergenerational Community
Development Center, Inc. for facilities construction and
renovation of the 1400 block of Hull Street in Richmond,
Virginia;
835. $200,000 to the City of Fairfax, Virginia for the Old
Town Fairfax Redevelopment Project for construction of
parking facilities;
836. $200,000 to Prince William County, Virginia for the
Nokesville Redevelopment Project for facilities
rehabilitation and renovation and streetscape improvements;
837. $200,000 for the Blue Ridge Institute at Ferrum
College in the Town of Ferrum, Virginia for the construction
of the Agricultural Heritage Education Center to assist with
economic development and tourism in the area;
838. $200,000 for Charlotte County, Virginia for
infrastructure and building upgrades;
839. $200,000 for the Martinsville-Henry County Historical
Society in Virginia for improvements to the Old Henry County
Court House and Museum;
840. $200,000 for the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center in
Charlottesville, Virginia to assist in the construction of
the Center;
841. $250,000 for The Prizery in the Town of South Boston,
Virginia to assist with renovation efforts and the creation
of a community arts center;
842. $250,000 to Edgehill Recovery Retreat Center in
Winchester, Virginia for facilities construction;
843. $275,000 to the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond,
Virginia for facilities renovations and buildout;
844. $325,000 to the Windy Hill Foundation in Middleburg,
Virginia for the construction of affordable housing;
845. $350,000 to Fairfax County, Virginia for facilities
construction for Magnet Housing;
846. $400,000 for the Institute of Advanced Learning and
Research (IALR) in Danville, Virginia for facility renovation
and equipment improvements;
847. $400,000 to the Christopher Newport University
Foundation of Newport News, Virginia for facilities
construction and renovation;
848. $1,000,000 to the Art Museum of Western Virginia for
planning and construction of a new museum in Roanoke,
Virginia;
849. $100,000 to the Tenants' and Workers' Support
Committee for construction and renovation of a multi-purpose
committee room in the Arlandria community of Alexandria,
Virginia;
850. $100,000 to Arlington County, Virginia for
construction of a community center in the Buckingham
community;
851. $400,000 to The Conservation Fund in Arlington,
Virginia for land acquisition;
852. $500,000 for the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation
for facilities construction in Richmond, Virginia;
853. $1,200,000 for the City of Newport News, Virginia for
the development of the Newport News Fine Arts Center;
854. $500,000 for the Tredegar National Civil War Center
Foundation for planning and construction of the Tredegar
National Civil War Center in Virginia;
855. $200,000 to the Skagit County Children's Museum in
Mount Vernon, Washington for facilities improvements and
renovation;
856. $100,000 to the Tacoma Art Museum in Tacoma,
Washington for building construction;
857. $100,000 to Jefferson County, Washington for
restoration of the Jefferson County Courthouse Clock Tower;
858. $100,000 to Olympic College in Washington for
construction at the Shelton Branch;
859. $515,000 to the Lutheran Compass Center in Seattle,
Washington for rehabilitation and expansion of facilities;
860. $100,000 to the City of Burien, Washington for land
acquisition;
861. $125,000 to the Westport Senior Center in Westport,
Washington for construction;
862. $125,000 to Peninsula College in Washington for
construction of a science facility;
863. $150,000 to the City of Bremerton, Washington for
streetscape and facade renovation;
[[Page 31747]]
864. $225,000 to the Children's Home Society of Washington
for facilities construction for the Spokane Valley Family
Resource Center;
865. $350,000 to Kent Youth and Family Services in Kent,
Washington for facilities expansion and rehabilitation for
the Springwood Community Center;
866. $450,000 to the City of Yakima, Washington for
renovation of the Capitol Theatre;
867. $400,000 to Richard Allen Enterprises in Spokane,
Washington for the Emmanuel Center Project for facilities
expansion;
868. $500,000 for the Museum Development Authority,
Seattle, Washington for costs associated with brownfields
redevelopment;
869. $250,000 for the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing
Authority, Bremerton, Washington for downtown revitalization;
870. $250,000 for the Washington Technology Center in
Seattle for the Washington Nanotechnology Initiative;
871. $500,000 for the West Central Community Center,
Spokane, Washington for costs associated with expansion;
872. $200,000 for Hope Home in Pasco, Washington for the
purchase and renovation of a home for its program;
873. $250,000 for the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center
in Prosser, Washington for costs associated with
construction;
874. $250,000 for the Economic Alliance in Okanogan,
Washington for the construction of a business incubator;
875. $150,000 to the Business and Industrial Development
Corporation for the acquisition, renovation and reuse of the
Clendenin Middle School in West Virginia;
876. $225,000 to the Jefferson County Development
Authority, West Virginia for infrastructure improvements for
the Burr Industrial Park near Charles Town, West Virginia;
877. $200,000 to the Strand Theatre Preservation Society in
Moundsville, West Virginia for theatre renovations;
878. $400,000 to the Monongalia County Schools Foundation,
Inc. in West Virginia for construction of recreation
facilities;
879. $750,000 to the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development
Corporation in Lewisburg, West Virginia for facilities
construction and buildout;
880. $750,000 to the Vandalia Heritage Foundation, Inc. for
land acquisition;
881. $1,050,000 to the 4-County Economic Development
Corporation in Oak Hill, West Virginia for facilities
construction and buildout;
882. $1,170,000 to Glenville State College in Glenville,
West Virginia for the construction of a new campus community
education center;
883. $3,200,000 to the West Virginia High Technology
Consortium Foundation, Inc. for land acquisition to expand a
high technology business park;
884. $500,000 for Appalachian Bible College, Beckley, West
Virginia to complete its library resource center;
885. $1,000,000 for the Huntington Area Development
Council, Huntington, West Virginia for the construction of a
business incubator;
886. $2,000,000 for West Virginia University in Morgantown
for the construction of a facility focused on forensic
science and biometrics research;
887. $1,500,000 for the City of Beckley, West Virginia for
downtown revitalization;
888. $100,000 to Centro Hispano in Madison, Wisconsin for
expansion of facilities;
889. $100,000 to the East Madison Community Center in
Wisconsin for expansion of facilities;
890. $175,000 to West End Development Corporation in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin for building acquisition and renovation
in the Near West Side neighborhood;
891. $175,000 to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin for building and facade renovation along
the Vliet Street corridor;
892. $350,000 to the Military Veterans Museum, Inc. in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin for facilities construction;
893. $900,000 to the City of Superior, Wisconsin for
facilities improvements, new construction and relocation of
facilities at the Barker's Island Redevelopment Project;
894. $1,000,000 to the City of Wausau, Wisconsin for the
construction of a business development center;
895. $200,000 for the Menomonee Valley Partners of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the redevelopment of a former rail
yard;
896. $100,000 for the West Central Wisconsin Regional
Planning Commission of Eau Claire, Wisconsin for an economic
development initiative;
897. $100,000 for the City of Beloit, Wisconsin for the
redevelopment of a former industrial site;
898. $300,000 for Techstar of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for
economic development initiatives;
899. $500,000 for C-CAP, Inc., Waukesha, Wisconsin for
costs associated with the Low Income Housing Redevelopment
Project;
900. $350,000 for the City of Kenosha, Wisconsin for the
construction of affordable housing;
901. $250,000 for the City of Madison, Wisconsin for the
construction of low-income housing;
902. $1,000,000 to the University of Wyoming for
construction of the Wyoming Technology Business Center in
Laramie, Wyoming.
--$44,000,000 for the Neighborhood Initiatives program
instead of $21,000,000 as proposed by the House and Senate.
Modified language is included, similar to language proposed
by the House and Senate, to target funds made available under
this program. Targeted grants shall be provided as follows:
1. $2,000,000 for the Denali Commission for economic
development in rural Alaska;
2. $500,000 for the City of Fresno, California for the
Roeding Business Park Development project;
3. $750,000 for the City of Waterbury, Connecticut for the
demolition of blighted buildings;
4. $250,000 for the County of Hawaii for neighborhood
restoration in Hilo, Hawaii;
5. $75,000 for the Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big
Sisters program in Peoria, Illinois for the construction of a
facility;
6. $100,000 to the City of Peoria, Illinois, for the
Southern Gateway revitalization project to redevelop this
neighborhood into a commercial center;
7. $650,000 for OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria,
Illinois for the renovation of treatment rooms to expand the
facility's emergency department;
8. $725,000 for Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois for
construction of a new Science and Technology Center;
9. $300,000 for the City of Rockford, Illinois for a
neighborhood revitalization project in the North Mid Town
Area;
10. $200,000 for the City of Indianapolis, Indiana for the
Tenth Street Revitalization Project;
11. $500,000 for the Iowa Department of Economic
Development for the Main Street Iowa initiative;
12. $500,000 for the City of Waterloo, Iowa for the
redevelopment of the Rath area brownfields;
13. $200,000 to the Community Economic Empowerment
Corporation for construction of a recreation center in
Louisville, Kentucky;
14. $325,000 for the Rhema Development Corporation for
renovation of housing facilities in Louisville, Kentucky;
15. $400,000 for the Shiloh Community Renewal Center in
Louisville, Kentucky for renovation and conversion of a
building into an apartment facility for the elderly;
16. $400,000 for the St. Stephen Family Life Center in
Louisville, Kentucky for facilities renovation of Stewart
Hall;
17. $325,000 for the Shelby Park Neighborhood Association
for the design and construction of a community center in
Louisville, Kentucky;
18. $400,000 for the New Zion Community Development
Foundation for facilities renovations and improvements in
Kentucky;
19. $150,000 for the Trinity Family Life Center in
Louisville, Kentucky for continued facilities construction;
20. $1,000,000 for East Baltimore Development Inc., in
Baltimore, Maryland for redevelopment activities in East
Baltimore which include coordination with the Oliver
community redevelopment plan;
21. $150,000 for Charles County, Maryland for the La Plata
Community Center.
22. $1,000,000 for MassDevelopment, Boston, Massachusetts
for the Lawrence Gateway/Quadrant Area Redevelopment Plan;
23. $500,000 for the City of Roseau, Minnesota for economic
redevelopment;
24. $500,000 for Neighborhood House in St. Paul, Minnesota
for construction of the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for
Community Building;
25. $5,000,000 for the Grace Hill Neighborhood Health
Centers, Inc. shall be spent on primary prevention activities
with no less than $4,000,000 spent on remediation and
abatement activities of housing in St. Louis, Missouri;
26. $250,000 for the Garfield Family Intervention Center in
Birney, Montana for renovations;
27. $250,000 for the Northern Cheyenne Boys and Girls Club,
Lame Deer, Montana for construction costs;
28. $500,000 to NYSERNET to develop a blueprint for
building or acquiring dark fiber deployment throughout
Upstate New York;
29. $400,000 to the Cortland County Industrial Development
Authority in New York for the expansion of the Marietta bulk
manufacturing facility;
30. $100,000 to Cayuga County, New York for expansion of
the Cayuga Home in Auburn, New York;
31. $5,000,000 to the City of Syracuse, New York for the
Neighborhood Initiative Program;
32. $250,000 for Rural Opportunities, Rochester, New York
for the Upstate New York Community and Business Development
New Market Initiative;
33. $500,000 to the Alliance for the Arts in New York City
for the development of the New York State Cultural Database;
34. $1,000,000 to The Ohio State University in Columbus,
Ohio for The Ohio State University Neighborhoods
Revitalization Initiative;
35. $500,000 for the Jackson Day Care Center in Jackson,
Ohio for construction and facilities improvements;
36. $4,000,000 for the Oklahoma Department of Environmental
Quality for neighborhood restoration in Ottawa County;
37. $1,000,000 for the City of Rock City, South Carolina
for the revitalization and the
[[Page 31748]]
development of the Arcade-Westside Area of Rock Hill;
38. $500,000 for the City of Denton, Texas for downtown
redevelopment;
39. $50,000 for the Halifax County Community Action Agency
for the development of a Housing Initiative in Charlotte
County, Virginia;
40. $300,000 for Lutheran Community Services Northwest,
SeaTac, Washington for the construction of a community
services building;
41. $3,500,000 for the Institute for Scientific Research
for construction related to a high-technology diversification
initiative;
42. $4,250,000 for the Vandalia Heritage Foundation, Inc.
for community and neighborhood revitalization and economic
diversification initiatives.
43. $2,500,000 to the West Virginia High Technology
Consortium Foundation, Inc. for mission purposes and economic
development initiatives
44. $150,000 to Oneida County, Wisconsin for the
restoration of an historic building;
45. $150,000 to Langlade County, Wisconsin for the
restoration of an historic building;
46. $450,000 for the City of Manitowoc, Wisconsin for
economic development activities;
47. $1,500,000 for the Girl Scouts of the USA for youth
development initiatives in public housing.
Includes modified language making technical corrections to
certain targeted economic development initiative grants
funded under this heading in prior appropriations Acts,
similar to language proposed by the House and the Senate.
Includes language transferring no less than $4,900,000 to
the Working Capital Fund for development of and modifications
to information technology systems as proposed by the House
and the Senate.
Includes language limiting the use of funds provided under
this heading for planning, management and administration to
not more than 20 percent of the funds provided except for
amounts provided for certain activities as proposed by the
House. The Senate proposed similar language.
Language is not included proposed by the Senate designating
funds for the Native Hawaiian block grant program, but
instead funding and language is included for this program
under the section 107 program as proposed by the House.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACTION GRANTS
Cancels $30,000,000 from unspent balances as proposed by
both the House and Senate.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LOAN GUARANTEES PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $7,325,000 for costs associated with section
108 loan guarantees to subsidize a total loan principal of up
to $275,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House did not
include funding.
BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT
Appropriates $25,000,000 for brownfields redevelopment as
proposed by both the House and the Senate.
The conference agreement provides funds for this program
pursuant to the current statutory authorities under section
108(q).
Language is included requiring funds to be awarded
competitively as proposed by the House. The Senate included
similar language. The Department is reminded that these funds
are to be distributed on a competitive basis in accordance
with the requirements set forth in section 205 under
administrative provisions in this title.
HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates a total of $2,017,100,000 for this account,
instead of $2,064,100,000 as proposed by the House and
$1,975,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes $1,930,000,000 for the
HOME Investment Partnerships program, instead of
$1,939,100,000 as proposed by the House and $1,925,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Of this amount, $40,000,000 is for
housing counseling as proposed by the House and Senate;
$18,000,000 is for technical assistance as proposed by the
House and Senate including $7,000,000 for qualified non-
profit intermediaries to provide technical assistance to
Community Housing and Development Organizations (CHDOs)
instead of $8,000,000 to CHDO technical assistance as
proposed by the House and $6,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate; and $2,100,000 is for information technology systems
as proposed by the House instead of $1,100,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
In addition, the conference agreement includes $87,500,000
to provide down-payment assistance to low-income families to
help them achieve homeownership, instead of $125,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $50,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Modified language is included similar to language
proposed by the House requiring these funds to be distributed
by a formula established by the Secretary that takes into
account, among other things, a jurisdiction's need for and
prior commitment to assistance to homebuyers. New language is
included to require funds to be distributed for down-payment
in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in new
authorization legislation should such legislation be enacted
prior to April 15, 2004. The Senate did not support linking
the use of HOME funds to the allocation of funds under this
program and included language requiring funds to be
distributed by a formula developed through rulemaking.
HOMELESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $1,267,000,000 for homeless assistance grants,
instead of $1,242,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$1,325,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Includes language
requiring the renewal of all expiring Shelter Plus Care
grants as proposed by the House instead of bill language
specifying a dollar amount for this purpose as proposed by
the Senate. However, the conferees understand that the
current estimate for Shelter Plus Care renewals totals
$194,000,000. The conferees expect the Department to provide
the full amount necessary to fund these renewals from within
the amounts provided.
Language is included designating $12,000,000 for the
national homeless data analysis project and for technical
assistance as proposed by the House and Senate.
Language is included designating $2,580,000 for information
technology systems as proposed by the House and Senate.
The conferees reiterate the direction and reporting
requirement included in the Senate report regarding the
collection and analysis of data to assess the effectiveness
of the homeless system.
In lieu of the direction included in the Senate report, the
conferees encourage the Department to review the plans being
developed by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to
end chronic homelessness and provide a report to the
Committees on Appropriations no later than May 15, 2004, on
recommendations to develop incentives or requirements under
McKinney-Vento programs to achieve this goal.
The conferees reiterate the direction included in the
Senate report on the annual submission of 5-year projections
for renewal costs.
Housing Programs
HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conference agreement provides funding for the housing
for the elderly (section 202) program and the housing for the
disabled (section 811) program in two new accounts as
proposed by the House rather than continuing funding for both
programs under one account as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement recommends a total program level
of $794,320,000 for the section 202 program. Of this amount,
$778,320,000 is provided as a direct appropriation instead of
$773,320,000 as proposed by the House and $783,286,000 as
proposed by the Senate. In addition, $16,000,000 is derived
from unobligated balances from funds provided for project-
based rental assistance contracts (PRAC) renewals in fiscal
year 2003 that were not needed to meet this requirement and
recaptures of excess prior year funds, as proposed by the
House. The Senate did not address this matter.
The conference allocates funds as follows:
--$691,850,000 for new capital and PRAC contracts, instead
of $695,850,000 as proposed by the House and $636,816,000 as
proposed by the Senate;
--$2,000,000 for one-year renewals of expiring PRAC
payments as proposed by the House instead of $26,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees note that this amount
represents the revised estimate of funding necessary for PRAC
renewals in fiscal year 2004, however should additional funds
be required the Department may reallocate funds from new
capital grants as necessary subject to standard reprogramming
requirements;
--$50,000,000 for service coordinators and the continuation
of congregate services grants as proposed by the House and
Senate;
--$30,000,000 for assisted living conversion grants and
emergency capital repairs. The House proposed $25,000,000 for
assisted living conversion grants and the Senate proposed
$30,000,000 for assisted living conversion grants and
substantial capital repair grants. Modified language is
included designating these funds for assisted living
conversion grants and for emergency capital repairs as
determined by the Secretary.
The conferees are aware of concerns regarding the long-term
conditions and needs of the sections 202 and 236 assisted
housing stock. The conferees direct the Department to conduct
a capital assessment of the stock and provide a report to the
Committees on Appropriations not later than August 15, 2004,
on alternatives to address such long-term needs. As part of
this report, the conferees request that the Department
examine whether the mechanisms used under the Mark-to-Market
program for certain federally-insured properties can be
applied to the section 202 and section 236 portfolios as a
means of addressing such needs in a cost-effective manner;
--$20,000,000 for competitive grants for planning, design
and development activities for section 202 projects. These
funds are to be allocated for project planning, preliminary
design, site control activities and other development costs,
including gap financing if appropriate, directly related to
section 202 projects in order to facilitate timely completion
of such projects. The conferees do not
[[Page 31749]]
intend for these funds to be used for technical assistance
but instead expect such funds to be used for start-up costs
associated with such projects. Language is not included to
create a revolving loan fund as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees believe such needs can be addressed through this
competitive grant program; and
--no less than $470,000 for transfer to the Working Capital
Fund for information technology activities.
Language is included making funds available for obligation
for three years as proposed by the House instead of four
years as proposed by the Senate.
Language is included transferring and merging all
unexpended balances previously appropriated for the section
202 program to this new account as proposed by the House. The
Senate did not address this matter.
HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The conference agreement recommends a total program level
of $256,470,000 for the section 811 program. Of this amount,
$250,570,000 is provided as a direct appropriation as
proposed by the House and the Senate and an additional
$5,900,000 is derived from unobligated balances from funds
provided for project-based rental assistance contracts (PRAC)
renewals in fiscal year 2003 that are not needed to meet this
requirement and recaptures of excess prior year funds, as
proposed by the House. The Senate did not address this
matter.
The conference allocates funds as follows:
--$213,300,000 for new capital and PRAC contracts and new
vouchers as proposed by the House. The Senate included
$200,045,000 for this purpose under the Housing for Special
Populations account;
--$42,700,000 for one-year renewal costs of section 811
rental assistance and expiring PRAC contracts as proposed by
the House instead of $50,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees note that this amount represents the revised
estimate of funding necessary for PRAC renewals in fiscal
year 2004, however should additional funds be required the
Department may reallocate funds from new capital grants as
necessary subject to standard reprogramming requirements; and
--no less than $470,000 for transfer to the Working Capital
Fund for information technology activities.
Language is included allowing the Secretary to designate up
to 25 percent of funds, excluding amounts for voucher
renewals, to be used for new voucher assistance for the
disabled as proposed by the House and the Senate.
Language is included making funds available for obligation
for three years as proposed by the House instead of four
years as proposed by the Senate.
Language is included transferring and merging all
unexpended balances previously appropriated for the section
811 program to this new account as proposed by the House. The
Senate did not address this matter.
FLEXIBLE SUBSIDY FUND
(TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Includes language regarding the transfer of excess rental
charges to this fund as proposed by the House. Language
proposed by the Senate is not included allowing certain
excess rental charges to be refunded to owners rather than
transferred to the Fund.
RENTAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE
(RESCISSION)
Includes a rescission of up to $303,000,000 from recaptured
excess section 236 funds resulting from the pre-payment of
such mortgages as proposed by the House and the Senate.
MANUFACTURED HOUSING FEES TRUST FUND
Appropriates up to $13,000,000 for authorized activities
from fees collected in the Fund as proposed by the House. The
Senate included similar language.
FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION
MUTUAL MORTGAGE INSURANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Establishes an $185,000,000,000 limitation on commitments
to guarantee single-family loans during fiscal year 2004 as
proposed by the House and the Senate. The conferees do not
concur with language proposed by the Senate regarding the
appropriateness of the decision to change the point of
obligation for this program. In lieu of such language
addressing this matter, the conferees direct the Department
to submit quarterly reports on the status of commitments as
compared to the commitment limitation in addition to
notification reports required by section 3(b) of Public Law
99-289.
Establishes a $50,000,000 limitation on direct loans to
nonprofits and governmental entities in connection with the
sale of HUD-owned single-family properties as proposed by the
House and the Senate.
Appropriates $359,000,000 for administrative expenses as
proposed by both the House and Senate. Of this amount,
$355,000,000 is to be transferred to the salaries and
expenses account and not to exceed $4,000,000 is to be
transferred to the Office of Inspector General as proposed by
both the House and Senate.
Appropriates $85,000,000 for administrative contract
expenses and includes language allowing up to an additional
$30,000,000 to be made available for such expenses in certain
circumstances as proposed by both the House and Senate.
Transfers no less than $20,744,000 from administrative
contract expenses under this account to the Working Capital
Fund for the development of and modifications to information
technology systems as proposed by both the House and Senate.
In lieu of the language included in the Senate report
regarding the Asset Control Area program and revitalization
areas, the conferees instead agree to require a report from
the Department on revitalization area designations. The
conferees direct HUD to submit a report no later than
February 15, 2004, to the Committees on Appropriations that
describes the criteria and methodology the Department uses to
determine revitalization areas; lists the communities that
have lost their revitalization area designation since June,
2002; and provides justification for the changes. The
conferees understand that the Department is currently
conducting a review of all revitalization areas, and expect
that this review will be discussed in the report. The
conferees expect that the Department will continue to
recognize communities with high concentrations of HUD-
foreclosed properties as revitalization areas. The conferees
do not concur with the language in the Senate report
regarding the withholding of salary payments to departmental
employees responsible for administering this program.
The conferees reiterate the guidance and direction included
in the Senate report regarding language included under
administrative provisions to publish a regulation to allow
HUD to preclude certain buyers from purchasing foreclosed
properties during the disposition process.
GENERAL AND SPECIAL RISK PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Establishes a $25,000,000,000 limitation on multifamily and
specialized loan guarantees during fiscal year 2004 as
proposed by the House and the Senate.
Appropriates $15,000,000 for subsidy costs to support
certain multifamily and special purpose loan guarantee
programs as proposed by the House and the Senate.
In lieu of the language in the Senate report regarding the
section 242 hospital insurance program, the conferees note
that legislation was recently enacted that facilitates the
availability of section 242 hospital insurance in states
without a certificate of need program. This new authority
should help geographically diversify the section 242 program
which will help ensure the financial soundness of the
program. The conferees direct HUD to report to the Committees
on Appropriations no later than August 15, 2004, on its
efforts to geographically diversify the hospital insurance
portfolio; assess overall financial risks from the section
242 program to the insurance fund; assess the importance of
the section 242 program in meeting healthcare facility needs
as compared to other public and private funding options; and
any recommendations to improve the section 242 program,
including options to reduce the financial risk of the
program. The Department is directed to consult with the
Department of Health and Human Services in developing this
report.
Government National Mortgage Association
guarantees of mortgage-backed securities loan guarantee program account
(including transfer of funds)
Appropriates $10,695,000 for administrative expenses to be
transferred to the salaries and expenses account as proposed
by both the House and the Senate.
Policy Development and Research
research and technology
Appropriates $47,000,000 for research and technology as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
Includes $7,500,000 for the Partnership for Advancing
Technology in Housing (PATH) initiative, instead of
$7,000,000 as proposed by the House and the Senate. The
conferees expect the Department to increase support for
manufactured housing from within the amounts provided for the
PATH program to support continuing research on promising
technologies for the manufactured housing industry.
The conferees reiterate the direction included in the
Senate report denying demonstration authority without prior
congressional approval.
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
fair housing activities
Appropriates $48,000,000 for this account instead of
$46,000,000 as proposed by the House and $50,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Of this amount, $27,750,000 is for the Fair Housing
Assistance Program (FHAP) and $20,250,000 is for the Fair
Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). The House proposed
$25,750,000 for FHAP and $20,250,000 for FHIP and the Senate
proposed $30,000,000 for FHAP and $20,000,000 for FHIP.
Office of Lead Hazard Control
lead hazard reduction
Appropriates $175,000,000 for lead hazard reduction instead
of $130,000,000 as proposed by the House and $175,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
[[Page 31750]]
The conferees agree to allocate funds as follows:
--$96,000,000 for the lead-based paint hazard control grant
program to provide assistance to State and local governments
and Native American tribes for lead-based paint abatement in
private low-income housing;
--$9,000,000 for Operation LEAP;
--$10,000,000 for technical assistance and support to State
and local agencies and private property owners;
--$10,000,000 for the Healthy Homes Initiative for
competitive grants for research, standards development, and
education and outreach activities to address lead-based paint
poisoning and other housing-related diseases and hazards; and
--$50,000,000 for an initiative to target lead abatement
funds to areas with the highest lead paint abatement needs.
Includes modified language making available $50,000,000 on
a competitive basis to those areas with the highest lead
paint abatement needs as determined by the highest number of
pre-1940 units of occupied rental housing, a
disproportionately high number of documented cases of lead-
poisoned children, and an applicant's demonstrated capacity
to implement successfully the proposed uses of the funds.
Language is also included requiring that not less than 90
percent of the funds made available under this initiative to
be used exclusively for abatement or interim control of lead-
based paint hazards, risk assessments, inspections or
temporary relocation. Language is also included requiring
recipients of funds awarded under this initiative to provide
a matching contribution of not less than 25 percent of the
total grant award. The conferees believe that communities
with the highest lead paint risk to children must employ an
aggressive approach to lead-based paint abatement, and
suggest that grants made under this new initiative be not
less than $2,000,000. The conferees intend that eligible
recipients of these funds will be units of local government.
In selecting recipients for funding under this initiative,
the Department shall consider the capacity of the applicant
to use the funds provided, including the success of the
applicant in using previously provided Federal dollars for
lead-based paint hazard reduction, as well as the applicant's
strategies to mobilize public and private resources to
address this problem. Grant recipients under this initiative
are expected to use funds for abatement and hazard reduction
in privately owned rental-housing units that serve low-income
families with children under the age of six. Units treated
with funds provided under this initiative must remain
available for low-income residents for at least three years
following treatment of the lead-based paint hazard. The
conferees do not intend for any action taken in this Act to
prejudice any ongoing or future litigation brought against
lead pigment manufacturers. Additionally, no action taken in
this Act is intended to mitigate the responsibility of
housing owners to address the existence of lead-based paint
hazards in a timely and expeditious manner.
The conferees are aware that the Department currently
reserves approximately 80 percent of the current lead-based
paint hazard control grant program funding for allocation to
current grantees or previous grantees, with the remaining 20
percent provided for new grantees. The conferees request that
the Department evaluate this policy to ensure that such
allocation is appropriate to ensure that resources are made
available to communities with the need as well as the
capacity to use such grants. Further, the conferees urge the
Department to consider the total amount of Federal and non-
Federal resources available to address lead-based paint
hazards when allocating funds provided for the current lead-
based paint hazard control grant program.
The conferees encourage the Department to consider a
proposal from the Community Environmental Research Center as
well proposals on black mold and dissemination of information
to the public and provide funds if appropriate. However, the
Department is reminded that all funds provided under this
heading and in this Act are to be distributed on a
competitive basis in accordance with the requirements set
forth in section 205 under administrative provisions in this
title.
Management and Administration
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
Appropriates $1,123,130,000 for salaries and expenses
instead of $1,122,130,000 as proposed by the House and
$1,111,530,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of this amount,
$547,000,000 is provided as a direct appropriation under this
account as proposed by the House instead of $535,400,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement includes language as proposed by
the House directing the Department to allocate funds provided
under this heading in the manner specified in the joint
explanatory statement of the managers accompanying this Act
unless the Committees on Appropriations are notified and
approve of any changes in the operating plan or through a
reprogramming. The Department may reallocate funds and FTEs
between the amounts specified below for these offices only in
accordance with operating plan and/or reprogramming
procedures. Amounts provided are consistent with
modifications made by the Department to the original budget
submission to reflect the revised staffing distribution
consistent with the corrective action plan submitted to the
Committees on Appropriations in response to the significant
over-hiring that occurred during fiscal year 2003. In
addition, the conference agreement includes an increase of
$10,000,000 and 75 FTEs for the Office of Public and Indian
Housing to establish a Division of Quality Assurance for
activities associated with the section 8 voucher program.
The following office and object classifications are to be
used as the basis of any changes in funding and staffing
distributions:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office FTE Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of Housing............................. 3,483 $323,061,000
Office of Public and Indian Housing........... 1,745 183,209,000
Office of Community Planning and Development.. 834 81,696,000
Office of Policy Development and Research..... 161 21,424,000
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.. 669 61,564,000
Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard 38 3,946,000
Control......................................
Government National Mortgage Association...... 70 7,923,000
Departmental Management....................... 189 21,084,000
Center for Faith-Based and Community 8 2,639,000
Initiatives..................................
Office of the Chief Financial Officer......... 248 38,857,000
Office of the General Counsel................. 698 76,007,000
Office of Field Policy and Management......... 530 53,430,000
Office of Administration...................... 732 248,290,000
-------------------------
Total, Management and Administration.... 9,405 1,123,130,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistent with modifications to the original budget
submission, the object classification distribution, which
shall also serve as the basis for operating plan and
reprogramming changes, is as follows:
Personal Services--$889,234,000
Travel and Transportation of Persons--$20,600,000
Transportation of Things--$550,000
Rent, Communications and Utilities--$135,555,000
Printing and Reproduction--$3,900,000
Other Services--$64,901,000
Supplies and Materials--$4,990,000
Furniture and Equipment--$3,200,000
Indemnities--$200,000
Public and Indian Housing Division of Quality Assurance.--
Includes $10,000,000 and 75 FTEs to establish a Division of
Quality Assurance within the Office of Public and Indian
Housing. The conference agreement establishes this new
division to ensure accurate and timely data regarding the
expenditure and projected future funding requirements for the
section 8 voucher program. The conferees recommend $7,500,000
in Personal Services and $2,500,000 in Other Services object
classifications for this purpose.
Operating Plans/Reprogramming Requirements.--The conferees
appreciate the need for management flexibility to allocate
management and administrative resources or reorganize offices
and programs to address changing requirements at the
departments and agencies funded in the bill, including HUD.
To provide such flexibility, while ensuring appropriate
consultation and oversight, all Departments within the
Subcommittee's jurisdiction are required to submit operating
plans and reprogramming letters and reorganization proposals
for Committee approval. The conferees direct HUD to follow
the Committees' requirements regarding operating plans,
reprogrammings and reorganizations so that the Committees are
kept informed of, and therefore are better able to respond
to, changing requirements at the Department. HUD is reminded
that operating plans or reprogramming requirements apply to
any reallocation of resources totaling more than $500,000
among any program, project or activity as well as to any
significant reorganization within offices or the proposed
creation or elimination of any program or office, regardless
of the dollar amount involved; and any reorganization,
regardless of the dollar amount involved. Object
classification changes above $500,000 also are subject to
operating plan or reprogramming requirements. Unless
otherwise specified in this Act or the accompanying report,
the approved level for any program, project, or activity is
that amount detailed for that program, project, or activity
in the Department's annual detailed budget justification
document. These requirements apply to all funds provided to
the Department. The Department is expected to make any
necessary changes during fiscal year 2004 to its current
procedures and systems to ensure that it is able to meet the
necessary operating plan and reprogramming requirements
applied to other agencies funded in the bill.
Language proposed by the House to require submission of a
staffing plan is not included. The Senate did not propose
similar language. Instead, the conference agreement
reiterates the direction in the Senate report regarding
submission of quarterly reports on hiring.
Language is included as proposed by the House related to
funds control improvements to prohibit any official or
employee from being designated as a funds allotment holder
unless the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) has
determined such person has implemented adequate funds control
systems and received appropriate training; requires the OCFO
to establish control of and maintain adequate systems of
accounting and other available funds; and clarifies the point
of obligation for purposes of determining a violation of the
Anti-Deficiency Act. Language is also included as proposed by
the
[[Page 31751]]
House making a technical correction to the fiscal year 2003
Act regarding the point of obligation. The conferees
reiterate the direction in the House report regarding the
recognition of well-established appropriations law related to
the point of obligation of funds and joint execution for
obligation of funds when possible. The Senate did not propose
similar language.
The conferees have not included the Senate bill language
and the House and Senate report language regarding overall
authority for appropriations law. The conferees are in
disagreement on this matter.
Language proposed by the Senate is not included to prohibit
the Department from paying the salaries (other than pensions
and related costs) of any employees who had significant
responsibility for allocating funding for the over-leasing of
vouchers by public housing agencies. The House did not
include similar language.
Language is included in the bill placing a limitation on
the number of GS-14 and GS-15 employees at the Department as
proposed by the House and the Senate.
The conferees reiterate the direction included in the
Senate report regarding the limitation on non-career
employees.
Budget Submission.--The conferees strongly disagree with
the effort to substitute ``performance-based budgeting'' for
the traditional budget structure or otherwise incorporate it
into the budget justification for the Department. The
Department is reminded that the detailed budget justification
books are produced for the Committees on Appropriations in
order to provide the necessary detail on the budget request
and therefore are to be submitted in a manner that the
Committees on Appropriations find most useful to assess
funding requests and program requirements. The supplementary
``performance-based budget'' document for the Department for
fiscal year 2004 attempted to divide the entire Department's
budget across six broad strategic goals such as
``Strengthening Communities'', ``Embrace High Standards of
Ethics, Management and Accountability'', and ``Promote Decent
and Affordable Housing''. This strategic planning document
contained minimal information useful to the Committees to
assess the Department's fiscal year 2004 budget request or
funding requirements. Therefore, language is included under
Administrative Provisions requiring the fiscal year 2005
annual budget justification materials to be submitted in the
traditional structure with sufficient detailed information to
satisfy the Committees' needs.
WORKING CAPITAL FUND
Appropriates $235,000,000 for the Working Capital Fund
instead of $240,000,000 as proposed by the Senate and
$90,000,000 as proposed by the House. In addition, the
conference agreement includes $65,156,000 in transfers from
the following accounts to support program-specific
information technology systems as proposed by the House
instead of $64,156,000 as proposed by the Senate:
FHA, Mutual mortgage insurance fund--$20,744,000
FHA, General and special risk insurance fund--$16,946,000
Community development fund--$4,900,000
HOME investment partnerships program--$2,100,000
Homeless assistance--$2,580,000
Public housing capital fund--$10,610,000
Native American Indian block grants--$2,720,000
Housing certificate fund--$3,010,000
Housing for the elderly--$470,000
Housing for persons with disabilities--$470,000
Interagency Services--$306,000
Office of Inspector General--$300,000
The conferees reiterate the direction included in the House
report on continued development and definition of a five-year
information technology plan consistent with the format
previously provided to the Department and direct such updated
plan be submitted no later than February 1, 2004.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $101,000,000 for the Office of Inspector
General instead of $100,080,000 as proposed by the House and
$102,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of this amount,
$24,000,000 is provided by transfer from the various funds of
the Federal Housing Administration as proposed by the House
and the Senate.
CONSOLIDATED FEE FUND
(RESCISSION)
Includes language rescinding remaining balances in the Fund
as proposed by the House and the Senate.
Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $39,915,000 for the Office of Federal Housing
Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) to be derived from collections
available in the Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Fund
instead of $32,415,000 as proposed by the House.
The conference agreement provides an additional $7,500,000
as requested in a budget amendment submitted to the Congress
for one-time costs to conduct special investigations of the
enterprises and for strengthening the examination and legal
functions. Language is included specifying funds for these
requested purposes.
Language is included requiring not less than 60 percent of
the total amount made available under this heading shall be
used only for examination, supervision and capital oversight
to ensure that the enterprises are operating in a financially
sound manner and comply with statutory capital requirements.
Language is also included requiring the Secretary to submit
a spending plan no later than January 15, 2004. The Secretary
is directed to submit a separate plan for the funds provided
for special investigations if such funds are required prior
to the submission of the spending plan.
Administrative Provisions
Includes modified language similar to language proposed by
the House and the Senate regarding the distribution of
certain HOPWA funds.
Includes language requiring all funds to be awarded
competitively except as explicitly provided for in statute as
proposed by the House. The Senate proposed similar language.
Includes modified language similar to language proposed by
the House and the Senate requiring the Department to submit a
spending plan for the use of technical assistance, training,
and management improvement funds provided for in this Act to
the Committees on Appropriations by January 15, 2004.
Includes language as proposed by the House requiring the
Secretary to provide quarterly reports to the Committees on
Appropriations regarding all uncommitted, unobligated,
recaptured and excess funds. The Senate proposed similar
language.
Does not include language proposed by the Senate to
reauthorize the HOPE VI program beyond fiscal year 2004 since
it is the conferees' understanding that authorization
legislation is currently being considered by the relevant
House and Senate committees of jurisdiction. The House did
not include similar language. The conferees support
continuing funding of this program absent an alternative
approach to the revitalization of distressed public housing
or other compelling policy reasons.
Includes language proposed by the Senate requiring the
Secretary to maintain section 8 assistance on certain
properties occupied by elderly or disabled families. The
House did not include similar language.
Includes language proposed by the Senate requiring the
Secretary to submit an annual report to the Committees on
Appropriations regarding the number of Federally-assisted
units under lease and the per unit costs to the Federal
government of such units. The House did not include similar
language.
Does not include language to amend section 683(2) of the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1972 to authorize
service coordinators in section 811 projects as proposed by
the Senate. The House did not include similar language.
Includes language proposed by the Senate regarding interest
paid on certain mortgage insurance claims. The House did not
include similar language.
Includes modified language to change the name of the
Interagency Council on the Homeless similar to language
proposed by the Senate. Language proposed by the Senate is
not included to authorize non-reimbursable detailees. The
House did not include similar language.
Does not include language proposed by the Senate to
authorize FHA single-family mortgage insurance to be provided
to sub-prime borrowers at reduced premiums and appraisal
limitations. The House did not include similar language. The
conferees support efforts to assist low-income persons in
repairing negative credit histories where appropriate.
However, the Department needs to stem the escalating default
rate in FHA's single-family mortgage insurance programs
before it assumes new risks posed by persons with credit
problems.
Language is included as proposed by the Senate to allow HUD
to participate in the Directory of New Hires program. The
House did not include similar language.
Does not include language to amend section 9 of the United
States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize a new loan-financing
program for public housing authorities as proposed by the
Senate. The House did not include similar language.
Does not include language to amend the McKinney-Vento Act
to raise the salary cap for the Executive Director of the
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness from the current
Executive Level V to Executive Level III. The House did not
include a similar provision.
Includes language proposed by the Senate to authorize the
Department to allocate CDBG non-entitlement funds to
localities in the State of Hawaii should the State fail to
elect to administer such funds by July 31, 2004. The House
did not include a similar provision.
Includes language proposed by the Senate to amend the
purposes of a grant related to Hollander Ridge in Baltimore,
Maryland. The House did not include a similar provision.
[[Page 31752]]
Includes language proposed by the Senate requiring the
Secretary to conduct negotiated rulemaking for purposes of
changes to the formula governing the public housing operating
fund and requires a final rule to be issued no later than
July 1, 2004. The House did not include similar language.
Includes new language allowing the Secretary to maintain
and dispose of certain elderly and disabled projects upon
foreclosure. Neither the House nor Senate included similar
language.
Includes new language requiring the Department to submit
its fiscal year 2005 budget justification to the Committees
on Appropriations in the traditional budget structure rather
than in a ``performance-based budget'' structure and in
accordance with the terms and conditions specified below. For
the last three years, the conferees have expressed concerns
regarding the adequacy of the Department's annual budget
justification to the Committees on Appropriations. While
improvements have been made, the fiscal year 2004 budget
justification provided insufficient information to meet the
Committees' requirements. For example, the Department's
fiscal year 2004 justification contained less than 13 pages
of information for programs representing over half of the
Department's entire budget. The Department is directed to
develop and present the fiscal year 2005 budget justification
in the traditional budget structure, delineated by
appropriation account, providing detailed information on the
prior year, current year, and requested funding levels for
each program, project, or activity funded within each
account; a detailed narrative description of each program,
project, or activity; and any proposed changes to such
program, project, or activity. Object classification displays
are to be included as supplements, not substitutes, to
detailed displays of funding provided in prior years and
requested in fiscal year 2005 for each program, project, or
activity within each account. Within the justification
materials for the Management and Administration account, the
Department is to continue to delineate prior year, current
year, and requested positions, FTEs, and funding levels for
each program within each office, delineated by headquarters
and field office components and as compared to the
Department's workload staffing model (REAP). Such materials
shall include a detailed justification for any proposed
staffing changes among such offices.
TITLE III--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
American Battle Monuments Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriates $41,300,000 for salaries and expenses instead
of $47,276,000 as proposed by the House and $35,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees have not included a
provision proposed by the House which would have delayed the
availability of $10,000,000 until September 1, 2004.
The amount provided includes $9,000,000 for the Normandy
Interpretive Center. The conferees note that approximately
$9,000,000 in additional funding will be required to complete
the Center and expect this amount to be included in the
fiscal year 2005 budget submission.
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriates $8,250,000 instead of $8,550,000 as proposed
by the House and $8,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees have not included language providing $2,500,000 of
this amount to be available for two fiscal years as proposed
by the Senate.
The conferees encourage the Board to work with the
Department of Homeland Security to develop a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) regarding the Board's specific duties to
protect from and respond to terrorist acts on chemical and
related industrial plants. The Board is directed to update
the Committees on Appropriations by June 30, 2004 on progress
made towards developing a MOU.
Modifies language proposed by the Senate regarding
financial statements to be prepared by the Chief Operating
Officer of the Board in accordance with the Accountability of
Tax Dollars Act of 2002. The IG shall submit to the Chief
Operating Officer of the Board a report on the audit not
later than November 15th of the fiscal year for which a
statement was prepared.
The conferees have included language and funding under the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Inspector
General designating the Inspector General of EPA to serve as
the Inspector General of the Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation Board. The duties of the Inspector General
shall be those outlined in the Inspector General Act of 1978,
as amended. As these duties are not supervisory or directive
in nature, the independence of the Board remains as specified
in the Board's authorizing statute.
EMERGENCY FUND
Provides $450,000 for an Emergency Fund as proposed by the
House.
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Community Development Financial Institutions
community development financial institutions fund program account
Appropriates $61,000,000 for the community development
financial institutions fund program account, instead of
$51,000,000 as proposed by the House and $70,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Includes $4,000,000 for technical assistance designed to
benefit Native American communities instead of $3,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $5,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Provides $12,000,000 for administrative expenses as
proposed by the Senate instead of $13,000,000 as proposed by
the House.
Provides for a cost limitation on direct loans of
$6,000,000 with $250,000 for administrative expenses as
proposed by both the House and Senate.
Provides for a limitation on the amount of direct loans of
$11,000,000 as proposed by both the House and Senate.
The conferees direct the Fund to submit an update to its 5-
year strategic plan to the Committees on Appropriations of
the House and Senate that outlines its effort to improve the
economic needs of Native Americans. The report is to be
submitted by April 20, 2004.
The conferees agree with the Senate direction that the CDFI
Fund make funds for financial assistance available to CDFIs
regardless of their size and to continue the Small and
Emerging CDFI Assistance program. Additionally, the conferees
direct the CDFI Fund to restore out-migration and population
loss as criteria in determining Investment Areas for fiscal
year 2004.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriates $60,000,000 as proposed by the House and the
Senate.
Corporation for National and Community Service
NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS OPERATING EXPENSES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $553,225,000 for national and community
service programs operating expenses. The House proposed
$363,452,000 to fund the operating expenses and salaries and
expenses, but not the Trust, which was funded under a
separate heading. The Senate proposed $452,575,000 to fund
the operating expenses and the Trust, but not salaries and
expenses, which were funded under a separate heading. This
conference agreement mirrors the account structure of the
Senate.
Appropriates $314,000,000 for AmeriCorps*State and National
grants (authorized under subtitle C) and education award only
grants (authorized under subtitle H), plus an additional
$130,000,000 for the Trust. The House proposed $244,352,000
for grants plus $110,000,000 appropriated under a separate
account for the Trust. The Senate proposed a lump sum of
$340,000,000 to fund both grants and the Trust. The
conference agreement allows for education award only grants
to be funded from this same authority as proposed by both the
House and the Senate.
Within the amount provided for AmeriCorps*State and
National grants, the conferees have provided up to
$55,000,000 for national direct grants.
The conferees strongly urge the Corporation to develop
separate application guidelines for professional corps that
recognize the unique challenges inherent in building service
corps of full-time professionals.
The conference agreement transfers not less than
$130,000,000 to the Trust, of which $5,000,000 is to support
national service scholarships to high school students and
$10,000,000 is to be held in reserve as required by the
Strengthen AmeriCorps Program Act. The Trust funds the
education awards for members who successfully complete their
commitments in the three AmeriCorps programs:
AmeriCorps*State and National, AmeriCorps*NCCC and
AmeriCorps*VISTA (the latter of which is appropriated under a
different appropriations Act). The conference agreement
includes language which allows for the transfer of sums from
AmeriCorps*State and National grants to the Trust in order to
ensure sufficient funding for education award commitments.
The conference agreement assumes the Corporation will provide
up to 40 percent of its grant awards as education award only
grants. The conferees direct the Corporation to include in
its Operating Plan the number of members, both FTE and total
number of volunteers this funding level will support, as well
as the specific program mix of education award only and
stipend grants. The conference agreement does not include a
cap on the number of members enrolled in the Trust.
The conferees expect that the Corporation will offer any
individual selected for enrollment or re-enrollment as an
AmeriCorps*VISTA member the option of receiving an education
award.
The conferees also expect that the Corporation will ensure
that all continuation grants, through which the Corporation
has made multi-year commitments, are funded prior to funding
new grants, provided the grantees are in compliance with all
requirements.
The conference agreement includes $12,000,000 for state
commission administration as proposed by the Senate instead
of
[[Page 31753]]
$13,000,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees direct
the Corporation to address the management problems of the
state commissions as identified by the Inspector General.
Provides $10,000,000 to the Points of Light Foundation, of
which up to $2,500,000 may be used for an endowment as
proposed by both the House and the Senate.
The conference agreement also includes $5,000,000 for
America's Promise, as proposed by both the House and the
Senate.
The conference agreement does not include funding for the
Promise Fellows program. The 2004 budget request included
$4,900,000 for this program. However, the Corporation was
able to allocate funding for the proposed 2004 program from
fiscal year 2003 funds carried over into fiscal year 2004 in
order to complete the program.
Provides funding for AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community
Corps of $25,000,000 as proposed by the Senate instead of
$24,000,000 as proposed by the House.
Limits funding for Learn and Serve grants (authorized by
subtitle B) for school-based and community-based service
learning programs to $43,000,000 as proposed by the Senate,
instead of $40,000,000 as proposed by the House.
Limits funding for subtitle H grants, innovation,
demonstration and assistance activities, to $11,225,000
instead of $14,575,000 as proposed by the Senate and
$6,100,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees have
provided $500,000 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day grants;
$725,000 for the Service Learning Clearinghouse and Exchange;
$2,000,000 for training and technical assistance; $1,000,000
for next generation grants; and $4,000,000 for disability
programs.
The conferees have provided $3,000,000 for challenge grants
and direct the Corporation to comply with the funding
requirements of this program as included in House Report 108-
10.
The conference agreement provides $3,000,000 for audits and
evaluations, of which $2,000,000 is to assist grantees with
the development of their performance measures, and $1,000,000
is for a National Academy of Public Administration study as
directed in Senate Report 108-143. The conferees further
direct the Corporation to provide detailed funding levels and
descriptions for each initiative under subtitle H in its
Operating Plan and future budget request materials.
The conferees have included bill language, identical to
language that has been included in previous conference
reports, regarding Federal costs per participant. The
conferees direct the Corporation to report within 90 days of
enactment on how the Corporation has complied with this
directive. The conferees further direct that future efforts
to reduce Federal costs per participant should target
administrative and overhead costs, not volunteers' stipends.
The conference agreement does not include specific
proposals by the Senate to increase matching requirements.
The conferees, however, would expect that larger, well-
established partners of the Corporation should be able to
better leverage their Federal funding so that a greater
percentage of their operating expenses would come from other
than Federal sources. The conferees direct the Corporation to
undertake public notice and comment rulemaking, should the
Corporation propose to revise the matching funds requirements
contained in the grant competition guidelines, for those
longstanding partners which have received significant funding
from the Corporation in many successive years. Further, the
Corporation is directed to collect information on the
grantees which receive more than $500,000 annually from the
Corporation and the amount of other Federal and non-Federal
funds the recipients have leveraged and make the information
available if requested.
Reiterates language proposed by the House directing the
Corporation to review thoroughly its grant programs and
financial systems, and submit a report not less than 90 days
after enactment of this Act detailing a plan for reform and
accountability.
Modifies language proposed by the Senate directing the
Corporation to comply fully with the recommendations of the
Inspector General Audit Report of July 24, 2003, by directing
the Corporation to prohibit expenditures until the Inspector
General certifies that substantial compliance has been
achieved.
Reiterates language proposed by both the House and the
Senate regarding reports submitted to the Committees on
Appropriations detailing the enrollment levels of the various
AmeriCorps programs and the financial status of the Trust to
be submitted monthly.
The conferees encourage the Corporation to consider a
change to the grant cycle so that grant awards can be made to
recipient organizations before the organization recruits
members to fill awarded slots.
The conferees direct the Corporation to undertake public
notice and comment rulemaking to develop a definition of
sustainability.
The conferees direct that future budget requests should not
include funding for programs, agencies or operations outside
of the jurisdiction of this Act. Instead, the Administration
should request those funds from the appropriate subcommittee
of the Committees on Appropriations, or request appropriate
transfer authority.
Salaries and Expenses
Appropriates $25,000,000 for salaries and expenses
associated with the administrative activities of the
Corporation as proposed by the Senate. The House included
funding under the operating expenses account.
Of the amount provided the conference agreement assumes:
$18,300,000 for salaries and benefits; $400,000 for travel;
$2,300,000 for technology; $2,000,000 for administrative
expenses; and $2,000,000 for the Office of the Chief
Financial Officer.
The conferees agree that decisions and ultimate
responsibility for determining pay increases and performance
bonuses belong to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the
Corporation. However, the conferees prohibit the CEO from
approving bonuses and salary increases for senior managers
unless the Inspector General certifies that all
recommendations from the July 24, 2003, Inspector General
report have been implemented.
The conferees remind the Corporation of the reporting
requirements set forth at the beginning of this division. The
conferees agree that for fiscal year 2004, the Corporation
must report to and receive approval from the Committees on
Appropriations on any reprogramming request in excess of
$100,000. Various reporting requirements listed in both the
House report and the Senate report must be fulfilled with the
submission of the fiscal year 2004 operating plan unless
otherwise noted. Further, the conferees direct the
Corporation to provide better, detailed information in the
budget request for all CNCS accounts regarding planned and
on-going activities, the costs of those activities, and the
expected results.
The conferees expect that the funding provided will support
all of the Corporation's current employees, including those
whom the Corporation has previously funded within subtitle H
funds, including National Senior Service Corps recruitment
employees.
The conferees reiterate report language proposed by the
Senate regarding the Alternative Personnel System.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriates $6,250,000 for Office of Inspector General,
instead of $6,000,000 as proposed by the House and $6,500,000
as proposed by the Senate.
Retains report language proposed by the Senate directing
the Inspector General to audit AmeriCorps* State and National
grantees which are in the top ten percent of receiving the
most grant funds.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Retains the two administrative provisions proposed by both
the House and Senate regarding qualified student loans
eligible for education awards and the availability of funds
for the placement of volunteers with disabilities.
Inserts a new administrative provision, which was proposed
by the Senate under the national and community service
programs operating expenses account. The conference agreement
includes modified language directing the Inspector General to
levy sanctions in accordance with standard Inspector General
audit resolution procedures, which include, but are not
limited to, debarment of any grantee found to be in violation
of AmeriCorps program requirements, including using funds to
lobby the Congress.
The conference agreement includes a new administrative
provision proposed by the Senate as a general provision
requiring the Corporation to ensure 1) that significant
changes to program requirements or policy are made only
through public notice and comment rulemaking; and 2) the
integrity of the grant selection process.
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriates $15,938,000 for salaries and expenses as
proposed by the House instead of $16,220,000 as proposed by
the Senate. Both the House and the Senate provided $1,175,000
for the pro bono program.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--CIVIL
Cemeterial Expenses, Army
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriates $29,000,000 for salaries and expenses instead
of $25,961,000 as proposed by the House and $32,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate, and provides $1,000 for official
representation expenses.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
Appropriates $78,744,000 as proposed by the Senate instead
of $80,000,000 as proposed by the House.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH
Appropriates $73,467,000 for toxic substances and
environmental public health as proposed by both the House and
Senate. This funding is to be derived from the Superfund
Trust Fund to the extent resources are available. Any
remaining requirements will come from the General Treasury.
Environmental Protection Agency
The conference agreement includes $8,411,469,000 for
programs administered by
[[Page 31754]]
the Environmental Protection Agency. This is an increase of
$332,765,000 over the level provided in fiscal year 2003.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Appropriates $786,324,000 for science and technology
instead of $759,815,000 as proposed by the House and
$715,579,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement includes language which allows the EPA
Administrator to certify a grant in a prior year
Appropriations Act to San Bernardino, California.
The conferees have agreed to specific Agency program levels
as follows:
1. $7,000,000 for Communicating Research Information;
2. $35,000,000 for Particulate Matter;
3. $32,000,000 for Research to Support Emerging Issues;
4. $9,750,000 for the STAR Fellowship program;
5. $11,700,000 for small systems arsenic removal research.
The conferees have agreed to the following increases above
the budget request:
1. $2,500,000 for EPSCoR;
2. $4,000,000 for the Water Environmental Research
Foundation;
3. $5,000,000 for the American Water Works Association
Research Foundation;
4. $2,000,000 for the National Decentralized Water Resource
Capacity Development Project, in coordination with EPA, for
continued training, research and development,
5. $500,000 to the University of California, Riverside for
development of vehicle emissions measurement technology and
improved models for assessing the effectiveness of new
technologies and control strategies at the College of
Engineering--Center for Environmental Research and Technology
(CE-CERT) facility;
6. $1,500,000 to California State University, Fresno for
the International Center for Water Technology;
7. $100,000 to California State University, Fullerton to
enhance ongoing research related to water hazard mitigation;
8. $750,000 for the University of South Florida Study,
Protection and Amelioration of Coastal Environments;
9. $250,000 to the University of Miami National Center for
Caribbean Coral Reef Research;
10. $850,000 to the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus for Chicago,
Illinois for the Clean Air Counts Campaign;
11. $500,000 to Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo,
Michigan for the Great Lakes Center for Environmental and
Molecular Science;
12. $1,375,000 for the National Center for Manufacturing
Sciences in Ann Arbor, Michigan for assisting EPA in meeting
the Strategic Goals Program in the metal finishing sector;
13. $700,000 to the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill for a Green Chemical Manufacturing and Processing
research program;
14. $200,000 for turfgrass research centers at the
University of Georgia and North Carolina State University to
develop turfgrass management strategies;
15. $500,000 for the State of New Jersey pilot and
demonstration project for further development of proven,
affordable, and effective dredge contaminant reduction
technologies;
16. $250,000 to LaGuardia Community College, New York for
research related to environmental impacts on minority women
throughout Queens and the Bronx;
17. $300,000 to Alfred University for the Center for
Environmental and Energy Research;
18. $250,000 to New York University for the South Bronx Air
Pollution Study;
19. $8,775,000 for the Environmental Systems Center of
Excellence at Syracuse University for research and technology
transfer in the fields of indoor environmental quality and
urban ecosystems sustainability;
20. $1,000,000 to the Syracuse Research Corporation in
Syracuse, New York, for the continuation of environmental
research at its Probability Risk Assessment Center;
21. $750,000 for the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology
Research;
22. $200,000 for the National Environmental Technology
Incubator at Central State University for technology transfer
and commercialization activities;
23. $900,000 for the Integrated Petroleum Environmental
Consortium;
24. $750,000 for the Integrated Public/Private Energy and
Environmental Consortium (IPEC) to develop cost-effective
environmental technology, improved business practices, and
technology transfer for the domestic petroleum industry;
25. $250,000 to the Overbrook Environmental Educational
Center--a community based Technology and Literacy center,
with a primary focus on environmental exploration and
educational services--for environmental protection and
conservation efforts at the center's on-site Green Roof and
Bio-lab;
26. $350,000 to the University of South Carolina for a
geologic study for uranium groundwater contamination;
27. $200,000 for Middle Tennessee State University for
research on cedar glades;
28. $2,000,000 for the Mickey Leland National Urban Air
Toxics Research Center in Houston, Texas;
29. $1,000,000 for the University of Texas Learning and
Computation Center;
30. $250,000 for the Texas Institute for Environmental
Assessment and Management at the University of North Texas,
Denton for watershed research;
31. $1,700,000 for the Canaan Valley Institute to continue
to develop a regional sustainability support center and
coordinated information system in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands;
32. $1,000,000 for the Canaan Valley Institute in close
coordination with the Regional Vulnerability and Assessment
(ReVA) initiative and ORD Re+ program to demonstrate,
validate and report on critical ecological hubs and corridors
within the Mid-Atlantic Highlands and approaches to Highlands
ecological prioritization, restoration and conservation.
Research and educational tools are to be developed using
integrative technologies to predict future environmental
risks and support informed, proactive decision-making to be
undertaken in conjunction with the Highlands Action Program;
33. $250,000 for the Carnegie Mellon University Green
Chemistry Initiative;
34. $200,000 to the City of Saltillo, Mississippi, for
demonstration of new wastewater disinfection technologies;
35. $500,000 for the New England Green Chemistry
Consortium;
36. $1,000,000 for the National Environmental Respiratory
Center at the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute;
37. $3,900,000 for the Mine Waste Technology Program at the
National Environmental Waste Technology, Testing, and
Evaluation Center;
38. $500,000 for the Center for the Study of Metals in the
Environment;
39. $1,200,000 for the Center for Air Toxic Metals at the
Energy and Environmental Research Center;
40. $1,500,000 for the Connecticut River Airshed-Watershed
Consortium;
41. $250,000 for acid rain research at the University of
Vermont;
42. $100,000 for the University of Vermont's Proctor Maple
Research Center to continue mercury deposition monitoring
effects;
43. $100,000 for the University of Vermont's land use
mapping initiative;
44. $200,000 for the Vermont Department of Agriculture to
work with conservation districts and local communities to
reduce nonpoint source run-off in the Allen Brook watershed;
45. $425,000 for the Southwest Clean Air Quality Agency's
Columbia Gorge Air Quality Technical Foundation Study;
46. $400,000 for the Clark County Department of Air Quality
Management/Desert Research Institute in Nevada for the ozone
transport monitoring project;
47. $400,000 to demonstrate containment and disposal
technologies associated with the Arnold Heights project in
California;
48. $425,000 for Southeastern Louisiana University for the
Turtle Cove research station;
49. $1,000,000 for the National Jewish Medical and Research
Center in Colorado;
50. $300,000 for Utah State University for monitoring and
assessment activities related to freshwater ecosystems;
51. $1,000,000 for the Houston Advanced Research Center and
the University of Texas Air Quality Study;
52. $1,000,000 for the University of South Alabama for the
Center for Estuarine Research;
53. $2,000,000 for an air quality program for Anchorage,
Alaska;
54. $800,000 for Ohio University's Air Quality Center to
develop an advanced modeling program on air quality issues in
the Ohio River valley region;
55. $1,000,000 to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
in Missouri for a Parasitic Nematode Controls research
project;
56. $500,000 to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in
Missouri for the development of technologies for
environmental phytoremediation and the development of
technologies for extending the environmentally safe use of
biotechnology for phytoremediation, and for the production of
novel materials and compounds in plants;
57. $800,000 for Montec Research in Butte, Montana to
research pilot scale enzyme catalyzed processes;
58. $750,000 for the Frank M. Tejeda Center for Excellence
in Environmental Operations at Texas A&M;
59. $800,000 for the University of Northern Iowa for new
environmental technologies for small businesses;
60. $1,000,000 for the Alabama Department of Environmental
Management for the Alabama Water and Wastewater Training
Program;
61. $1,000,000 for the Desert Research Institute for
western Nevada regionally-based clean water activities;
62. $150,000 for Texas State University at San Marcos
International Institute for Sustainable Water Resources.
The conferees are fully supportive of the collaborative
partnership of the EPA and the National Institutes of Health
in their system of Centers for Children's Environmental
Health and Disease Prevention Research. The conferees direct
that EPA continue to support a competitive system of not less
than twelve such centers and that it maintain the average
level of funding for each center at not less than the
historic level of approximately $500,000 for direct costs.
[[Page 31755]]
From within amounts transferred to ``Science and
Technology'' from ``Hazardous Substance Superfund'', the
conferees direct that funding for the Gulf Coast Hazardous
Substance Research Center continue at no less than the fiscal
year 2003 level.
The conferees continue to support the partnership between
the EPA and the National Technology Transfer Center and
direct that the Agency continue the cooperative agreement at
the fiscal year 2001 funding level.
The conferees direct EPA to contract with the National
Academy of Sciences within 60 days of enactment for two
separate studies: (1) a study on the health risks to children
from residential lead contamination, as proposed by the
Senate; and (2) a study of health, safety, and environmental
risks of coal combustion wastes used for reclamation in
active and abandoned mines.
The conferees are aware of the progress being made by the
Agency through its Climate Protection Program: Transportation
program on the development of clean, cost effective, and high
fuel efficiency engine and powertrain technologies. The
conferees direct that the Agency continue to fund the clean
automotive technology program on advanced hybrid vehicles,
extremely clean diesel technologies, and advanced gasoline
engine concepts at levels sufficient to complete this work in
fiscal year 2004.
The conferees are aware that EPA released its draft risk
assessment of Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)-treated play
sets and decks on November 12, 2003, and is seeking the
advice of its Science Advisory Panel (SAP) regarding this
probabilistic assessment of cancer risk. The conferees
understand that this risk assessment is scheduled for a final
release later this year following the SAP review. The
conferees are aware that EPA--in conjunction with industry
and other stakeholders--has developed a draft biomonitoring
study protocol consistent with SAP recommendations and
intends to complete a biomonitoring study by October 2004.
This study will provide additional information on CCA risk.
Once this biomonitoring study is complete, the conferees
expect that EPA will make any appropriate changes to the
final risk assessment and re-issue the assessment
accordingly.
The conferees are aware of the Florida Area Coastal
Environmental (FACE) Initiative to identify and investigate
the sources of nutrients, trace metals, and unregulated
substances entering the coastal waters of Florida. This
initiative's participants include local, state, and federal
agencies and the Florida university community led by the
University of South Florida Department of Marine Science and
the University of Miami's Center for Marine Ecosystem Science
and Policy. The conferees direct EPA to report back to the
Committees on Appropriations by March 1, 2004, on progress
toward implementation of the FACE program.
The conferees are encouraged by new technology that has the
potential to eliminate contaminating microorganisms from
water, and ultimately reducing and halting the spread of
disease through contaminated water. The conferees commend the
efforts of EPA to bring this technology to bear upon current
water treatment and purification problems, and strongly
encourage EPA to continue to foster this technology.
The conferees are aware of promising developments in idle
reduction technologies, including advanced truck stop
electrification. The conferees urge the Agency to fund
demonstration pilots of this technology as part of its
SmartWay Transport program.
The conferees encourage EPA to use and expand programs at
Historically Black Colleges and Universities to leverage
available resources in existing programs for capacity
building and coordinated research to broaden the base of
quality water resource centers throughout the country.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AND MANAGEMENT
Appropriates $2,293,578,000 for environmental programs and
management instead of $2,193,102,000 as proposed by the House
and $2,219,659,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees have agreed to specific Agency program levels
as follows:
1. $24,500,000 for the National Estuary Program;
2. $22,800,000 for the Chesapeake Bay Program, including
$2,000,000 for Chesapeake Bay small watershed grants;
3. $2,500,000 for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration
Program;
4. $2,300,000 for the Long Island Sound Program Office;
5. $2,455,000 for the Lake Champlain Basin program;
6. $5,750,000 for Environmental Justice programs;
7. $115,000,000 for Management Services and Stewardship;
8. $35,000,000 for Regional Management;
9. $32,000,000 for Information Technology Management;
10. $15,000,000 for Data Standards;
11. $23,000,000 for Data Management;
12. $16,473,000 for Geospatial;
13. $33,500,000 for Regulatory Development;
14. $14,000,000 for RCRA Waste Reduction;
15. $10,000,000 for the Great Lakes Legacy Act;
16. $43,000,000 for Drinking Water Implementation;
17. $26,000,000 for Drinking Water Regulations;
18. $8,976,000 for Direct Public Information and Access;
19. $27,500,000 for Brownfields administration;
The conferees have agreed to the following increases to the
budget request:
1. $5,400,000 for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance for personnel and associated costs;
2. $2,000,000 for EPA Region 10 for environmental
compliance;
3. $1,000,000 to the Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance for enforcement of the bilateral agreement between
the U.S. and Canada concerning the transboundary movement of
municipal solid waste;
4. $9,160,000 for EPA Environmental Education;
5. $18,900,000 for rural water technical assistance
activities and groundwater protection with distribution as
follows: $10,000,000 for the NRWA; $4,000,000 for RCAP, to be
divided equally between assistance for water programs and
assistance for wastewater programs; $750,000 for GWPC;
$2,000,000 for Small Flows Clearinghouse; $1,000,000 for the
NETC; and $1,150,000 for the WSC Wellcare Program;
6. $1,000,000 for the National Biosolids Partnership
Program;
7. $2,000,000 for source water protection programs;
8. $5,000,000 for a cost-shared grant program to school
districts for necessary upgrades of their diesel bus fleets;
9. $4,000,000 for grants to interested States to establish
a long-term ambient monitoring and assessment framework at
relevant geographic scales to support all water quality
management objectives;
10. $3,000,000 for EPA's National Computing Center to
provide for the remote mirroring of all critical information
and related systems to achieve a Continuance of Operations
(COOP)/Disaster Recovery capability;
11. $5,000,000 for America's Clean Water Foundation for
implementation of on-farm environmental assessments for
livestock operations;
12. $1,500,000 to support and implement the Highlands
Action Program (HAP) of the Agency, including, but not
limited to, federal personnel and related costs;
13. $250,000 to the City of Prichard, Alabama for a
comprehensive water and wastewater improvement study;
14. $500,000 for the Central California Ozone Study;
15. $200,000 to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution
Control District, California for its Operation Clean Air
public education program;
16. $300,000 to the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy,
California and National Park Service for shoreline and
habitat restoration;
17. $750,000 to the Santa Clara Valley Water District in
California for groundwater remediation;
18. $2,500,000 for the Southwest Center for Environmental
Research and Policy;
19. $300,000 to the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services for its Reclaimed Rainwater Irrigation
Project to demonstrate nonpoint source pollution prevention;
20. $1,200,000 to Florida Gulf Coast University for the
Institute of Coastal Watershed Studies;
21. $2,000,000 for Osceola County, Florida to treat
invasive plants (Hydrilla and Hygophila) in the County's
watershed and drainage system;
22. $100,000 for development and implementation of the
Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center, Offset Banking
Water Quality Improvement program;
23. $400,000 to the Georgia Environmental Training and
Education Authority for a lagoon waste management
demonstration program;
24. $175,000 to Cerro Gordo County, Iowa for continuation
of the initiatives related to the Clear Lake Restoration
Project;
25. $200,000 to Storm Lake, Iowa for the Storm Lake Water
Quality Project;
26. $100,000 to the Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee for
monitoring programs and pilot studies on how to stabilize the
deep aquifer water levels and ensure a long-term water supply
for the Palouse region serving the Cities of Moscow, Idaho
and Pullman, Washington, the University of Idaho, Washington
State University and the surrounding areas in Latah County,
Idaho and Whitman County, Washington;
27. $300,000 for the Selenium Information System Project at
the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory;
28. $500,000 to the State of Idaho for Producers Supply Co-
op to carry out a program of environmental response for fuel
contamination cleanup;
29. $2,000,000 for the Coeur d'Alene Basin Commission to
continue a pilot program for environmental response, natural
resource restoration and related activities;
30. $1,500,000 to Boise State University for research
projects aimed at developing and demonstrating multi-purpose
sensors to detect and analyze contaminants and time-lapse
imaging of shallow subsurface fluid flow;
31. $600,000 to the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency for the Fox River Watershed Management Program;
[[Page 31756]]
32. $1,450,000 for the Olmsted Parks Conservancy for a
regional watershed demonstration in the Louisville, Kentucky
Olmsted Parks;
33. $1,550,000 for the Louisville Waterfront Development
Corporation, a non-profit corporation in Kentucky, for a
riverbank stabilization project to demonstrate pollution run-
off reduction strategies;
34. $400,000 for Red River Watershed Management Institute
at Louisiana State University-Shreveport for research,
education, and community service/outreach related to
watershed management in the area drained by the Red River and
its tributaries;
35. $200,000 for St. Mary's College, Maryland for the River
and Lands Institute;
36. $175,000 to Oakland County, Michigan for the Clinton
River Watershed Initiative including watershed research and
modeling, creation of a web-based database on stream flow and
water quality, bacterial source tracking, and outreach
activities;
37. $1,000,000 for the Oakland County Drain Commission,
Michigan for water and sewerage infrastructure management and
planning;
38. $125,000 for the Hypoxia Education and Stewardship
Project in Kansas City, Missouri;
39. $250,000 for Wake County, North Carolina for a
groundwater protection program;
40. $1,000,000 for the North Carolina Rural Economic
Development Center to develop a statewide Water and
Wastewater Assessment, Management and Security Initiative;
41. $850,000 for continued support of a North Carolina
Central University research initiative to assess
environmental exposure and impact in communities of color and
economically disadvantaged communities;
42. $175,000 to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln for
development of a large-scale, system-level mathematical model
of critical water resources in western Nebraska;
43. $100,000 to the State of New Jersey for the New Jersey
Geographic Information System Smart Growth Program;
44. $200,000 for Monmouth University, New Jersey, for the
Center for Coastal Watershed Management to promote watershed
research and education;
45. $300,000 to the Rutgers Noise Technical Assistance
Center at the State University of New Jersey to conduct a
study of environmental noise from interstate freight railroad
operations in Teaneck, New Jersey;
46. $100,000 for the Peconic Estuary Program Office in
Riverhead, New York for implementation of a Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan;
47. $150,000 in technical assistance grants to Washington
County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County, New York, for
Hudson River stewardship programs;
48. $200,000 to Orange County, New York for a county-wide
water analysis;
49. $200,000 to Madison County, New York for the landfill
gas to energy project;
50. $200,000 for Columbia University in New York City, New
York for education and training related to ongoing biomedical
research on environmentally induced cancers and immunological
responses, at the Audubon Biomedical Science and Technology
Park;
51. $250,000 to Wayne County, New York for the development
of a Sodus Bay comprehensive watershed management plan;
52. $250,000 to the Center for Environmental Information in
Rochester, New York for planning, research and environmental
analysis for a Lake Ontario coastline remediation and
restoration initiative;
53. $300,000 for the NADO (National Association of
Development Organizations) Research Foundation for
environmental training and information dissemination related
to rural brownfields, air quality standards and water
infrastructure;
54. $350,000 to the State University of New York
Environmental School of Forestry for research and
demonstration of contaminant mitigation strategies for rural/
suburban run-off affecting water quality along the rural-
urban interface in Central New York watersheds;
55. $350,000 to the State University of New York
Environmental School of Forestry for an Onondaga Creek
habitat restoration demonstration initiative;
56. $750,000 to Cortland County, New York for continued
work on the aquifer protection plan, of which $350,000 is for
continued implementation of the comprehensive water quality
management program in the Upper Susquehanna Watershed;
57. $1,500,000 for continued work on water management plans
for the Central New York Watersheds in Onondaga and Cayuga
counties;
58. $500,000 for Springfield, Ohio for environmental
restoration activities;
59. $250,000 to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Community Asthma Prevention program to increase awareness of
environmental asthma triggers in the homes of families in
Philadelphia;
60. $500,000 to the Caribbean American Mission for
Education Research and Action (CAMERA) in support of their
youth environmental stewardship and education program;
61. $200,000 to the National Energy Technology Center for
the Monogahela River Mine Pool Study in Northwestern West
Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania;
62. $500,000 to the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for
lead screening, testing, outreach and education throughout
the public school system;
63. $750,000 to Environment and Sports Inc., a nonprofit
organization, for an environmental and awareness program;
64. $1,500,000 to the American Cities Foundation for the
Neighborhood Environmental Action Team program and other
community environmental efforts;
65. $250,000 to the Brazos River Authority for the Brazos/
Navasota Watershed Management project;
66. $50,000 to Frederick County, Virginia for a water
resources study in the counties of Frederick, Warren, Clark
and Shenandoah in Virginia and Berkley County in West
Virginia;
67. $200,000 to Loudoun County, Virginia for development of
a comprehensive watershed management plan;
68. $700,000 to the Columbia Basin Groundwater Management
Area in Washington State for the Columbia Basin Groundwater
Management Area Study;
69. $500,000 for the Washington Puget Sound Action Team for
rapid assessment and response to declining oxygen levels in
the Hood Canal;
70. $800,000 to the Polymer Alliance Zone's MARCEE
Initiative with oversight provided by the Office of Solid
Waste;
71. $2,000,000 for on-going activities at the Canaan Valley
Institute, including activities relating to community
sustainability.
72. $4,000,000 for the Small Public Water System Technology
Centers at Western Kentucky University, the University of New
Hampshire, the University of Alaska-Sitka, Pennsylvania State
University, the University of Missouri-Columbia, Montana
State University, the University of Illinois, and Mississippi
State University;
73. $500,000 for the Kenai River Center in Kenai, Alaska;
74. $500,000 for the State of New Hampshire for the New
Hampshire Estuaries Project;
75. $3,000,000 for the University of Oklahoma for surface
water treatment, monitoring and environmental remediation of
mine-waste tailings in the Tar Creek and Spring Creek
watersheds in Ottawa County, Oklahoma;
76. $1,000,000 for the State of Alaska to conduct a mercury
testing program on seafood;
77. $500,000 for the New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services for a milfoil and invasive species
removal program;
78. $1,000,000 for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for
the development of innovative cleanup technologies for
environmental contamination of soil and water;
79. $500,000 for the University of Louisville Center for
Infrastructure Research in Kentucky for research of ways to
address problems caused by obsolete designs, aging facilities
and growing demands on water, wastewater and sewer
infrastructure;
80. $500,000 for the Western Kentucky University Center for
Wastewater Research for research on wastewater and management
issues;
81. $1,000,000 for the Watershed of the Ozarks in Missouri
for the Valley Mill Watershed Project;
82. $1,000,000 for the University of Missouri at Columbia
for the Innovative Technologies for Nutrient Management
Project;
83. $1,000,000 for the Missouri Pork Producers Association
for the development of environmental processes for
agricultural producer certifications;
84. $450,000 for the Village of Questa, New Mexico for an
impact study on the quality of groundwater and surface water
sources and for costs related to mine reclamation;
85. $750,000 for the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation
Commission to complete a riverwide TMDL review of dioxin and
PCBs;
86. $750,000 for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
for Lake Pontchartrain water quality improvement projects.
87. $250,000 for the Maryland Bureau of Mines for an acid
mine drainage remediation project;
88. $1,000,000 for projects demonstrating the benefits of
Low Impact Development along the Anacostia Watershed in
Prince Georges County, Maryland, including $500,000 for storm
drains and trash traps;
89. $250,000 for the Midwest Technology Assistance Center
at the University of Illinois;
90. $500,000 for the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation
District for toxic pollutant control;
91. $500,000 for the Center for Agricultural and Rural
Development at Iowa State University for the Resource and
Agricultural Policy Systems program;
92. $500,000 for the Small Business Pollution Prevention
Center at the University of Northern Iowa;
93. $500,000 for the painting and coating assistance
initiative through the University of Northern Iowa;
94. $500,000 for the Department of Water Supply, County of
Maui, Hawaii for the upcountry Maui lead-water reduction
plan;
95. $250,000 for the Economic Development Alliance of
Hawaii to promote biotechnology to reduce pesticide use;
96. $400,000 for the County of Hawaii and the Hawaii Island
Economic Development Board for community-based waste
recycling and reuse system;
[[Page 31757]]
97. $200,000 for the Milwaukee Community Services Corps for
a phytoremediation treatability plan;
98. $300,000 for the Great Lakes Indian and Wildlife
Commission;
99. $250,000 for the Northwest Straits Commission for
Washington State University's beach watchers program;
100. $350,000 for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
tribal water quality program;
101. $300,000 for the Walker Lake Working Group in Nevada
for scientific, analytical, and other technical assistance to
evaluate solutions for the restoration of Walker Lake;
102. $200,000 to the Walker Lake Paiute Tribe to conduct
environmental remediation of ordnance and other toxic
materials on tribal lands;
103. $325,000 for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe for an
environmental characterization study of mine drainage on the
Owybee River, riparian areas, and other areas on the Tribe's
Duck Valley Reservation;
104. $750,000 for the University of West Florida's PERCH
program;
105. $200,000 for pollution prevention of Wreck Pond and
nearby beaches in Spring Lake, New Jersey;
106. $250,000 for a storm water research initiative at the
University of Vermont;
107. $500,000 for New Bedford, Massachusetts, for
environmental education and science programs;
108. $200,000 for the Northeast Waste Management Officials
Association [NEWMOA];
109. $200,000 for the Northeast States for Coordinated Air
Use Management [NESCAUM];
110. $2,000,000 for the National Alternative Fuels Training
Consortium; and
111. $500,000 for the Clinton River Watershed Initiative in
Michigan.
The conferees strongly support the objectives of the
Agency's enforcement program, and have provided additional
resources to enable the Agency to fund a total of not less
than 2,237 enforcement FTEs in this account (3,465 FTEs
throughout the Agency), equal to the fiscal year 2003 enacted
level.
The conference agreement provides the full budget request
for the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP), the
High Production Volume (HPV) Chemical Challenge Program, and
the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP).
The conference agreement also provides the full budget
request for the Great Lakes National Program Office.
The conference agreement provides the full budget request
of $2,000,000 for the Water Information Sharing and Analysis
Center (Water ISAC) to gather, analyze, and disseminate
sensitive security information to water and wastewater
systems. The conferees direct that the Water ISAC shall be
implemented through a grant to the Association of
Metropolitan Water Agencies.
The conferees have, within available funds, provided
$2,000,000 for nine Environmental Finance Centers, the same
as for fiscal year 2003. Also from within available funds,
the Agency is provided with $250,000 to continue development
of BASINS models, GIS mapping, integration with other
financial and planning tools, and incorporation of cost-
effectiveness considerations into integrated priority ranking
systems.
Within available funds, the Agency is directed to contract
with an independent research organization, within 60 days of
enactment, to complete a comprehensive study of jobs created
by water infrastructure financing, as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees expect EPA to specify all funding for paid
advertising throughout the Agency in the fiscal year 2004
operating plan and in the fiscal year 2005 budget submission.
The conferees are concerned that Federal agencies continue
to receive failing grades due to weaknesses in cyber security
management. To address this weakness, the conferees believe
agencies can use vulnerability management as a means of
securing critical computer networks. The conferees direct EPA
to provide no less than $500,000, within available funds, to
demonstrate a cyber-security/vulnerability management
solution which, in real time, continuously and accurately
discovers network exposures and measures policy compliance in
an extensible and scalable manner. This management solution
can be achieved by using appliance-based technology to run a
hardened operating system that communicates through
encryption using digital certificates for authentication. The
conferees direct the Agency to report to the Committees on
Appropriations on the efficacy of this technology no later
than October 1, 2004.
The conferees understand that EPA supports Electro
Catalytic Oxidation, a multi-pollutant control technology for
coal fired power plants. The conferees encourage EPA to
continue to explore the potential clean air benefits of this
promising technology.
The conferees support the Agency's electronics recycling
initiative, and encourage the Agency to support pilot
projects through the Polymer Alliance Zone's MARCEE
Initiative to develop a market-based sustainable electronics
recycling infrastructure.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriates $37,558,000 for the Office of Inspector
General, an increase of $750,000 over the amounts proposed by
the House and the Senate. In addition to amounts appropriated
directly to the OIG, $13,214,000 is also available by
transfer from funds appropriated for the Hazardous Substance
Superfund.
The conferees have included language designating the
Inspector General of EPA to serve as the Inspector General
for the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. An
additional $750,000, not in the budget request, and up to 5
FTEs are provided in fiscal year 2004 for this function. The
conferees direct that adequate funding be included in the
budget request in future fiscal years to carry out this
function.
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
Appropriates $40,000,000 for buildings and facilities,
instead of $42,918,000 as proposed by the Senate and
$42,368,000 as proposed by the House.
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE SUPERFUND
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $1,265,000,000 for Hazardous Substance
Superfund as proposed by the Senate instead of $1,275,000,000
as proposed by the House. Bill language provides that such
sums as are available from the Superfund trust fund upon the
date of enactment are available for this activity, with the
remainder to be derived from general revenues of the
Treasury. Additional language provides for the transfer of
$13,214,000 to the Office of Inspector General, and for the
transfer of $44,697,000 to the Science and Technology
account. The conference agreement does not include delayed
obligations in the superfund account as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees have agreed to the following fiscal year 2004
funding levels:
1. $880,281,000 for Superfund response and cleanup
activities, an increase of $28,895,000 over the fiscal year
2003 enacted level.
2. $147,557,000 for enforcement activities.
3. $140,425,000 for management and support.
4. $13,214,000 for transfer to the Office of Inspector
General.
5. $44,697,000 for research and development activities, to
be transferred to the Science and Technology account.
6. $38,826,000 for reimbursable interagency activities,
including $28,150,000 for the Department of Justice and
$10,676,000 for OSHA, FEMA, NOAA, the United States Coast
Guard, and for the Department of the Interior.
The conferees direct the EPA IG to conduct an evaluation of
Superfund expenditures at headquarters and the regions and
recommend options for increasing resources directed to
extramural cleanup while minimizing administrative costs. The
conference agreement does not include a provision, as
proposed by the Senate, to require EPA to allocate a specific
percentage of its superfund budget to site remedy
construction and long-term response activities. However, the
conferees expect EPA to direct the maximum possible resources
to these activities, and look forward to reviewing the IG's
recommendations for increasing funding for these critical
activities within available resources.
The conferees direct the EPA Inspector General to conduct
an investigation into all financial transactions, including
revenue and spending, by the Gloucester Environmental
Management Services (GEMS) Trust, and make its findings
available to the public no later than April 1, 2004.
LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK PROGRAM
Appropriates $76,000,000 for the leaking underground
storage tank program instead of $79,845,000 as proposed by
the House and $72,545,000 as proposed by the Senate.
OIL SPILL RESPONSE
Appropriates $16,209,000 for oil spill response as proposed
by the House and the Senate.
state and tribal assistance grants
Appropriates $3,896,800,000 for state and tribal assistance
grants instead of $3,601,950,000 as proposed by the House and
$3,814,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Bill language
specifically provides $1,350,000,000 for Clean Water State
Revolving Fund (SRF) capitalization grants, of which up to
$75,000,000 is to be made available for use by States that
choose to make loans, including interest-free loans, that
increase non-point and non-structural, decentralized
alternatives, expanding the choices available to communities
in their fight for clean water. The conferees again strongly
encourage States that can do so to pursue innovative
technologies in this regard, but emphasize that this program
is voluntary and that States not participating in the program
will nevertheless continue to receive their normal level of
funding through the established SRF formulas.
Additional bill language provides $850,000,000 for Safe
Drinking Water SRF capitalization grants; $50,000,000 for the
United States-Mexico Border program; $43,000,000 for grants
to address drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs
in rural and native Alaska communities; $3,500,000 for
remediation of above ground leaking fuel tanks in Alaska
pursuant to Public Law 106-554; $6,600,000 for grants for
construction of alternative decentralized wastewater
facilities; $93,500,000 for Brownfields grants;
$1,175,200,000 for categorical grants to the states and
tribes, including $50,000,000 for
[[Page 31758]]
Brownfields categorical grants and $20,000,000 for the
Environmental Information Exchange program; and $325,000,000
for cost-shared grants for construction of water and
wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure and for
groundwater protection infrastructure.
The conferees have included bill language which: (1) for
fiscal year 2004, authorizes the Administrator of the EPA to
use funds appropriated pursuant to the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) to make grants to Indian tribes
pursuant to section 319(h) and 518(e) of FWPCA; (2) will
permit the states to include as principal amounts considered
to be the cost of administering SRF loans to eligible
borrowers, with certain limitations; (3) for fiscal year
2004, authorizes the states to transfer funds between the
Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water SRF programs; and (4)
stipulates that no funds provided in the Act to address water
infrastructure needs of colonias within the United States
along the United States-Mexico border shall be made available
to a county or municipal government unless that governmental
entity has established an enforceable ordinance or rule which
prevents the development or construction of any additional
colonia areas, or the development within an existing colonia
of any new home, business, or other structure which lacks
water, wastewater, or other necessary infrastructure.
As in previous years, the conferees have included bill
language which stipulates that none of the funds provided in
this or any previous years' Act for the Safe Drinking Water
SRF may be reserved by the Administrator for health effects
studies on drinking water contaminants. The conferees have
instead provided significant resources for such studies
within EPA's Science and Technology account.
The conferees have included new bill language which sets
certain requirements for Alaska Native Village grants,
including: (1) a 25% cost share from the State of Alaska; (2)
a limitation on administrative expenses; and (3) the
establishment of a statewide priority list and a set-aside
for regional hub communities.
The conferees eliminated a provision included by the Senate
which was designed to make the use of targeted water and
wastewater investments in combination with funding from state
revolving funds more flexible. The House did not include this
provision. Because of concerns over the best way to address
flexibility in the combined use of these funds, the conferees
instead direct the EPA to report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations by February 15, 2004 with
recommendations on ways to enhance the combined use of these
funds.
The conferees have included bill language which makes
technical corrections and changes to grants approved in
previous fiscal years.
Of the funds provided for the United States-Mexico Border
program, $7,000,000 is for continuation of the El Paso, Texas
desalination and water supply project, and $2,000,000 is for
the Brownsville, Texas water supply project.
The conference agreement provides $6,600,000 for six
specific grants under the National Decentralized Wastewater
Demonstration program. The program, which has shown success
in developing and transferring technologies which offer
alternatives to centralized wastewater treatment facilities,
also requires a cost-share whereby each grantee must provide
25% of the project's total cost. The six projects included
for funding are located in Seattle, Washington ($1,350,000);
Blackstone Watershed, Massachusetts and Rhode Island
($1,350,000); Boise, Idaho ($1,000,000); Pasquotank River
Watershed, North Carolina ($1,350,000); Washington, D.C.
($800,000); and Chagrin River Watershed, Ohio ($750,000). As
in previous years, these projects were determined by non-
governmental, independent analysis based upon their unique
and diverse geology and geography, their ability to provide
the greatest technological diversity using limited financial
resources, and the commitment of each community or regional
area to find and fund appropriate alternative technologies to
resolve their wastewater treatment needs.
Within the State and Tribal Categorical Grant program, the
conference agreement includes:
1. $228,550,000 for air resource assistance to State and
local governments under sections 103 and 105 of the Clean Air
Act, including $10,000,000 for the five State/Regional Haze
planning organizations;
2. $11,050,000 for air resource assistance grants to Tribal
governments;
3. $8,150,000 for radon grants;
4. $200,400,000 for water pollution control Agency resource
supplementation under section 106 of FWPCA;
5. $10,000,000 for beach grants to develop and implement
monitoring and information programs for coastal recreation
waters pursuant to the Beach Environmental Assessment and
Coastal Health Act of 2000;
6. $238,550,000 for section 319 of FWPCA non-point source
pollution grants, including programs formerly eligible under
the section 314 Clean Lakes program;
7. $15,000,000 for wetlands program development grants;
8. $19,000,000 for water quality cooperative agreements
under section 104(b)(3) of FWPCA;
9. $15,000,000 for targeted watershed grants;
10. $102,600,000 for public water system supervision
grants;
11. $11,000,000 for underground injection control grants;
12. $5,000,000 for Drinking Water Program State Homeland
Security Coordination grants;
13. $106,400,000 for RCRA financial assistance grants;
14. $50,000,000 for Brownfields categorical cleanup grants;
15. $11,950,000 for underground storage tank grants;
16. $13,100,000 for pesticides program implementation
grants;
17. $13,700,000 for lead risk reduction grants;
18. $5,150,000 for toxic substances compliance/enforcement
grants;
19. $19,900,000 for pesticides enforcement grants;
20. $20,000,000 for the information exchange network
program;
21. $6,000,000 for pollution prevention incentive grants;
22. $2,250,000 for enforcement and compliance assurance
grants; and
23. $62,500,000 for Indians general assistance grants.
The conferees have not provided funding for a grant for
drinking water infrastructure improvements in San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
The conferees have provided $325,000,000 for a targeted
program making grants to communities for the construction of
drinking water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure and
for water quality protection. As in past years, these grants
shall be accompanied by a cost-share requirement whereby 45
percent of a project's cost is the responsibility of the
community or entity receiving the grant. In those few cases
where such cost-share requirement poses a particular
financial burden on the recipient community or entity, the
conferees support the Agency's use of its long-standing
guidance for financial capability assessments to determine
reductions or waivers from this match requirement.
With the exception of the limited instances in which an
applicant meets the criteria for a waiver, the conferees have
provided no more than 55% of an individual project's cost,
regardless of the amount appropriated below. Consistent with
direction in the fiscal year 2003 Conference Report on this
bill, the phrase `terms and conditions' referenced in the
bill language includes the maximum 55% federal share, as well
as the intended recipients and the specific project
descriptions, as listed below.
The distribution of funds under this program is as follows:
1. $85,000 to the City of Cedar Bluff, Alabama for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
2. $90,000 to the Town of Pennington, Alabama for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
3. $100,000 to the Fayette, Alabama, Water Works Board for
water system infrastructure improvements;
4. $100,000 to the Limestone County Water and Sewer
Authority, Alabama for drinking water improvements;
5. $100,000 to the City of Athens, Alabama for wastewater
system improvements;
6. $100,000 to Lawrence County, Alabama for the Bankhead
Forest Water project;
7. $100,000 to the city of New Hope, Alabama for wastewater
system improvements;
8. $850,000 for the Coosa Valley Water Supply District for
development of a surface water supply in St. Clair County,
Alabama;
9. $175,000 to the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water and
Sewer Authority, Alabama for water infrastructure
improvements;
10. $175,000 to the City of Lineville, Alabama for purchase
and construction of a water tank;
11. $200,000 to Walker County Commission, Alabama for water
line extensions in isolated areas;
12. $200,000 to Colbert County, Alabama, for water system
improvements;
13. $200,000 to the Utilities Board of the Town of
Citronelle, Alabama for water infrastructure improvements;
14. $225,000 to the West Lawrence Water Co-Op of Mount
Hope, Alabama for water system infrastructure improvements;
15. $250,000 to Atalla, Alabama, for sewerage system
improvements;
16. $300,000 to the Town of Gordo, Alabama for sanitary
sewer expansion project;
17. $300,000 to the Guntersville, Alabama, Water and Sewer
Board for the Sand Mountain water storage system project;
18. $550,000 to the Waterworks Board for the Towns of
Section and Dutton, Alabama for water system improvements;
19. $350,000 to the Town of Berry, Alabama for construction
of a wetlands treatment facility;
20. $350,000 to the Chilton Water Authority in Chilton
County, Alabama for water infrastructure improvements;
21. $400,000 to Jackson County, Alabama for water system
improvements;
22. $400,000 to the West Lauderdale County Water and Fire
Protection Authority, Alabama for construction of a water
treatment plant;
[[Page 31759]]
23. $475,000 to Franklin County, Alabama for water system
infrastructure improvements;
24. $500,000 to Hartselle Utilities for wastewater
infrastructure improvements in the City of Hartselle,
Alabama;
25. $700,000 to Lawrence County, Alabama for construction
of a wastewater treatment facility;
26. $850,000 to the Upper Bear Creek Water Treatment Plant
in Haleyville, Alabama, for water treatment plant improvement
project;
27. $875,000 to the CREMS (Carlisle, Rockledge, Egypt,
Mountainboro, and Shady Grove) Water Authority, Alabama for
water system infrastructure improvements;
28. $1,000,000 to the City of Florence, Alabama for the
rehabilitation of the Canal/Jones Hollow Interceptor sewer
lines;
29. $250,000 to be shared equally between the Brent Water
and Sewer Board and the Centreville Water and Sewer Board in
Bibb County, Alabama for water and wastewater infrastructure
improvements;
30. $2,000,000 to the Tom Bevill Reservoir Management Area
Authority for construction of a drinking water reservoir in
Fayette County, Alabama;
31. $450,000 to the Southwest Alabama Regional Water supply
District for regional water supply distribution in
Thomasville, Alabama;
32. $100,000 to the Town of Hodges, Alabama for the Hodges
water improvement project;
33. $150,000 to the Town of Double Springs, Alabama for
water system improvements;
34. $250,000 for Smith's Sewer and Water Authority for
sewer system expansion in Smith, Alabama;
35. $100,000 to the Water and Sewer Boards of the Cities of
Brent and Centreville for court ordered repairs to the system
to mitigate water pollution in Centreville, Alabama;
36. $250,000 to the City of Athens Utilities for commercial
sewage extension in Athens, Alabama;
37. $100,000 to the Wilcox County Industrial Authority in
Camden, Alabama for water and sewer infrastructure
improvements in Wilcox County, Alabama;
38. $150,000 for the Cherokee County Commission for Weiss
Lake Area system improvements in Centre, Alabama;
39. $2,000,000 for Anchorage, Alaska for water and sewer
upgrades in West Anchorage;
40. $1,500,000 for Fairbanks, Alaska for water system
upgrades;
41. $1,000,000 for North Pole, Alaska for water and sewer
improvements;
42. $985,000 for Palmer, Alaska for a water main;
43. $768,000 for Sitka, Alaska for Japonski Island water
supply improvements;
44. $925,000 for Wasilla, Alaska for water and sewer
improvements;
45. $300,000 to the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona
to prepare a master plan for drinking water infrastructure on
the Fort Apache Indian Reservation;
46. $1,000,000 for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona for the
Scottsdale Arsenic Removal Pilot Project;
47. $602,000 for the City of Safford, Arizona, for
wastewater treatment plant construction costs;
48. $600,000 to the City of Avondale, Arizona for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
49. $750,000 to the Town of Huachuca, Arizona for the
Effluent Recharge Project;
50. $750,000 to the City of Tucson, Arizona for water
security infrastructure improvements;
51. $100,000 to the Baxter County Water Facilities Board,
Arkansas for water and wastewater infrastructure
improvements;
52. $125,000 to the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas for
developing drainage plans;
53. $200,000 to the Faulkner County Public Utilities Board,
Arkansas for wastewater infrastructure improvements for Lake
Conway;
54. $300,000 to the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority,
Arkansas for water infrastructure improvements;
55. $650,000 for the Community Water System Public Water
Authority of Arkansas in Lonoke and White Counties for the
Greers Ferry drinking water project;
56. $650,000 for the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
57. $100,000 to the City of Chino Hills, California for a
needs assessment study for 39 improvements to the Los
Serranos storm water drainage system;
58. $110,000 to the City of East Palo Alto, California for
the East Palo Alto Master Water Plan including water,
wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements;
59. $475,000 to the City of Brisbane, California for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
60. $200,000 to the City of Colton, California for
stormwater infrastructure improvements as part of the
Comprehensive 3-5 Storm Drain Plan;
61. $200,000 to the Los Osos Community Services District,
California for wastewater infrastructure improvements;
62. $200,000 to the City of Modesto, California for the
Ninth Street Corridor Storm Drain project;
63. $200,000 to the City of Norwalk, California for the
Norwalk Reservoir Project;
64. $200,000 to the City of Cudahy, California for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
65. $200,000 to the City of Bell, California for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
66. $200,000 to Marin County, California for the Tomales
Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility;
67. $250,000 to the City of Long Beach, California for
storm water infrastructure improvements;
68. $450,000 to the City of Westminster, California for a
water quality improvement pilot project;
69. $250,000 to the City of Fort Bragg, California for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
70. $250,000 for the City of Gardena, California for
wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements;
71. $500,000 to the City of Santa Ana, California for the
West Pump Station Facility Upgrade project;
72. $300,000 to the City of Murrieta, California for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
73. $300,000 to the City of El Segundo, California for
sanitary sewer overflow infrastructure improvements;
74. $300,000 to the City of Santa Monica, California for
water infrastructure improvements;
75. $350,000 to the Monterey County Water Resource Agency
in California for planning and design of the Salinas Valley
Water Project;
76. $350,000 to the City of Roseville, California for water
infrastructure improvements;
77. $350,000 to the City of Vallejo, California for
infrastructure improvements for the Mare Island Sanitary
Sewer and Storm Drain System;
78. $475,000 to the City of Huntington Beach, California
for the Alabama Storm Drain project;
79. $400,000 to the Irvine Ranch Water District, California
for the San Diego Creek Watershed Natural Treatment System;
80. $400,000 to the County of Ventura, California for
implementation of the Calleguas Creek Watershed Management
Plan;
81. $400,000 to the United Water Conservation District,
California for the River Park Reclamation and Recharge
Authority Groundwater Project;
82. $400,000 to the City of Redding, California for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements for the Stillwater
Business Park;
83. $400,000 to the City of Victorville, California for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
84. $400,000 to the City of Whittier, California for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
85. $400,000 to the City of Folsom, California for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
86. $400,000 to the City of Lodi, California for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
87. $500,000 to the City of Fresno, California for a water
conveyance project;
88. $650,000 to Placer County, California for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
89. $750,000 to the San Diego Water Authority, California
for a water desalination program;
90. $800,000 to the Olivenhain Municipal Water District in
Encinitas, California for water infrastructure improvements;
91. $800,000 to the City of Sacramento, California for the
Sacramento Combined Sewer System Improvement and
Rehabilitation Project;
92. $800,000 to the Castaic Lake Water Agency, California
for wastewater infrastructure improvements;
93. $1,100,000 to the Mojave Water Agency, California for
the Mojave Desert Arsenic Demonstration project;
94. $1,650,000 to the Cities of Arcadia and Sierra Madre,
California for water infrastructure improvements;
95. $1,000,000 for the Orange County Sanitation District,
California for a wastewater treatment program;
96. $500,000 to the Mission Springs, California Water
District for water infrastructure improvements;
97. $500,000 to the City of San Bernardino, California for
the Lakes and Streams project;
98. $1,000,000 for the Santa Clara Valley Water District,
California for perchlorate groundwater clean-up;
99. $500,000 for the City of Ukiah, California for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
100. $500,000 for the West Valley Water District,
California for the Inland Empire Perchlorate Force Wellhead
Treatment;
101. $500,000 for Madera County, California for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
102. $200,000 for Ventura County, California for sewer
infrastructure improvements;
103. $1,000,000 to the Town of Rico, Colorado for the
construction of a wastewater treatment plant and sewer
system;
104. $1,000,000 for the Brownsville Water District,
Colorado for the construction of a sanitary sewer collection
system and interceptor line;
105. $1,000,000 for the Englewood/Littleton Bi-City
Wastewater Treatment Plant, Colorado for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
106. $200,000 to the Town of Prospect, Connecticut for
water infrastructure improvements;
[[Page 31760]]
107. $550,000 for the Town of Southington, Connecticut for
water infrastructure improvements;
108. $500,000 to the City of Stamford, Connecticut for
stormwater management improvements for the restoration of the
Mill River ecosystem;
109. $900,000 for the Town of East Hampton, Connecticut for
water infrastructure improvements;
110. $500,000 for the City of New Britain, Connecticut for
drinking water infrastructure improvements;
111. $1,100,000 for the City of Wilmington, Delaware for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
112. $400,000 to the Metropolitan Washington Council of
Governments for its Regional Water System Security
Enhancement Program;
113. $1,000,000 for the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach
County, Florida for continued construction of the Tr-County
Biosolids Pelletization Facility;
114. $1,000,000 for Key Biscayne, Florida for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
115. $175,000 to the City of Miami Gardens, Florida for
drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and sewer
infrastructure improvements;
116. $200,000 to Citrus County, Florida for wastewater
infrastructure improvements for the Homosassa and
Chassahowitzka Water Collection System;
117. $200,000 to the City of Hollywood, Florida for water
infrastructure improvements;
118. $200,000 to Palm Beach County, Florida for
improvements at the Lake Okeechobee Regional Water Treatment
Plant;
119. $200,000 to the Southwest Florida Management District
for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements for
Weeki Wachee Springs;
120. $300,000 for the Northwest Florida Management District
for the Escambia County Utility Authority Water Reclamation
Project;
121. $240,000 to the City of Marathon, Florida for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements for the Boot Key
Municipal Harbor Development;
122. $300,000 to Orange County, Florida for wastewater
infrastructure improvements in Holden Heights;
123. $350,000 to the City of Tampa, Florida for the South
Tampa Area Reclaimed Project;
124. $350,000 to St. Johns County, Florida for the
Stormwater and Septic Tank Replacement Project;
125. $400,000 to Sarasota County, Florida for the Phillipi
Creek Septic Tank Replacement Project;
126. $400,000 to the City of Key West, Florida for
stormwater infrastructure improvements;
127. $400,000 to the City of Oakland Park, Florida for the
Kimberly Lake Drainage Project;
128. $400,000 to the City of Riviera Beach, Florida for
stormwater infrastructure improvements for Lake Worth Lagoon;
129. $400,000 to the Town of Orange Park, Florida for
wastewater infrastructure improvements for the St. Johns
River;
130. $650,000 to the County of Putnam, Florida for a
Regional Water System project;
131. $800,000 to the City of Sweetwater, Florida for
stormwater and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
132. $800,000 to the City of Homestead, Florida for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
133. $800,000 to the Southwest Florida Water Management
District for the Upper Peace River Watershed Restoration
Initiative;
134. $2,000,000 for St. Johns Rivers Water Management
District, Florida to integrate alternative water supplies in
east-central Florida to reduce the regional water supply
deficit;
135. $450,000 for St. Johns Rivers Water Management
District, Florida for the Northeast Florida Integrated Water
Resources Project;
136. $10,000,000 to the Southwest Florida Water Management
District for continuation of the Tampa Bay Reservoir Project;
137. $110,000 to the City of Helena, Georgia for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
138. $350,000 to the Liberty County Development Authority,
Georgia for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements
for the Liberty County Coastal Megapark;
139. $400,000 to the City of Roswell, Georgia for the Big
Creek Watershed Project;
140. $1,250,000 for the City of Forsyth, Georgia for
wastewater infrastructure--improvements;
141. $700,000 to the City of Atlanta, Georgia for the West
Area Combined Sewer project;
142. $600,000 to Gwinnett County, Georgia for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements for the Liberty
Heights revitalization project;
143. $1,100,000 for the Metropolitan North Georgia Water
Planning District for water and wastewater infrastructure
improvement projects;
144. $1,000,000 to the Metropolitan North Georgia Water
Planning District for water and wastewater infrastructure
improvements for the City of Atlanta Nancy Creek project;
145. $2,250,000 for Columbus Water Works, Columbus, Georgia
for its Biosolids Flow-Through Thermophilic Treatment
Demonstration Project;
146. $350,000 to Meriweather County, Georgia for water
infrastructure improvements;
147. $300,000 to the Guam Waterworks Authority for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
148. $1,000,000 for Oahu County and Kauai County, Hawaii
for water infrastructure improvements;
149. $400,000 to the City of Middleton, Idaho for its water
and sewer utility extension and regional lift station
project;
150. $500,000 to the City of McCammon, Idaho for wastewater
system improvements;
151. $900,000 to the City of Jerome, Idaho for extension of
sewer lines;
152. $2,000,000 for Shoshone County, Idaho, for Burke
Canyon Water and Sewer Improvements;
153. $500,000 for the City of Burley, Idaho, for
construction on its Wastewater Treatment System Project;
154. $100,000 to the Village of Carbon Hill, Illinois for
water infrastructure improvements;
155. $125,000 to the Village of Romeoville, Illinois for
stormwater infrastructure improvements;
156. $200,000 to the Village of Lisbon, Illinois for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
157. $200,000 to the Town of Cortland, Illinois for
construction of an elevated water storage tower;
158. $200,000 to the Village of Burlington, Illinois for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
159. $200,000 to the City of Genoa, Illinois for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
160. $250,000 for the Village of Oreana, Illinois for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
161. $300,000 to the City of Shelbyville, Illinois for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
162. $300,000 to the City of Breese, Illinois for water
infrastructure improvements;
163. $325,000 to the Village of Downs, Illinois for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
164. $350,000 for the City of Delavan, Illinois for the
construction of new water service lines and storage tanks;
165. $350,000 for the City of Springfield, Illinois for the
replacement of the First Street Sanitary Sewer and stormwater
management for Memorial Medical Center;
166. $350,000 to the Lake County Stormwater Management
Committee, Illinois for stormwater detention, infrastructure,
modeling, design and management activities in the upper Des
Flames River watershed;
167. $500,000 for Lake County, Illinois for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
168. $350,000 to the Village of Johnsburg, Illinois for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
169. $400,000 to the Village of LaGrange Park, Illinois for
a water main replacement project;
170. $401,500 for the Village of Washington, Illinois for
improvements to the School Street Sewer Interceptor;
171. $500,000 for the City of Virginia, Illinois for the
construction of a water treatment facility;
172. $500,000 for the City of Lincoln, Illinois for
upgrades for its wastewater treatment plant;
173. $500,000 for the Village of Armington, Illinois for
the construction of a sanitary sewer project;
174. $500,000 for the City of Forsyth, Illinois for
construction of a new water treatment plant;
175. $500,000 to the Village of Port Barrington, Illinois
for wastewater infrastructure improvements;
176. $648,500 for the City of Peoria, Illinois for the
installation of sanitary sewer infrastructure in Growth cells
2 and 3;
177. $500,000 for Galesburg Sanitary District, Illinois for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
178. $500,000 for the Village of Franklin Park, Illinois
for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
179. $500,000 for the City of Galena, Illinois to expand
and improve wastewater facilities;
180. $200,000 for the City of Wilmington, Illinois for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
181. $900,000 to the City of Martinsville, Indiana for
water supply, water storage, and other water infrastructure
improvements;
182. $200,000 to the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
183. $200,000 to the City of Richmond, Indiana for
wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements;
184. $250,000 to be divided equally between Vanderburgh
County and the City of Evansville, Indiana for Pigeon Creek
wastewater system improvements;
185. $400,000 to the City of Carmel, Indiana for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
186. $1,200,000 to the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana for the
Camp Scott Program for water and wastewater infrastructure
improvements;
187. $750,000 to Rensselaer, Indiana for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
[[Page 31761]]
188. $200,000 for the Delaware County Commissioners, Eaton,
Indiana for water system improvements;
189. $200,000 for the City of Elwood, Indiana for sewer
infrastructure improvements;
190. $1,700,000 for the City of Sioux City, Iowa for
improvements at the Sioux City Regional Wastewater Treatment
Facility;
191. $200,000 to the City of Postville, Iowa for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
192. $2,500,000 for the City of Ottumwa, Iowa for the
separation of combined sewers;
193. $600,000 for the Mason City Water Treatment Plant in
Mason City, Iowa for water infrastructure improvements;
194. $200,000 for the City of Carroll, Iowa for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
195. $2,000,000 for the City of Hutchinson, Kansas for
groundwater remediation;
196. $1,250,000 for the City of Roeland Park, Kansas for
stormwater infrastructure improvements;
197. $450,000 to the City of Newton, Kansas for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
198. $500,000 to the City of Frankfort, Kentucky for the
Schenkel Lane Sewer Replacement project;
199. $200,000 to Grant County, Kentucky for the Grant
County/Bullock Pen Waterline Extension project;
200. $200,000 to the City of Wickliffe, Kentucky for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
201. $500,000 to the Boyle County Fiscal Court, Kentucky
for wastewater infrastructure improvements;
202. $350,000 to the City of Whitesburg, Kentucky for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
203. $480,000 to the City of Mt. Vernon, Kentucky for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
204. $800,000 to Martin County, Kentucky for wastewater
infrastructure improvements and extension of wastewater
lines;
205. $1,000,000 for the Louisville/Jefferson County
Metropolitan Sewer District, Kentucky to construct a wet
weather storage basin to control sewer overflows;
206. $500,000 to the South Woodford Water District in
Woodford County, Kentucky, for the South Woodford Water
District System Improvement Project;
207. $500,000 to the Hardin County Water District No. 2 in
Hardin County, Kentucky, for the Elizabethtown Loop Project;
208. $2,000,000 to the Intermodal Transportation Authority
in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for Kentucky TriModal Transpark
Water and Sewer Improvements;
209. $1,000,000 for Sanitation District Number One in
Kentucky for water infrastructure improvements;
210. $700,000 for the Ohio County Regional Wastewater
District, Kentucky for wastewater infrastructure
improvements;
211. $300,000 for the State of Kentucky for water
infrastructure improvements in Union County;
212. $200,000 to the City of Denham Springs, Louisiana for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
213. $300,000 to the Military Department of Louisiana for
wastewater infrastructure improvements at the Gillis W. Long
Center in St. Gabriel, Louisiana;
214. $400,000 to the City of New Orleans, Louisiana for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
215. $800,000 to the City of Shreveport, Louisiana for the
installation of backflow preventers within the water
distribution system;
216. $800,000 to the South Central Planning and Development
Commission, Louisiana for water and wastewater infrastructure
improvements;
217. $1,000,000 for the City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana for
water infrastructure improvements;
218. $750,000 for the City of Monroe, Louisiana for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
219. $750,000 for the Town of Gramercy, Louisiana for
drinking water infrastructure improvements;
220. $700,000 for the City of St. Martinville, Louisiana
for wastewater infrastructure improvements;
221. $500,000 for the City of Gardiner, Maine for sewer
infrastructure improvements;
222. $250,000 for the Town of Machias, Maine for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
223. $250,000 for Indian Township, Maine for improvements
to wastewater facilities;
224. $300,000 to the Sanford Sewer District, Maine for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
225. $1,000,000 for the Town of Westemport, Maryland for
sewer infrastructure improvements;
226. $500,000 for Chestertown, Maryland for water
infrastructure improvements;
227. $500,000 for the Town of Delmar, Maryland for water
infrastructure improvements;
228. $500,000 to the City of Crisfield, Maryland for water
infrastructure improvements and construction of biological
nutrient removal facilities;
229. $500,000 for the Town of Hurlock, Maryland for water
infrastructure improvements;
230. $500,000 for nutrient control at wastewater treatment
plants on the Pocomoke River in Maryland;
231. $1,000,000 for Harford County, Maryland for the Oaklyn
Manor Project;
232. $500,000 for the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources for water quality restoration projects on the
Stoney Run and Dorsey Run in Howard and Anne Arundel
Counties, Maryland;
233. $200,000 to the Town of Elkton, Maryland for
construction of biological nutrient removal facilities;
234. $350,000 to the City of Cambridge, Maryland for
combined sewer overflow infrastructure improvements;
235. $400,000 to the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission for wastewater disinfection system upgrades for
Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, Maryland;
236. $200,000 to the Boston Groundwater Trust of
Massachusetts for its groundwater initiative;
237. $450,000 to the City of Brockton, Massachusetts for
wastewater infrastructure improvements at the Brockton
Wastewater Treatment Facility;
238. $200,000 for wastewater infrastructure improvement
projects in Essex County, Massachusetts;
239. $250,000 to the City of Lowell, Massachusetts for
combined sewer overflow infrastructure improvements;
240. $1,100,000 for the Cities of New Bedford and Fall
River, Massachusetts for combined sewer overflow mitigation
in Bristol County;
241. $500,000 to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission for
sewage pollution control projects along the Connecticut River
in Massachusetts and Connecticut;
242. $200,000 to the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan for
the Saginaw Chippewa Water Main Extension Project;
243. $1,000,000 for the Huron Regional Water Authority in
Michigan for water infrastructure improvements;
244. $250,000 to the Grand Traverse County Board of Public
Works, Water and Sewer Committee, Michigan for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
245. $300,000 to the City of Negaunee, Michigan for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
246. $725,000 for Genesee County Drain Commission, Michigan
for the NorthEast Relief Sewer and Kearsley Creek Interceptor
project;
247. $400,000 to the City of Detroit, Michigan for
wastewater infrastructure improvements at the Belle Isle
Sewerage Pumping Station and Combined Sewer Overflow
Facility;
248. $750,000 to the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan for
combined sewer overflow infrastructure improvements;
249. $1,000,000 to Wayne County, Michigan for continuation
of the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration
Project;
250. $1,375,000 for the Oakland County Drain Commission to
address sanitary sewer overflows in Evergreen Farmington,
Michigan;
251. $1,000,000 for the City of Benton Harbor, Michigan for
water infrastructure improvements;
252. $400,000 for Crystal Falls Township, Michigan for
water infrastructure improvements;
253. $1,000,000 for the City of Saginaw, Michigan for sewer
infrastructure improvements;
254. $1,050,000 to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe located on
the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation, as established in the
Treaty of 1855, 10 Stat. 1165 for construction of the Mille
Lacs Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility in Minnesota;
255. $500,000 for the City of Moorhead, Minnesota for water
infrastructure improvements;
256. $300,000 to the City of Roseau, Minnesota for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
257. $750,000 to the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota for
combined sewer overflow infrastructure improvements;
258. $450,000 for the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi for
stormwater and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
259. $1,000,000 for the City of Forest, Mississippi for
water infrastructure improvements;
260. $200,000 for the City of Gulfport, Mississippi for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
261. $1,000,000 for the West Rankin Metropolitan Water and
Sewer Authority, Rankin County, Mississippi for water
infrastructure improvements;
262. $500,000 for Tchula, Mississippi for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
263. $500,000 for the City of Meridian, Mississippi for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
264. $500,000 for the City of Jackson, Mississippi for
wastewater system improvements;
265. $400,000 to Franklin County, Mississippi for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements for the Okissa Lake
Community development;
266. $620,000 to the Town of Farmington, Mississippi for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
267. $1,500,000 for Joplin, Missouri for the Shoal Creek
Pre-treatment facility and Silver Creek parallel relief;
268. $1,000,000 for Joplin, Missouri for the Jasper County
Crossroads Relief Sewer No. 1 Phase Two;
269. $1,000,000 for the City of St. Joseph, Missouri for
sewer infrastructure improvements;
[[Page 31762]]
270. $750,000 for Monroe City, Missouri for water main
replacement and water line extension;
271. $1,000,000 for the Cities of Peculiar and Raymore,
Missouri for the Cass County Watershed Expansion Project;
272. $700,000 for the City of Pacific, Missouri for water
and sewer infrastructure improvements;
273. $750,000 for Northwest Missouri Regional Council of
Governments for regional drinking water projects;
274. $750,000 for the City of Lebanon, Missouri for sewer
infrastructure improvements;
275. $400,000 for Wright City, Missouri for the
construction of an elevated water storage tank;
276. $150,000 for Steelville, Missouri for completion of
its water service project, well and water storage tank;
277. $500,000 to the City of St. Louis Department of Public
Utilities Water Division for the Columbia Bottoms Wellfield
Development Project in St. Louis, Missouri;
278. $175,000 to the City of Belton, Missouri for
stormwater and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
279. $300,000 to the Duckett Creek Sanitary District for
the design, permitting and construction of wastewater
treatment facilities, sanitary sewers, and other related work
as necessary to document the impact of these facilities in
St. Charles County, Missouri;
280. $350,000 to the City of Springfield, Missouri for
feasibility studies, preliminary and final designs and for
stormwater infrastructure improvements for the Upper James
River;
281. $300,000 for the City of Helena, Montana for Phase 1
of Helena's Missouri River Water Treatment Plant
reconstruction;
282. $1,000,000 for the Missouri River Water Project,
Helena, Montana for a water treatment project;
283. $600,000 for the City of Kalispell, Montana for water
treatment improvements;
284. $500,000 for the City of Missoula, Montana for the
Rattlesnake Water Project;
285. $350,000 for the City of Red Lodge, Montana for a
water treatment facility;
286. $350,000 for the City of Manhattan, Montana for a
water treatment facility;
287. $300,000 for the City of Wisdom, Montana for water
infrastructure improvements;
288. $400,000 for the City of Hamilton, Montana for water
infrastructure improvements;
289. $1,275,000 to the City of Omaha, Nebraska for
wastewater infrastructure improvements and combined sewer
overflow separation systems;
290. $375,000 for the City of Lincoln, Nebraska for the
construction of combined sewer separation systems;
291. $400,000 to the City of South Sioux City, Nebraska for
the Bi-State Missouri River Sewer Crossing project between
Nebraska and Iowa;
292. $175,000 to the City of Henderson, Nevada for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
293. $100,000 for the Town of Hawthorne, Nevada for sewer
infrastructure improvements;
294. $1,600,000 for the Virgin Valley Water District,
Nevada for drinking water infrastructure improvements;
295. $1,000,000 for Washoe County, Nevada for the North
Lemmon Valley Artificial Recharge Project;
296. $600,000 for Clark County, Nevada for water
infrastructure improvements;
297. $500,000 for the City of Berlin, New Hampshire, for
the Berlin Waterworks water distribution system improvements;
298. $500,000 for the Town of Colebrook, New Hampshire for
drinking water infrastructure improvements;
299. $300,000 for the Town of Rollingsford, New Hampshire
for wastewater treatment improvements;
300. $350,000 for the Town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire for
wastewater treatment improvements;
301. $900,000 for the City of Nashua, New Hampshire for
drinking water and combined sewer overflow infrastructure
improvements;
302. $500,000 for the City of Manchester, New Hampshire for
the Phase 1 Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement project;
303. $350,000 for the City of Rochester Waterworks, New
Hampshire for the extension of Rochester, New Hampshire sewer
line;
304. $400,000 to the State of New Jersey, New Jersey
Meadowlands Commission for wetlands restoration;
305. $500,000 to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission in
New Jersey for its combined sewage overflow reduction program
and the Passaic River/Newark Bay Restoration program;
306. $800,000 to the Township of Jefferson, New Jersey for
wastewater infrastructure improvements to help protect water
quality of Lake Hopatcong;
307. $1,000,000 for the City of Camden, New Jersey for the
Von Neida Park Wastewater Management project;
308. $700,000 for Rockland County in New York, for the
Western Ramapo Sewer Extension project;
309. $300,000 for the City of Gallup, New Mexico for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
310. $2,000,000 for the Valley Utilities Project in the
City of Albuquerque and Bemalillo County, New Mexico;
311. $1,000,000 for the City of Espanola, New Mexico, for
water and wastewater system improvements;
312. $1,000,000 for the City of Los Lunas, New Mexico, for
the interceptor sewer line project;
313. $125,000 to the Dona Ana Mutual Domestic Water
Consumers Association for wastewater management and treatment
infrastructure improvements in northern Dona Ana County, New
Mexico;
314. $300,000 to the City of Elephant Butte, New Mexico for
wastewater infrastructure improvements in North Sierra
County;
315. $600,000 to Bernalillo County, New Mexico for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements for South and
North Valley;
316. $250,000 for the City of Oswego, New York for water
infrastructure improvements;
317. $250,000 for the City of Corning, New York for a
reservoir project;
318. $113,000 to the Village of Pelham, New York for
sanitary sewer and storm water infrastructure improvement
project;
319. $125,000 to the Town of Chester, New York for water
infrastructure improvements;
320. $200,000 to the Town of Sennett, New York for water
infrastructure improvements;
321. $200,000 to the Town of Bethel, New York for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
322. $200,000 to the Village of Endicott, New York for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
323. $200,000 to the Town of Babylon, New York for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
324. $250,000 to the Town of Grand Island, New York for
wastewater and combined sewer overflow infrastructure
improvements;
325. $325,000 to Fulton County, New York for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
326. $400,000 for the Town of North Hempstead, New York for
stormwater management infrastructure improvements;
327. $400,000 to the County of Rockland, New York for the
Western Ramapo Sewer Extension and Water Reuse project;
328. $400,000 to the City of Dunkirk, New York for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
329. $400,000 to the City of Hamburg, New York for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
330. $400,000 to the Town of Greece, New York for sanitary
sewer overflow infrastructure improvements;
331. $1,500,000 to the Cayuga County Water and Sewer
Authority for wastewater infrastructure improvements for the
Village of Fair Haven, New York;
332. $250,000 to the Rivers and Estuaries Center on the
Hudson in New York for facilities construction;
333. $230,000 to the Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority
for sanitary sewer overflow improvements for the Town of
Palmyra, New York;
334. $200,000 to Onondaga County, New York for sewage
treatment plant improvements for the Village of Jordan;
335. $2,000,000 to the Saratoga Water Committee in Saratoga
County, New York for construction of a drinking water
transport pipeline;
336. $1,400,000 for the Village of Lake Placid, New York
for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
337. $500,000 to the Town of North Castle, New York for
water infrastructure improvements for the Quarry Heights
District;
338. $600,000 to the Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority
for construction of a waterline in the Towns of Sodus and
Huron, New York;
339. $3,000,000 to the City of Syracuse, New York for
Westcott Reservoir for drinking water infrastructure
improvements;
340. $5,000,000 for drinking water infrastructure needs in
the New York City Watershed;
341. $5,000,000 for water quality infrastructure
improvements for Long Island Sound, New York;
342. $12,300,000 for continued clean water improvements for
Onondaga Lake, New York;
343. $110,000 to the Town of Erwin, North Carolina to
enhance its water and wastewater infrastructure through the
renovation and repair of treatment facilities at the former
Swift Denim textile plant;
344. $200,000 to the City of Shelby, North Carolina for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
345. $1,000,000 for the Neuse Regional Water and Sewer
Authority for water infrastructure improvements for Lenoir
County, North Carolina;
346. $400,000 to the City of Creedmoor, North Carolina for
water quality and infrastructure improvements for Lake
Rogers;
347. $200,000 to the Town of Bryson City, North Carolina
for wastewater infrastructure improvements;
348. $250,000 to the Town of Hillsborough, North Carolina
for wastewater system maintenance and upgrades;
349. $550,000 to the City of Durham, North Carolina for
water security improvements;
350. $250,000 to the City of Cherryville, North Carolina
for renovation of the Sunbeam Industrial Park Water Tank and
Water Line;
351. $250,000 to Hoke County, North Carolina for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
[[Page 31763]]
352. $150,000 to the City of Belmont, North Carolina for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
353. $75,000 to the City of Bessemer City, North Carolina
for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
354. $75,000 to the City of Stanley, North Carolina for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
355. $400,000 to the City of Marion, North Carolina for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
356. $750,000 to the Town of Holly Springs, North Carolina
for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements
according to the Master Water Reuse Plan;
357. $150,000 to Richmond County, North Carolina for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements
358. $550,000 for the City of Devils Lake, North Dakota for
water infrastructure improvements;
359. $900,000 for the City of Grafton, North Dakota for the
Grafton Water Treatment Plant;
360. $200,000 for the City of Park River, North Dakota for
water infrastructure improvements;
361. $550,000 for the City of Riverdale, North Dakota for
the Riverdale Regional Water Treatment Facility;
362. $300,000 for Dickey Rural Water Users Association in
Southeast, North Dakota for the Southeast Regional Expansion
Project;
363. $300,000 to the Village of Haskins, Ohio for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
364. $350,000 to the Village of New Riegel, Ohio for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
365. $350,000 to the City of Gallon, Ohio for the Galion
Bio-Solids Handling Replacement Project;
366. $400,000 to the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
for the Doan Brook Pollution Abatement Project;
367. $700,000 to the City of Ashland, Ohio for water
infrastructure improvements;
368. $500,000 for the Village of Somerset, Perry County,
Ohio to rehabilitate its existing water treatment plant;
369. $500,000 to the City of Kirtland, Ohio for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
370. $600,000 to the City of Vermilion, Ohio for wastewater
infrastructure improvements and sanitary sewer
rehabilitations;
371. $1,650,000 to Guernsey County, Ohio for a water line
extension project in Eastern Guernsey County;
372. $800,000 for Springfield, Ohio for the establishment
of water and sewer infrastructure in preparation for and
economic development project;
373. $800,000 to the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater
Cincinnati, Ohio for sanitary sewer overflow infrastructure
improvements;
374. $1,750,000 for the City of Delphos, Ohio to construct
a reservoir, surface water treatment plant, associated
piping;
375. $900,000 to the City of Urbana, Ohio for construction
of a new well field;
376. $1,000,000 to the City of Toledo, Ohio for wet weather
flow and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
377. $1,200,000 to the City of Amherst, Ohio for wastewater
treatment plant improvements;
378. $1,200,000 to the City of Port Clinton, Ohio for
wastewater treatment plant improvements;
379. $2,000,000 for Shawnee Hills subdivision of Greene
County, Ohio for a central sewer system;
380. $300,000 to the Village of Millersburg, Ohio to
upgrade the Millersburg Wastewater Treatment Plant;
381. $900,000 to the City of Van Wert, Ohio to increase the
size of the drinking water reservoir;
382. $500,000 to Fulton County, Ohio to prevent landfill
leachate flows into surface water by improving the cap and
leachate collection system at the Fulton County Landfill;
383. $200,000 to the City of Midwest City, Oklahoma for
water infrastructure improvements;
384. $200,000 to the City of Norman, Oklahoma for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
385. $200,000 to the City of Seminole, Oklahoma for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
386. $325,000 to the Town of Arcadia, Oklahoma for water
supply and wastewater handling systems upgrades;
387. $325,000 to the City of Choctaw, Oklahoma for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
388. $1,500,000 for the City of Lawton, Oklahoma for the
Southwest Water Treatment Plant;
389. $950,000 for the City of Warrenton, Oregon for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
390. $500,000 for the City of Irrigon, Oregon for water
infrastructure improvements;
391. $200,000 to the City of Wilsonville, Oregon for the
installation of a rain and stormwater management system for
the Villebois project;
392. $200,000 to Tillamook County, Oregon for wastewater
infrastructure improvements including construction of an
animal waste composting facility;
393. $100,000 for the City of Albany, Oregon for the
Albany-Millersburg Joint Water Project;
394. $250,000 to the Odell Sanitary District, Oregon for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
395. $900,000 for the City of Portland, Oregon for its wet
weather demonstration project;
396. $125,000 to Paint Borough, Pennsylvania for stormwater
and sanitary sewer infrastructure improvements;
397. $200,000 to Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
398. $200,000 to Downingtown Borough, Pennsylvania for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
399. $450,000 to Lycoming County, Pennsylvania for water
infrastructure improvements for the Jersey Shore Borough;
400. $200,000 to the Borough of Avondale, Pennsylvania for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
401. $100,000 to Springettsbury Township, Pennsylvania for
a Biosolids Treatment Facility Replacement project;
402. $250,000 to the York City Sewer Authority,
Pennsylvania for infiltration and inflow removal
infrastructure improvements;
403. $200,000 to the Matamoras Municipal Authority of the
Borough of Matamoras, Pike County, Pennsylvania for water
infrastructure improvements;
404. $250,000 to the Somerset County Redevelopment
Authority, Pennsylvania for water and wastewater
infrastructure improvements for development of the Windber
Business Park;
405. $275,000 for Forward Township, Pennsylvania for the
Gallatin-Sunnyside Area Sewer Project;
406. $300,000 to the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for
the Mish Run Sewer Improvement Project;
407. $300,000 to the Hanover Township Sewage Authority,
Pennsylvania for extension of sewer lines for Starpoint
Business and Industrial Park;
408. $625,000 to the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania for
water infrastructure improvements;
409. $400,000 to the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Water Department for the planning, design, and construction
of stormwater management solutions;
410. $400,000 for the Wyoming Valley Sanitation Authority,
Pennsylvania for combined sewer overflow infrastructure
improvements;
411. $400,000 to the Kulpmont-Marion Heights Joint
Municipal Authority, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
412. $600,000 to the Borough of Coudersport, Pennsylvania
for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
413. $3,200,000 for the Three Rivers Wet Weather
Demonstration program to develop innovative, cost-effective
solutions to assist municipalities to eliminate sewer
overflows in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania;
414. $750,000 to the Cambria Somerset Authority for the
Quemahoning Reservoir water supply project to provide water
to communities in Somerset and Cambria Counties,
Pennsylvania;
415. $250,000 to the Summit Township Sewer Authority for a
public sanitary sewer system extension in Erie County,
Pennsylvania;
416. $250,000 to Tuscarora Township for East Waterford
sanitary sewer system upgrades in Juniata County,
Pennsylvania;
417. $200,000 to Newport Borough Water Authority for a
river filtration system and distribution line replacement in
Perry County, Pennsylvania;
418. $350,000 for the Municipality of Penn Hills,
Pennsylvania for sewer infrastructure improvements;
419. $150,000 for the Mid-Cameron Authority for wastewater
treatment plant upgrades in Emporium Borough and Shippen
Township, Pennsylvania;
420. $150,000 for Laporte Borough for the waterline
replacement project in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania;
421. $200,000 for Granville Township for wastewater
transfer station improvements in Mifflin County,
Pennsylvania;
422. $150,000 for Mercer County Regional Council of
Governments for the Shenango Valley Joint Sewer/Water
Infrastructure Project in Mercer County, Pennsylvania;
423. $1,650,000 to the Municipality of Barceloneta, Puerto
Rico for water infrastructure improvements in the Palenque
and Garrochales communities;
424. $175,000 to the Town of Lincoln, Rhode Island for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
425. $175,000 to the Town of North Providence, Rhode Island
for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements;
426. $1,450,000 for the Narragansett Bay Commission of
Rhode Island for combined sewer overflow infrastructure
improvements;
427. $500,000 for the Pascoag Utility District, Rhode
Island for water infrastructure improvements;
428. $440,000 for the City of Providence, Rhode Island for
water infrastructure improvements;
429. $500,000 for the Town of Jamestown, Rhode Island for
water infrastructure improvements;
430. $500,000 for the Pawtucket Water Supply Board, Rhode
Island for the renovation of Central Falls Pipe;
[[Page 31764]]
431. $100,000 for the Prudence Island Water Utility, Rhode
Island for water infrastructure improvements;
432. $850,000 for East Providence, Rhode Island for water
infrastructure improvements;
433. $175,000 to the City of Greenville, South Carolina for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
434. $250,000 to the Town of Estill, South Carolina for
water infrastructure improvements;
435. $300,000 to Calhoun County, South Carolina for water
infrastructure improvements for the Fort Motte Water System;
436. $300,000 to the Alligator Rural Water Company for
water infrastructure improvements in Chesterfield County,
South Carolina;
437. $1,400,000 for the Charleston Commissioners of Public
Works, South Carolina for wastewater infrastructure
improvements;
438. $400,000 to the Myrtle Beach Downtown Redevelopment
Corporation, South Carolina for stormwater infrastructure
improvements according to the Pavilion Area Master Plan;
439. $250,000 to Kershaw County, South Carolina for water
and wastewater infrastructure development for an industrial
park;
440. $1,200,000 for the Town of Ravenel, South Carolina for
construction of a main sewer transmission line along U.S. Hwy
17;
441. $1,000,000 for the City of Corsica, South Dakota for
water infrastructure improvements;
442. $1,000,000 for the City of Lennox, South Dakota for
water infrastructure improvements;
443. $200,000 for the City of Sisseton, South Dakota for
water infrastructure improvements;
444. $1,000,000 for the City of Hartford, South Dakota for
drinking water infrastructure improvements;
445. $100,000 for the City of DeSmet, South Dakota for
water infrastructure improvements;
446. $250,000 to Meigs County, Tennessee for extension of
water lines;
447. $500,000 to the City of Decatur, Tennessee for water
infrastructure improvements;
448. $600,000 for the City of Jackson, Tennessee for the
Sandy Creek Sanitary Sewer Overflow Project;
449. $300,000 to the City of Tesculum, Tennessee for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
450. $1,400,000 for the City of Newport, Tennessee for the
Newport Utility District to expand drinking water services
and improve wastewater treatment;
451. $200,000 to Harris County, Texas Precinct 2 for water
quality planning and design to provide water and wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
452. $200,000 to the El Paso Water Utilities, Texas for
water infrastructure improvements;
453. $2,150,000 to the City of Austin, Texas for sanitary
sewer overflow mitigation and infrastructure improvements;
454. $1,300,000 San Antonio Water Systems, San Antonio,
Texas for Brooks City-Base water infrastructure improvements;
455. $350,000 to the City of Leonard, Texas for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
456. $400,000 to the Texas Water Development Board for the
Texas Water Desalination Initiative in Freeport, Texas;
457. $400,000 to the City of Waco, Texas for the Waco-
McLennan County Regional Water project;
458. $500,000 to the Brazos River Authority for water
infrastructure improvements in West Fort Bend County, Texas;
459. $200,000 to the City of Goldthwaite, Texas for
drinking water needs;
460. $600,000 for Daggett County, Utah for the Dutch John
Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements;
461. $500,000 for the City of Riverton, Utah for water
infrastructure improvements;
462. $650,000 for Iron County, Utah for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
463. $250,000 for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy
District, Utah for a groundwater extraction and treatment
remedial project;
464. $900,000 for Park City, Utah for water infrastructure
improvements associated with the Spiro and Judge Water
Tunnels;
465. $675,000 for Sandy City, Utah for water and stormwater
infrastructure improvements;
466. $500,000 for the City of Orem, Utah for water
infrastructure improvements;
467. $1,000,000 for the Town of Waitsfield, Vermont for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
468. $1,500,000 for the Champlain Water District, Vermont,
for Chittenden County stormwater infrastructure improvements;
469. $125,000 for the Phoebe Needles System in Franklin
County Virginia for a secondary sewage treatment system;
470. $150,000 to the Town of Chatham, Virginia for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
471. $250,000 for the Prentis Park Water and Sewer
Rehabilitation project in Portsmouth, Virginia;
472. $400,000 to Chesterfield County, Virginia for drainage
and wastewater infrastructure improvements for Rayon Park;
473. $400,000 to be divided equally between the City of
Alexandria, Virginia and Arlington County, Virginia for water
quality improvements in the Four Mile Run watershed;
474. $440,000 for Henry County and the City of
Martinsville, Virginia for a wastewater treatment plant
upgrade and the conversion of two wastewater plants to
pumping stations;
475. $500,000 for the Piney River Wastewater Improvement
Project in Nelson County, Virginia;
476. $500,000 for Fluvanna County, Virginia for water and
sewer projects;
477. $500,000 for the Town of Kenbridge, Virginia for the
expansion of a wastewater treatment plant;
478. $785,000 for Franklin County, Virginia for a drinking
water infrastructure project;
479. $800,000 to the City of Richmond, Virginia for
combined sewer overflow infrastructure improvements;
480. $1,000,000 to be divided equally between Appomattox
County and the Town of Appomattox, Virginia for water and
sewer projects;
481. $1,200,000 to Dale Service Corporation wastewater
infrastructure improvements in Dale City, Virginia;
482. $750,000 for the Fairfax County Water Authority,
Virginia for water infrastructure security improvements
483. $300,000 for Fairfax County, Virginia for wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
484. $400,000 for the City of Norfolk, Virginia for the
Prentis Park Water and Sewer Rehabilitation;
485. $300,000 for the City of Lynchburg, Virginia for
combined sewer overflow controls;
486. $350,000 to the Government of the Virgin Islands for
wastewater treatment infrastructure improvements;
487. $200,000 to the City of Tacoma, Washington for water
and stormwater infrastructure improvements for the Salishan
housing development;
488. $200,000 to the City of Grand Coulee, Washington for
water infrastructure improvements;
489. $750,000 for the Skagit Public Utility District,
Washington for sewer improvements for Similk Beach;
490. $200,000 to the City of Seattle, Washington for the
High Point Natural Drainage System project;
491. $500,000 for the City of Lakewood, Washington for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
492. $400,000 to the City of Carnation, Washington for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
493. $400,000 to the City of Duvall, Washington for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
494. $600,000 to the City of Shelton, Washington for water
and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
495. $100,000 to the Town of Ione, Washington for water
infrastructure improvements;
496. $1,000,000 for the City of Sunnyside, Washington for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
497. $450,000 for the Vashon Sewer District, Washington for
wastewater infrastructure improvements;
498. $380,000 to the City of Moundsville Sanitary
Department in West Virginia for storm sewer and sanitary
improvements on Jefferson Avenue;
499. $671,000 to the City of Petersburg, West Virginia for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
500. $750,000 to the Town of Harrisville, West Virginia for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
501. $750,000 to the Mineral County Commission in Mineral
County, West Virginia for sewer system design and
construction;
502. $824,000 to the City of Philippi, West Virginia for
water and wastewater infrastructure improvements;
503. $875,000 to the Marshall County Sewerage District in
West Virginia for water and wastewater infrastructure
improvements;
504. $1,617,000 to the Gilmer County Public Service
District in West Virginia for water and wastewater
infrastructure improvements;
505. $2,000,000 to the Sun Valley Public Service District
in West Virginia for water and wastewater infrastructure
improvements;
506. $5,000,000 to the City of Parkersburg, West Virginia
for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.
507. $2,000,000 to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage
District, Wisconsin for its Central Metropolitan Interceptor
System project;
508. $500,000 for the City of Racine, Wisconsin for water
infrastructure improvements.
509. $1,800,000 to the City of Chipewa Falls, Wisconsin for
sewer and water infrastrructure enhancements;
510. $2,150,000 to the Village of Port Edwards, Wisconsin
for replacement of a sewage treatment plant.
administrative provisions
The conferees have again this year included an
administrative provision giving the Administrator specific
authority to, in the absence of an acceptable tribal program,
award cooperative agreements to federally recognized Indian
Tribes or Intertribal consortia so as to properly carry out
EPA's environmental programs.
The conference agreement does not include a provision, as
proposed by the House, extending for one year the collection
of
[[Page 31765]]
$21,500,000 in maintenance fees. Nor does the conference
agreement include prohibitions on the collection of pesticide
registration and tolerance fees, as proposed by the House.
Instead, the conference agreement includes a provision, as
proposed by the Senate, which provides for the collection of
certain pesticides fees through fiscal year 2008 (see title
V).
The conferees have included a new provision proposed by the
Senate which, for fiscal year 2004, extends the eligibility
of brownfield grant recipients to those who purchased
properties prior to the enactment of the Small Business
Liability Relief and Brownfield Revitalization Act of 2001.
The conferees have not included a provision that would permit
the use of certain brownfield grant funds for administrative
costs, as the Senate had proposed.
The conferees have not included a provision, as proposed by
the Senate, that clarifies an existing exemption in the Clean
Air Act concerning state regulations of engines under 50
horsepower.
Executive Office of the President
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Appropriates $7,027,000 as proposed by the House and the
Senate.
council on environmental quality and office of environmental quality
Appropriates $3,238,000 as proposed by the House and the
Senate.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriates $30,125,000 for the Office of Inspector
General, as proposed by the House instead of $30,848,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Funds for this account are derived
from the Bank Insurance Fund, the Savings and Loan Insurance
Fund, and the FSLIC Resolution Fund and are therefore not
reflected in either the budget authority or budget outlay
totals.
General Services Administration
FEDERAL CITIZEN INFORMATION CENTER FUND
Appropriates $14,000,000 as proposed by the Senate instead
of $12,500,000 as proposed by the House. Provides limitation
of $21,000,000 on availability of the Fund as proposed by the
Senate instead of $18,000,000 as proposed by the House. Funds
in excess of this amount are available for expenditure only
as authorized in future appropriations Acts.
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
operating expenses
Appropriates $1,500,000 for the United States Interagency
Council on Homelessness as proposed by the Senate. The House
had included the same amount of funding for this activity
under its prior name, Interagency Council on the Homeless.
The conferees expect HUD to continue providing
administrative support on a reimbursable basis to the
Council.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Of the amounts approved by the conferees in this agreement,
NASA must limit reprogramming of funds between programs and
activities to not more than $500,000 without prior
notification to the Committees on Appropriations of the House
and Senate. Any activity or program cited in this report
shall be construed as the position of the conferees and
should not be subject to reductions or reprogramming without
prior approval. The conferees agree with the Senate directive
that NASA include the outyear budget impacts of all
reprogramming requests, including the outyear budget impact
of all missions in the annual operating plan. The conferees
direct NASA to identify, in the initial operating plan and
all subsequent revisions, all Space Shuttle Return to Flight
costs and purposes, the anticipated budget runout of the
Return to Flight actions, and the funding sources being used
to pay for the Return to Flight costs. The operating plan and
all subsequent changes to the plan shall include a separate
accounting of all program/mission reserves.
The conferees agree with the House direction that NASA is
to provide no less than $2,000,000 to demonstrate encryption
technology as part of its cyber-security architecture. This
demonstration should be conducted in cooperation with the
NASA Inspector General. NASA is to report to the Committees
on Appropriations of the House and Senate within 90 days on
its plan to conduct this demonstration and is directed to
convey the results of the demonstration upon its completion.
The conferees agree with the Senate directive for NASA to
provide a comprehensive plan that will respond to the
Columbia Accident Investigation Board report as well as
address other staffing, systemic and program shortcomings in
NASA programs. The plan should include an assessment of any
proposed investments that NASA considers critical to the
reform of the agency and the success of its missions. The
conferees expect the plan to include a 10-year funding
profile for implementing the proposed reforms with benchmarks
that are designed to ensure a safe return to flight. The
conferees direct NASA to provide the report to the Committees
on Appropriations of the House and Senate no later than
January 15, 2004.
The conferees agree with the Senate direction for a report
on the risks associated with illegal transfer or theft of
sensitive technologies. The conferees direct NASA and the
NASA Inspector General to work together and report annually
on these issues, including an assessment of risk.
The conferees agree that program delays often result in
large cost increases that are increasingly difficult to
justify and that NASA should have as a priority a desire to
reduce these costs. Therefore, the conferees direct NASA to
work to reduce the costs associated with program delays, and
report to the Committees on Appropriations by January 15,
2004 on options for cost reductions. In arriving at these
options, NASA should include in the report an explanation of
what constitutes core staff and program needs versus full
development and operations staff requirements.
SPACE FLIGHT CAPABILITIES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriates $7,512,100,000 for space flight capabilities
instead of $7,806,100,000 as proposed by the House and
$7,582,100,000 as proposed by the Senate. Specifies that
$15,000,000 of the amount provided for the Space Shuttle Life
Extension Program shall be for development and independent
assessment of concepts to increase crew survivability for
crew sizes of 4 to 7 as proposed by the House. The conferees
have not included the House language which would have
specified these efforts should result in increased
survivability by a factor of 20. Deletes the Senate language
which would have specified $3,986,000,000 for activities
related to the Space Shuttle and prohibited transfer of any
of these funds to other programs or activities. Deletes
Senate language which would have capped International Space
Station costs at $1,507,000,000. Retains House language which
allows for the transfer of funds from this account to the
science, aeronautics, and exploration account in accordance
with section 312(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act
of 1958.
The amount provided is a reduction of $270,000,000 from the
budget request and includes a reduction of $200,000,000 from
the International Space Station request and a reduction of
$70,000,000 from the Space Launch Initiative budget request.
While the conferees have agreed to delete Senate bill
language which would have specified $3,986,000,000 for
activities related to the Space Shuttle, the conferees agree
that none of the reductions specified in this report should
be taken against this activity. Transfers made pursuant to
section 312(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act,
while allowed, will need to be fully justified and approved
by the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate
in advance of the transfer and must include the outyear
implications on all activities involved in the reprogramming
action.
The conferees have not included a cost cap on the
International Space Station as proposed by the Senate but do
agree that there are substantial cost reductions associated
with the program as a result of shuttle operations being
suspended and agree that NASA needs to be more aggressive in
controlling costs associated with reduced program activity.
The conferees agree that of the funds appropriated in this
account, $24,000,000 shall be for the commercial technology
program within the Innovative Technology Transfer
Partnerships theme. NASA shall maintain this program as it
existed in fiscal year 2003 and prior fiscal years.
The conferees do not agree with the Senate direction that
the Space Flight Advisory Committee is to report directly and
independently to the Congress on NASA's implementation of the
Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) recommendations.
Implementation of the CAIB recommendations is addressed
further in the Inspector General section of this statement.
The conferees are in agreement that the new charter of the
Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel addresses the concerns
expressed in the Senate report and will satisfy the desire of
the conferees to receive timely reports that assess the
shuttle program in terms of safety, upgrades, operations, and
overall management of the shuttle program.
Upon the resumption of shuttle flights to the International
Space Station, the conferees direct NASA to develop and
forward to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and
Senate a plan detailing the steps necessary to reach U.S.
Core Complete, as well as the outyear costs associated with
this plan.
The conferees are in agreement that the Orbital Space Plane
External Program Assessment Team (EPAT), as currently
chartered, will address many of the concerns expressed by the
Senate when its report suggested the creation of an
independent oversight committee. However, the conferees are
concerned that the current membership relies too heavily on
former NASA officials and direct NASA to expand the
membership of the EPAT to include individuals that have
extensive non-NASA experience in program management to ensure
necessary independence from the Space Launch Initiative
program management. The conferees also direct the EPAT to
report on its assessments of the program to the Congress on a
quarterly
[[Page 31766]]
basis, with the first report due on December 31, 2003.
The Orbital Space Plane (OSP) program is expected to
represent a significant investment by the American taxpayers
if it is carried out to completion. It is therefore necessary
that NASA manage this program unlike any other program it has
ever executed or tried to execute in the past. The conferees
believe that first and foremost, NASA must heed all the
findings and recommendations of the International Space
Station Management and Cost Evaluation report as well as the
CAIB report. It does not appear from materials provided to
the Congress thus far that this is the case. The conferees
understand that NASA is currently scheduled to release the
OSP full-scale development Request for Proposals (RFP) in
late 2003, and are concerned that the goals of this RFP may
not be aligned with the results of the ongoing interagency
space policy review. The conferees believe that NASA should
not release the RFP until the interagency space policy review
has been completed and NASA has determined that the RFP is
consistent with the results of this review. Additionally, the
conferees believe the President must assure the Congress that
sufficient resources will be available to support the
contract awarded as a result of the RFP and the related NASA
in-house efforts in fiscal year 2004 and the outyears and
anticipate receipt of such assurances in a timely manner. Any
operating plan changes that involve this program will not
take effect until 90 days after submission to the Congress
unless approved by the Committees on Appropriations of the
House and Senate sooner than 90 days.
The conferees agree with the Senate direction that NASA
report by January 31, 2004, on the outyear costs for each
project within the Next Generation Launch Technology program,
the criteria being used to select technologies for
investment, and the metrics used to determine whether
projects within the program are progressing or should be
discontinued.
The conferees understand that NASA is currently assessing
complementary and/or replacement logistics support to and
from the International Space Station (ISS). This assessment
encompasses utilization of Progress, Automated Transfer
Vehicle (ATV), H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), Alternative
Access to Space (AAS) concepts, Autonomous Shuttle, and
possibly other cargo capability concepts. The AAS studies
have an anticipated completion date of January 2004 to be
followed by a thorough review of all the options by NASA.
Additionally, the conferees understand that the
administration is reviewing overall U.S. space exploration
goals, including new cargo capability, as part of the fiscal
year 2005 budget process. The conferees direct the
administration to report back to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House and Senate with the Agency's plan
on ISS re-supply services by June 1, 2004.
The conferees are concerned that in its desire to return
the shuttle to full operations, NASA may damage seriously the
integrity of the Shuttle Life Extension Program (SLEP). The
conferees believe that the process that NASA has put in place
for the SLEP will correctly identify cost effective and
necessary modifications, but NASA must still demonstrate the
resolve to execute properly the program by requesting
adequate budget resources and devoting management attention
to the effort. The conferees will continue to examine this
program and will not entertain unrealistic reprogramming
proposals that place the program's overall objectives in
jeopardy.
science, aeronautics and exploration
(including transfer of funds)
Appropriates $7,929,900,000 for science, aeronautics and
exploration instead of $7,707,900,000 as proposed by the
House and $7,730,507,000 as proposed by the Senate. Includes
language as proposed by the Senate which allows funding to be
used for restoration of facilities.
The amount provided includes the following reductions to
the budget request:
1. $8,000,000 from the Space Interferometer Mission;
2. $20,000,000 from Project Prometheus;
3. $10,000,000 from the Beyond Einstein program; and
4. $11,000,000 from the Global Climate Change Research
Polarimeter program;
The conferees agree that the high radiation environment the
Jupiter Icy Moons (JIM) mission is expected to encounter
calls for development of low-cost hardened microcircuit
devices for the JIM mission and is encouraged that the Jet
Propulsion Lab is undertaking an immediate effort to validate
new technology in time for its use on the JIM mission. The
conferees share the concern expressed by the Senate regarding
the Project Prometheus program, particularly uncertainties in
the mission design, and the dependence on the new unproven
technologies. For these reasons, the conferees direct NASA to
provide specific program milestones and funding paths for all
elements of Project Prometheus and report progress to the
Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate on a
quarterly basis. All funding lines should include a full run-
out of costs for at least 10 years. The first quarterly
report is due on December 31, 2003.
The conferees are in agreement with the House direction for
NASA to evaluate the level of stipends for its Graduate
Student Research Program and the Earth System Science
Fellowships as well as the House direction for an evaluation
on the merits of expanding its use of graduate fellowships.
Both reports are due not later than June 30, 2004.
The conferees share the concern of the House with regard to
the establishment of a National Program Office for air
traffic management development and direct NASA to report to
the Committees on Appropriations by March 31, 2004 on efforts
to establish the Office.
The conferees remain strongly supportive of the Center of
Excellence for Aerospace Propulsion Particulate Emissions
Reduction established at the University of Missouri-Rolla's
Cloud and Aerosol Sciences Lab and expect NASA to develop a
plan to utilize the Center's capabilities on an ongoing
basis.
The conferees are aware that two of the three Virtual
Airspace Modeling and Simulation (VAMS) programs being
developed for the Federal Aviation Administration have been
fully funded in NASA's budget submission. The conferees also
note that the third program, Display System Replacement (DSR)
enhancements, is a two-year, $15,000,000 effort that has not
received adequate funding in the request. Because of the
importance of these programs, the conferees expect that NASA
fully fund all three programs in fiscal year 2004, including
$8,000,000 for DSR, and provide sufficient resources in the
fiscal year 2005 submission to ensure their completion by the
close of the fiscal year.
The conferees direct NASA to task the GSFC EOSDIS Project
Office to develop the initial baseline architecture and
information technology blueprint for the future EOSDIS and
expect this activity to mirror the direction proposed in
Senate Report 108-143. The conferees wish to reiterate that
all future earth science enterprise missions should take full
advantage of the existing EOSDIS system rather than creating
individual ``stove pipe'' ground systems that will diminish
the integrated architecture developed over the last dozen
years.
The conferees are aware that technical problems affecting
the Landsat 7 satellite threaten the nation's ability to
continue providing land remote sensing data. The Land Remote
Sensing Policy Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-555) directed the
Landsat Program Manager to evaluate the options for a
successor land remote sensing system to Landsat 7 and set
forth four options for developing a successor system. To
ensure that the U.S. Government does not experience a loss of
remote land sensing capabilities which would jeopardize the
nation's domestic, foreign policy and national security
interests, the conferees instruct NASA to immediately begin
developing a successor to the Landsat 7 system in accordance
with P.L. 102-555. Furthermore, the conferees instruct NASA,
working in conjunction with the United States Geological
Survey, to develop a successor system that may be implemented
in the near term based on the remaining options cited in the
Land Remote Sensing Policy Act. It is the conferee's
expectation that NASA will include in its FY 2005 budget
justification a detailed plan and timeline for developing a
successor system to Landsat 7.
The conferees have provided an additional $8,500,000 for
the NPOESS Preparatory Project to initiate the mission's
science data system through the EOSDIS Core System at the
Goddard Space Flight Center. Such a system should have
capabilities to: process Level 1 data; distribute it to not
less than five Climate Analysis and Research Systems (CARS)
for higher level processing; and archiving all Level 1 data
and products resulting from higher level processing
activities. The conferees believe NASA, through the GSFC-ECS,
must assume responsibility for this critical portion of the
NPP to avoid significant gaps in the utilization of the
mission's data and expect NASA to subsequently budget for it
beyond fiscal year 2004.
The conferees agree, that within the total funding
provided, $25,325,000 shall be for the National Space Grant
College and Fellowship program as specified in the House
report and $10,000,000 shall be for the EPSCoR program.
The conferees agree to the following additions to the
budget submission:
1. $1,000,000 for the GSFC COM Simulation Architecture
Project;
2. $1,000,000 for the Alabama Supercomputer Education
Outreach program;
3. $1,000,000 for the Pulsed Power and Energetic Research
Center at the University of Huntsville, Alabama;
4. $1,000,000 for Science, Engineering, Math and Aerospace
Academy programs. The Academy is to be established at Albany
State College in Georgia;
5. $250,000 for the National Science Center Foundation of
Augusta, Georgia for its Learning Logic Program;
6. $1,000,000 for aircraft engine research, including
research being done in conjunction with the Department of
Defense;
7. $150,000 for the North Alabama Planetarium Initiative;
8. $900,000 to Alabama A&M University--Advanced Space
Propulsion Material Research and Technology Center;
[[Page 31767]]
9. $1,500,000 to the BizTech High Technology Business
Incubator;
10. $2,000,000 to the In-Space Propulsion program for High-
Power Pulsed Inductive Thruster technology research,
utilizing a vector inversion pulsed generator to pre-ionize
the propellant at an exceptionally high frequency;
11. $1,000,000 for remote sensing infrastructure at the
University of Miami Center for Southeastern Tropical Remote
Sensing (CSTARS) in Miami-Dade County, Florida;
12. $500,000 for Southeast Missouri State University's NASA
Educator Resource Center;
13. $2,200,000 for the Education Advancement Alliance in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for education grants and
scholarships;
14. $250,000 for Rutgers for continued construction of a
research and teaching facility on its Busch Campus in
Piscataway, New Jersey;
15. $250,000 for Middle Tennessee State University for K-12
Science Education Enhancements;
16. $500,000 for the Northwestern University's Institute
for Proteomics and Nanotechnology;
17. $2,300,000 for the NASA--Illinois Technology
Commercialization Center at DuPage County Research Park;
18. $300,000 to develop a high temperature nanotechnology
research program;
19. $300,000 for a national Communications, Navigation, and
Surveillance test bed;
20. $300,000 for the Biological and Physical Research Rack
on the ISS;
21. $500,000 for the Industrial Technology Institute at
Cleveland State University;
22. $800,000 for an Aerospace Education Center in
Cleveland, Ohio;
23. $800,000 for the Glennan Microsystems Initiative;
24. $200,000 for the Bowling Green State University Hybrid
Engine project;
25. $500,000 for the Ohio View Consortium;
26. $1,300,000 for the University of Toledo Turbine
Institute;
27. $1,000,000 for the Garrett Morgan Commercialization
Initiative in Ohio;
28. $200,000 for the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois
for its Cosmic Gateway Teacher Training program;
29. $1,000,000 for Michigan SATS Incorporated;
30. $2,000,000 for the Michigan Technology
Commercialization Corporation to identify and develop new
medical materials and technologies which have the ability to
provide low cost alternatives to current therapies;
31. $300,000 for the Center for Science and Mathematics at
the University of Redlands, California;
32. $2,500,000 for continued Space Radiation Research at
Loma Linda University Medical Center;
33. $300,000 for Fulton Montgomery Community College in
Johnstown, New York for the Spatial Information Technology
Center;
34. $1,000,000 for the Goddard Space Flight Center's
Clustering and Advanced Visual Environments Initiative;
35. $1,500,000 for on-going activities in support of NASA
Dryden Flight Research Center's Intelligent Flight Control
System (IFCS) research project;
36. $1,500,000 for on-going activities of the Goddard
Institute for Systems, Software, and Technology Research,
including mission design tools, Earth science analysis, and
remote sensing instrumentation development;
37. $2,500,000 for the Institute for Scientific Research,
Inc. for research related to transversable access to orbit;
38. $1,700,000 for continued development of a lightweight
carrier pallet to support the Hubble Space Telescope Program;
39. $4,000,000 for NASA's Independent Verification and
Validation Facility;
40. $15,000,000 for the Institute for Scientific Research,
Inc. for development and construction of research facilities;
41. $750,000 for the NASA Goddard Commercial Technology
program only to fund the full implementation of the Earth
Alert Project;
42. $500,000 for the NASA Specialized Center for Research
and Training in Gravitational Biology at North Carolina State
University;
43. $1,000,000 to the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill for the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center;
44. $1,500,000 to the MCNC-Research and Development
Institute (RDI) to establish a Laboratory for Distributed
Chemical and Biological Sensors;
45. $500,000 for the Montana Aerospace Development
Authority;
46. $1,500,000 for Idaho State University for the Temporal
Land Cover Change Research Program;
47. $1,500,000 for the Idaho National Engineering and
Environmental Laboratory for development of performance,
safety, and mission success tools for NASA programs;
48. $500,000 for continuation of emerging research that
applies remote sensing technologies to forest management
practices at the State University of New York, College of
Environmental Sciences and Forestry;
49. $500,000 for the development of an Aircraft Radio
Guidance System (ARGUS) utilizing a new radio frequency
interferometer that will provide two or three dimensional
navigation guidance for airborne, space or surface vehicles;
50. $1,000,000 for the Advanced Interactive Discovery
Environment engineering research program at Syracuse
University;
51. $1,500,000 for Integrated Sensing Systems at the
Rochester Institute of Technology;
52. $2,000,000 to research Secure Automatic Dependent
Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Surveillance data link
technology for enhanced aviation security and general
aviation airspace access;
53. $2,000,000 for Cryogenic Power Electronics Development
at the State University of New York at Albany;
54. $2,000,000 for the JASON Foundation;
55. $2,000,000 for the Regional Application Center for the
Northeast;
56. $2,550,000 for the Fractional Aircraft Ownership Test
Program;
57. $3,000,000 in the Computing, Information and
Communications Technology Program (CICT) for High Information
Density Approaches to Mobile Broadband Internet
Communications;
58. $4,000,000 for new Adaptive Surveillance Techniques for
Airport Surface Safety;
59. $4,500,000 for the National Center of Excellence in
Infotonics in Rochester, New York;
60. $4,500,000 for the National Center of Excellence in
Bioinformatics in Buffalo, New York;
61. $4,500,000 for a new Science Center at St. Bonaventure
University in New York State;
62. $5,000,000 for Project SOCRATES;
63. $6,000,000 for the continuation of the Space Alliance
Technology Outreach Program, including $2,500,000 for
business incubators in Florida and New York;
64. $175,000 to the Astronaut Memorial Foundation for the
Columbia STS 107 addition to the National Space Mirror
Memorial at Kennedy Space Center;
65. $900,000 for the Florida Institute for Technology in
Melbourne, Florida for a Hydrogen Production, Fuel Cell and
Sensor Technology Initiative;
66. $1,900,000 for replacement and upgrade of equipment at
Kennedy Space Center;
67. $300,000 for the Florida State University Challenger
Learning Center;
68. $500,000 to the University of South Florida Center for
Space Cellular and Macromolecular Biotechnology;
69. $8,000,000 for the Florida State University System
Hydrogen Research Initiative;
70. $1,000,000 to the Little River Canyon field school;
71. $1,000,000 to the Tulane Institute for Macromolecular
Engineering and Science for research on polymers;
72. $7,500,000 for the implementation of a remote data
store at the NASA IV&V Facility, to be distributed as
follows: no less than fifty percent of appropriated funds are
for the acquisition of data storage hardware and software
including, but not limited to, content addressable storage
technologies; remaining funds are provided for
communications, facility and integration services at the IV&V
Facility to support data backup, recovery, and on-line access
capabilities for the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) ECS
program;
73. $2,250,000 for the University of Alabama in Huntsville
for the Center for Modeling Simulation and Analysis;
74. $3,000,000 for Solar Probe mission within available
funds;
75. $1,000,000 to Utah State University, Logan, Utah for
the Calibration Center;
76. $1,500,000 to Montana State University-Bozeman for the
Center for Studying Life in Extreme Environments;
77. $750,000 to Montana State University-Bozeman for the
Space Science and Engineering Lab;
78. $1,000,000 to the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho
for advanced microelectronics and biomolecular research;
79. $1,500,000 to the Glenn Research Center for the Advance
Power Systems Institute;
80. $2,000,000 to New Mexico State University for the
ultra-long balloon program to augment planned flights and
technology development;
81. $2,000,000 to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas
for equipment at the Experimental Sciences Building;
82. $1,000,000 to the University of Texas, Austin for
nanomedicine;
83. $1,000,000 to Texas A&M University in College Station
for the Space Engineering Institute;
84. $2,000,000 for the Stennis Space Center for the
commercial technology program;
85. $1,400,000 to the University of New Orleans, Louisiana
for the Composites Research Center of Excellence and for the
development of advanced manufacturing technologies at Michoud
Space Center;
86. $2,500,000 to Marshall University, Bridgeport, West
Virginia for the Hubble Telescope Project;
87. $2,300,000 to the University of North Dakota, Grand
Forks, North Dakota for the Northern Great Plains Space
Science and Technology Center;
88. $2,000,000 for University of Maryland, Baltimore County
for photonics research;
89. $8,000,000 for mission formulation studies for EOS
follow-on missions;
90. $23,000,000 for EOSDIS Core System Synergy Program of
which $2,000,000 is for the Northwest Collaboratory at the
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory;
[[Page 31768]]
91. $1,500,000 to George Mason University, Fairfax,
Virginia for the Center for Earth Observing and Space
Research Mid-Atlantic Geospatial Information Consortium;
92. $1,000,000 to Utah State University, Logan, Utah for
the Intermountain Region Digital Image Archive and Processing
Center;
93. $2,500,000 to the University of Mississippi for the
Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions;
94. $2,000,000 to Mississippi State University for the
Geospatial and Natural Resources Institute;
95. $1,600,000 to the University of New Mexico for the
Center for Rapid Environmental Assessment and Terrain
Evaluation;
96. $3,000,000 for the University of Alaska for weather and
ocean research;
97. $1,000,000 to Glenn Research Center for the John Glenn
Biomedical Engineering Consortium;
98. $1,250,000 to Space Sciences Inc. for microgravity
related pharmaceutical development;
99. $2,500,000 for Marshall Space Flight Center for the
Propulsion Materials Microgravity Research project;
100. $2,000,000 for the University of Missouri
Bioinformatics Consortium for equipment purchase;
101. $1,500,000 for Truman State University Life Sciences
for laboratory equipment;
102. $5,000,000 for the development of an aeronautics
research budget covering the next 5 years. It is expected
that air traffic management will also be included within this
budget. Funds shall be allocated to the National Institute
for Aerospace for contracting with industry and academia to
prepare such a budget plan no later than March 1, 2004;
103. $15,000,000 for future aircraft research with a
priority on supersonic flight technologies;
104. $15,000,000 for future aviation systems including a
priority on aviation security and air traffic management;
105. $15,000,000 for continued development of flight
technologies with direct application to military vehicles;
106. $3,000,000 to Wichita State University, Wichita,
Kansas for the National Center for Composite Materials
Performance;
107. $1,000,000 to Wichita State University, Wichita,
Kansas for the Critical Aircraft Icing project;
108. $2,000,000 to Glenn Research Center for the commercial
technology program;
109. $2,500,000 to Stennis Space Center for infrastructure
improvements;
110. $1,000,000 to Stennis Space Center for relocation of
the visitors center. NASA is also directed to submit a
funding plan to the Committee for the visitors center;
111. $1,000,000 to the Delaware Aerospace Education
Foundation, Kent County, Delaware;
112. $2,000,000 to Wheeling Jesuit University for the
National Technology Transfer Center;
113. $1,000,000 to the Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, Virginia for advanced research in batteries and
fuel cells;
114. $1,500,000 to the University of Montana in Missoula,
Montana for the National Space Privatization Program;
115. $2,000,000 for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
in Denver, Colorado for equipment for the Space Science
Museum;
116. $1,500,000 for the Adventure Science Center in
Nashville, Tennessee for the Sudekum Planetarium;
117. $500,000 for the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar
Falls, Iowa for the Existing Business Enhancement Program;
118. $1,300,000 for Iowa State University for the PIPELINES
Project;
119. $1,000,000 for the Metropolitan School District of
Decatur Township Indiana for the Challenger Learning Center
Expansion;
120. $1,700,000 for Northern Kentucky University/University
of Louisville for a digital science center;
121. $1,000,000 for the Oregon Museum of Science and
Industry for the space science education distance learning
program;
122. $1,000,000 for Southeast Missouri State University for
the NASA ERSC Outreach Project;
123. $1,500,000 for Dominican University's Center for
Science and Technology for project based learning;
124. $200,000 to Wheeling Jesuit University for Classroom
of the Future;
125. $2,000,000 to the University of Connecticut for the
Center for Land Use Education and Research;
126. $2,000,000 to Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa for
non-destructive evaluation studies;
127. $500,000 to the Des Moines Science Center, Des Moines,
Iowa;
128. $2,000,000 for the School of Science and Mathematics
at the College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina;
129. $3,000,000 to the University of Hawaii, Hilo for the
Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center;
130. $1,500,000 to Space Education Initiative, Wisconsin
for the Wisconsin Geoscience Education initiative;
131. $1,000,000 to the Youth Achievers Committee of New
Jersey, Burlington County, New Jersey for the Youth Achievers
Committee Science and Math Initiative;
132. $500,000 to the University of Vermont, Burlington,
Vermont for the Center for Advanced Computing;
133. $1,000,000 to Wayne State University, Detroit,
Michigan for the Center of Smart Sensors and Integrated
Microsystems;
134. $1,000,000 for Wellpinit School District in Wellpinit,
Washington for the Virtual Classroom Project;
135. $1,500,000 for the Mitchell Institute, Portland, Maine
for the science and engineering education endowment;
136. $1,500,000 for the Arkansas Center for Space and
Planetary Sciences;
137. $600,000 for the Challenger School in Kenai, Alaska;
138. $8,500,000 for the NPOESS data science system;
139. $1,000,000 for the Dole Scholarship Program;
140. $1,800,000 for the City College of New York for a
community-based science and technology education facility;
141. $3,000,000 for technology development necessary to
ensure the Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle
mission can move forward;
142. $3,000,000 to be transferred to the Air Force Research
Lab to develop and deploy Interactive Data Wall technology;
143. $3,000,000 to be transferred to the Air Force for
joint research on emerging areas of computing, including grid
computing, quantum and biomolecular information processing
technology; and
144. $3,000,000 to be transferred to the Air Force Lab to
develop dual-use lightweight space radar technology.
office of inspector general
Appropriates $27,300,000 for the Office of Inspector
General instead of $26,300,000 as proposed by both the House
and Senate. The conferees have agreed to a higher funding
level to ensure the Inspector General has the resources to
hire sufficient staff with technical expertise to monitor
long-term compliance with the recommendations of the Columbia
Accident Investigation Board (CAIB). The conferees also
believe the Inspector General should work closely with the
Return to Flight Task Group, the Stafford-Covey group, as it
reviews NASA's implementation of the CAIB recommendations.
The conferees direct the Inspector General to report on
efforts to hire additional technical staff to the Committees
on Appropriations of the House and Senate by June 30, 2004.
The conferees agree with the direction contained in the
Senate report regarding a review of NASA's contract
procedures and conventions to determine reforms which may
lead to cost savings.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
The conferees have included five administrative provisions
which were in both the House and Senate bills. The conferees
have not included a provision on the working capital fund as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees have not included a
Senate provision which would have prohibited NASA from using
any funds to compensate any person who contracts with NASA if
that individual had selected early retirement or taken a buy-
out from NASA.
The conferees agree with the Senate direction that NASA
report on the budgetary impact of its proposed reforms to its
personnel practices.
The conferees agree with the Senate direction that NASA
should contract with the National Academy of Public
Administration on the organizational structure of NASA
headquarters and field operations.
National Credit Union Administration
central liquidity facility
Provides limitation of $1,500,000,000 on CLF lending
activities from borrowed funds as proposed by the House and
Senate.
The conferees direct NCUA to provide quarterly reports on
lending activities of the CLF through September 2004.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REVOLVING LOAN FUND
Appropriates $1,200,000 instead of $1,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $1,500,000 as proposed by the Senate. Within
this amount, $1,000,000 is provided to augment funds
available for technical assistance grants for fiscal year
2004 and $200,000 is available until expended for loans to
community development credit unions.
National Science Foundation
The conferees agree that the National Science Foundation is
to abide by the reprogramming requirements set forth in the
beginning of the statement of the managers.
RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
Appropriates $4,276,600,000 for research and related
activities instead of $4,306,360,000 as proposed by the House
and $4,220,610,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees
have included bill language which provides up to $345,000,000
for polar research and operations support and $90,000,000 for
a comprehensive research initiative on plant genomes for
economically significant crops.
The conference agreement provides $4,276,600,000 for
ongoing and new research priorities of the Foundation, an
increase of over $220,140,000 above the fiscal year 2003
level. Within the very severe overall fiscal constraints
imposed on the conferees for fiscal year 2004, the managers
have given their highest priority to funding basic research
within the research and related activities account. This
account supports investigator-
[[Page 31769]]
initiated grants within each of the core disciplines as well
as critical cross-cutting research which brings together
multiple disciplines. The conferees urge the Foundation in
allocating the scarce resources provided in this bill and in
preparing its fiscal 2005 budget request to be sensitive to
maintaining the proper balance between the goal of
stimulating interdisciplinary research and the need to
maintain robust single issue research in the core
disciplines.
The conferees direct NSF to include multi-year budget
estimates and future budget impacts for multi-disciplinary
and mid-level activities in the annual operating plan and in
future budget requests.
The specific funding level for each of NSF's research
activities is as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House Report 108- Senate Report Conference
Directorate FY 2004 request 235 108-143 agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biological Sciences..................... $562,220,000 $586,841,000 $577,220,000 $592,000,000
Computer & Information Science & 584,260,000 609,846,000 609,390,000 609,600,000
Engineering............................
Engineering............................. 536,570,000 560,067,000 550,000,000 561,000,000
Geosciences............................. 687,920,000 718,045,000 692,210,000 719,000,000
Mathematical & Physical Sciences........ 1,061,270,000 1,107,745,000 1,085,870,000 1,100,000,000
Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences.. 211,740,000 221,012,000 206,740,000 205,000,000
Polar Programs.......................... 329,930,000 350,000,000 341,730,000 345,000,000
Integrative Activities.................. 132,450,000 147,804,000 157,450,000 145,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the amount provided for Biological Sciences,
$90,000,000 has been provided for plant genome research on
economically significant crops.
From the amount provided for Computer and Information
Science and Engineering, up to $225,000,000 of the
appropriated level may be used for information technology
research and not less than $20,000,000 may be used for
cyberinfrastructure initiatives.
From Mathematical and Physical Sciences, $55,310,000 is for
the National Radio Astronomy Observatory program of which
$9,400,000 is provided for the Expanded Very Large Array;
$10,300,000 is for the Green Bank Observatory; and $4,600,000
is for studies and repair of the Green Bank Observatory. The
conferees recommend $6,000,000 for continued advanced
planning of the Rare Symmetry Violating Process project.
Of the amount for Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences,
$6,000,000 is for the Children's Research Initiative.
The conferees direct NSF to provide details on the funding
levels for research and logistics within the U.S. Polar
Research Programs in the fiscal year 2004 operating plan.
From the funds provided for Integrative Activities,
$110,000,000 is provided for Major Research Instrumentation.
To the extent possible, NSF should utilize funds in excess of
the budget request to support the merit-based instrumentation
and infrastructure needs of developing, HBCU, and other
minority-serving colleges and universities.
The conference agreement includes $255,000,000 for
nanotechnology programs throughout the directorates, an
increase of $34,000,000 over fiscal year 2003.
The Conferees direct NSF to include the multi-year budget
estimates for all multi-disciplinary and mid-level activities
in the annual operating plan and in future budget requests.
MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND
FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION
Appropriates $155,900,000 for major research equipment and
facilities construction instead of $192,330,000 as proposed
by the House and $149,680,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Included within the appropriated amount is $51,000,000 for
construction of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array aperture-
synthesis radio telescope; $43,500,000 for EarthScope;
$42,000,000 for continued research and development of the
IceCube Neutrino Detector Observatory in Antarctica;
$8,100,000 for the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for
Earthquake Engineering Simulation; $1,300,000 for
construction costs associated with the Amundson-Scott South
Pole Station; and $10,000,000 for support of the Terascale
Computing System and the Distributed Terascale Facility.
The conferees have not provided funding for the National
Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) without prejudice. The
conferees direct NSF to consider the recommendations in the
National Academy of Sciences report and continue to refine
the NEON plan from funds provided under research and related
activities.
The conferees have not provided funding for the Integrated
Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and instead expect to see
funding for this project proposed in the fiscal year 2005
request as stated in the fiscal year 2004 budget
justification.
The conferees reiterate language included in the Senate
report directing NSF to develop with the National Science
Board funding criteria for major projects; directing NSF to
identify all equipment, facility, and infrastructure-related
costs over $5,000,000 in the fiscal year 2005 budget request;
and directing the Deputy Director of Large Facility Projects
to develop guidelines and a cost tracking system to ensure
cost oversight.
EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
Appropriates $944,550,000 for education and human resources
instead of $910,680,000 as proposed by the House and
$975,870,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees agree
to the following funding levels and directives within this
account:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House Report 108- Senate Report Conference
Program FY 2004 request 235 108-143 agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Math & Science Partnership.............. $200,000,000 $140,000,000 $145,000,000 $140,000,000
EPSCoR.................................. 75,000,000 90,000,000 100,000,000 95,000,000
Elementary, Secondary & Informal 194,450,000 204,450,000 209,450,000 207,000,000
Education..............................
Undergraduate Education................. 142,100,000 146,440,000 172,810,000 162,940,000
Graduate Education...................... 156,880,000 156,880,000 156,880,000 156,880,000
Human Resources Development............. 103,410,000 106,710,000 125,530,000 116,530,000
Research, Evaluation & Communication.... 66,200,000 66,200,000 66,200,000 66,200,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The conferees direct NSF to submit a report by May 1, 2004,
on the status of all the States participating in the
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
(EPSCoR) program, and to include within this report the
progress of each eligible state towards graduation from the
EPSCoR program.
Within the level of funding for Elementary, Secondary and
Informal Education, $62,500,000 has been provided for the
Informal Science Education program.
Of the amount appropriated for Undergraduate Education,
$45,500,000 has been provided for the Advanced Technological
Education program; $25,000,000 is for the STEM Talent
Expansion Program; and $8,000,000 is for the Robert Noyce
Scholarship Program. No funds are provided for the Workforce
for the 21st Century program.
The conferees have provided sufficient funding in fiscal
year 2004 to reach a graduate stipend level of $30,000.
Within the funding level for Human Resource Development,
$34,500,000 is provided for the Louis Stokes Alliances for
Minority Participation program; $24,000,000 is provided for
the Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Undergraduates (HBCU) Program; $15,000,000 is provided for
the Alliance for Graduate Education and Professoriate; and
$15,000,000 is provided for the Centers of Research
Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program and the
HBCU Research University Science and Technology (THRUST)
initiative within CREST. While the conferees agree that
eligibility for THRUST should not exclude CREST recipients,
NSF is directed to first use fiscal year 2004 program funds
to fully fund multi-year awards to recipients of THRUST.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriates $220,000,000 for salaries and expenses instead
of $215,900,000 as proposed by the House and $225,700,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides $2,500,000 for the
administrative, management, and enterprise architecture
evaluation contract underway. The conferees strongly urge the
Foundation to give highest priority to enterprise
architecture work products and information technology
implementation. The conferees request that the National
Science Board and the Inspector General review the proposed
project plan and provide comment to the Committees on
Appropriations by March 1, 2004.
The conferees request that the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management conduct a review of NSF policies and
practices regarding use of temporary term employees, known as
``rotators'', and report the findings to the Director of the
Foundation and the Committees on Appropriations not later
than March 1, 2004. The conferees request that this review
focus on the percentage of the NSF professional workforce
staffed through temporary appointments and its impact on the
career civil service system at
[[Page 31770]]
NSF, the use of temporary appointments to staff the most
senior positions at NSF including the heads of its science
Directorates, and the level of compensation paid to
individuals filling senior staff appointments through
temporary appointments. Further, the conferees direct that
future budget requests will consolidate the costs of all
temporary employees, including employees covered under inter-
governmental personnel agreements, under this heading.
The conferees direct NSF to enforce the existing policy
providing NSF employee travel from this account.
The conferees direct NSF to designate a senior-level
manager at the Foundation responsible for assisting minority
serving institutions working with the Foundation.
office of the NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD
Appropriates $3,900,000 for the National Science Board as
proposed by the Senate, instead of $3,800,000 as proposed by
the House. A representational allowance of $9,000 has been
provided for the Board.
The conferees agree that NSF will continue to provide
support for the preparation of the Science and Engineering
Indicators report, plus all other activities as in previous
years. The conferees direct the Foundation to include budget
justification materials for the Board as a separate account
in future budget requests to the Congress.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
Appropriates $10,000,000 for the Office of Inspector
General as proposed by both the House and the Senate.
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation
PAYMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD REINVESTMENT CORPORATION
Appropriates $115,000,000 for the Neighborhood Reinvestment
Corporation as proposed by both the House and Senate.
Language is included in the bill which designates
$5,000,000 to support the Corporation's multi-family rental
housing program, as proposed by the Senate.
administrative provision
Language is included as an administrative provision, as
proposed in the budget submission, which amends the
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act to bring the
Corporation's compensation practices in line with those of
federally chartered non-profit corporations.
Selective Service System
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriates $26,308,000 for salaries and expenses as
proposed by the Senate instead of $28,290,000 as proposed by
the House. The conference agreement does not include language
proposed by the Senate which prohibits the system from using
funds to support the Corporation for National and Community
Service. However, the conferees direct the Selective Service
System to discontinue providing information about the
Corporation in the future.
TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS
The conference agreement includes the following
dispositions of General Provisions:
Retains fourteen general provisions proposed by both the
House and the Senate, all of which were included in the
fiscal year 2003 Act.
Deletes language proposed by the Senate prohibiting the
obligation or expenditure of funds unless the contract has
been awarded and entered into in full compliance with the
Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act.
Retains language proposed by the Senate regarding the Buy-
America Act.
Retains language proposed by the House limiting the
transfer of funds in this Act to the authority provided by
this Act.
Retains language proposed by the House establishing new
full cost accounting appropriations accounts for the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Retains language proposed by the House regarding outreach
and marketing efforts to enroll veterans in the Veterans
Health Administration. A similar amendment was proposed by
the Senate.
Retains language proposed by the House and Senate
prohibiting funds from being used to estimate the values for
adult premature mortality that differ based on the age of the
adult.
Retains language proposed by the House expressing a Sense
of the Congress that no veteran should wait more than thirty
days for a doctor's appointment.
Retains language proposed by the Senate expressing a Sense
of the Congress that human dosing studies of pesticides raise
ethical and health questions. The House bill included a
related provision.
Retains language proposed by the House prohibiting the use
of any NASA funds to be used for voluntary separation
incentive payments if those incentives result in the loss of
skills related to the safety of the Space Shuttle or the
International Space Station.
Retains language proposed by the Senate providing States
administering the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
programs flexibility in the use of funds for administrative
expenses and technical assistance. While such flexibility has
been provided, the conferees expect the States to ensure that
appropriate technical assistance is provided to localities
receiving funds under the CDBG program.
Deletes a provision proposed by the Senate authorizing
appropriations for sewer overflow grants. This conference
agreement deletes this provision without prejudice, instead
referring the matter to the relevant authorizing committees.
Retains a provision proposed by the Senate expanding a
National Academy of Sciences study on New Source Review
rules.
Retains a provision proposed by the Senate regarding
harmonization of dates related to air quality standards for
particulate matter and regional haze.
Includes modified language, similar to language proposed by
the Senate recognizing the six Pioneer Homes in Alaska as
eligible for per diem payments under the Department of
Veterans Affairs state home program.
The conferees have included a new general provision which
provides authority for the NASA Administrator to exceed the
limitation on claims contained in the National Aeronautics
and Space Act of 1958.
Deletes language proposed by the Senate regarding Agent
Orange studies without prejudice. Instead, the conferees
direct the VA to report by February 27, 2004, on the
Department's future plans for epidemiological research on
Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange as recommended in
April 2003 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), including the
Department's future resource needs for these studies. The
conferees strongly encourage VA to consult with the IOM on
this matter.
Deletes language proposed by the Senate providing enhanced-
use lease authority at the Charleston VA Medical Center.
Deletes language proposed by the Senate regarding VA-Navy
facilities sharing in North Chicago and instead addresses
this matter in report language under title I.
Deletes language proposed by the Senate regarding
international jurisdictional issues.
Deletes language proposed by the Senate regarding health
care for veterans in rural areas and instead addresses this
matter in report language under title I.
The conferees have not included language proposed by the
Senate specifying the allocation of funds among Native
American tribes under the NAHASDA block grant program.
The conferees have not included language proposed by the
Senate establishing a new rural housing for teachers program
under the Denali Commission.
Deletes language proposed by the Senate in this title
regarding the public housing operating subsidy formula and
instead includes modified language under administrative
provisions in title II.
Deletes language expressing the Sense of the Senate on the
section 8 voucher program.
Deletes language proposed by the Senate regarding the Paul
and Sheila Wellstone Center and instead includes funding for
this activity under the Community Development Fund in title
II. The House did not include a similar provision.
Deletes language proposed by the Senate requiring the HUD
Secretary to extend certain Moving to Work agreements and to
require a study.
Deletes a provision proposed by the Senate regarding VISTA
volunteer education awards. Instead, the conferees have
included report language in title III.
Deletes a provision proposed by the Senate regarding
rulemaking for AmeriCorps programs and instead includes a
similar provision in title III.
Includes a provision which sets certain requirements for
the EPA and States regarding the regulation of engines under
50 horsepower.
TITLE V--PESTICIDE PRODUCTS AND FEES
The conference agreement modifies a provision proposed by
the Senate which provides for the collection of certain
pesticides fees through fiscal year 2008.
Conference Total--With Comparisons
The total new budget (obligational) authority for the
fiscal year 2004 recommended by the Committee of Conference,
with comparisons to the fiscal year 2003 amount, the 2004
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 2004
follow:
[In thousands of dollars]
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003.......123,003,816
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal yea126,344,797
House bill, fiscal year 2004................................126,943,148
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004...............................128,243,712
Conference agreement, fiscal year 2004......................128,243,693
Conference agreement compared with:
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2003......+5,239,877
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal ye+1,898,896
House bill, fiscal year 2004...............................+1,300,545
Senate bill, fiscal year 2004.....................................-19
[[Page 31771]]
DIVISION H--MISCELLANEOUS APPROPRIATIONS AND OFFSETS
(including rescissions of funds)
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 101. The conference report includes language regarding
the Conservation Security Program.
Sec. 102. This section redirects funds provided by P.L.
108-106 from the Emergency Preparedness and Response,
Disaster Relief account to the Forest Service and Natural
Resources Conservation Service and other accounts in the
Department of Agriculture which fund critically needed
wildfire, forestry and watershed protection services in
response to the unprecedented wildfire emergencies which
recently devastated portions of southern California. The
emergency declaration does not increase emergency spending
beyond what was designated in P.L. 108-106.
Sec. 103. The conference agreement provides additional
funding for reimbursement to State and local law enforcement
agencies for security costs associated with the 2004
Presidential Candidate Nominating Conventions. The conference
agreement provides not more than $25,000,000 each for New
York City and Boston. The Department of Justice is directed
to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations
detailing how these funds are allocated. The report shall
include a list of State and local law enforcement agencies
receiving reimbursements including the amount and purpose for
which each agency received reimbursement.
Sec. 104. The conference agreement includes language
establishing the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study
Abroad Fellowship Program, and providing $500,000 for this
purpose.
Sec. 105. The conference agreement includes language
regarding a Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan.
Sec. 106. The conference agreement includes an additional
$16,000,000 for the United States Supreme Court, Care of the
Building and Grounds account.
The conference agreement includes a general provision which
transfers previously appropriated Navy acquisition funds to
provide a $49,000,000 increase for the advance procurement
and full funding of the Virginia class submarine and a
$19,600,000 increase for additional requirements for the
refueling of the SSN-715. The conferees understand that
$9,200,000 is available from fiscal year 2004/2005 Research,
Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy funds made available
for New Design SSN and Advanced Submarine Systems
Development. The conferees direct that the $9,200,000
reduction be applied solely to projects included in the base
program requested in the fiscal year 2004 budget and applied
equally to both New Design SSN and Advanced Submarine Systems
Development programs. The conferees request that a breakout
of the application of this reduction be provided to the
congressional defense committees within 30 days of enactment
of this Act. The conferees further understand that $8,000,000
of the funds appropriated in fiscal year 2003 and $11,800,000
of the funds appropriated in fiscal year 2004 for outfitting,
post delivery, conversions, and first destination
transportation are in excess to current requirements and
therefore available for reprogramming. The conferees direct
that these reductions be equitably applied to the ships and
submarines for which the funds were originally requested.
The conference agreement includes a general provision which
makes technical adjustments to section 724 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997, as amended by
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004.
The conference agreement includes a general provision which
makes technical adjustments to section 853 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004.
The conference agreement includes a general provision which
clarifies the application of section 8022 of the Department
of Defense Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law 108-87).
The conference agreement includes a general provision which
provides that from within available Defense Health Program
funding, $3,100,000 is to be used only for the procurement of
Linear Accelerator Radiation Therapy equipment and associated
operating software for Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and
$2,900,000 is to be used only for the Defense and Veterans
Head Injury Program.
The conference agreement includes a general provision
regarding the storage of mercury in the National Defense
Stockpile.
The conference agreement includes a general provision
providing technical adjustments and authority for certain
classified activities provided for in Public Law 107-206 and
described in the classified annexes accompanying that Act and
Public Law 108-11.
The conference agreement includes a general provision
providing direction regarding funds provided in Public Laws
107-117, 107-248, and 108-87 under the heading ``National
Defense Sealift Fund'' for construction of additional sealift
capacity.
DoD-VA Medical Care.--The conferees direct the Secretary of
the Navy to expand the use of the North Chicago VA Medical
Center by the DoD beneficiaries of the Great Lakes region.
The conferees also direct the Secretary to work with the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to finalize site selection for
a joint Navy/VA ambulatory care center to serve both DoD
beneficiaries and veteran patients. The conferees urge the
Secretary to study siting the clinic adjacent to the North
Chicago VA Medical Center. The Secretary shall report to the
Committees on Appropriations on the site selected by July 30,
2004. The conferees also understand that the Committees will
see a proposal for design planning and funding construction
of this facility in fiscal year 2006.
Chemical Biological Suit.--The conferees are concerned with
a recent GAO finding that the production of the JSLIST
chemical biological suit worn by U.S. soldiers is dependent
upon a foreign-based, single supply source for its most
critical components. The Joint Program Executive Office for
Chemical and Biological Defense plan to field test and
qualify an off-the-shelf, alternate fabric/membrane to
incorporate into a next generation suit will take three years
to complete given current funding levels. The conferees
direct the Department of Defense to provide necessary funds
from those available immediately to begin field testing and
qualification of an alternate, off-the-shelf fabric/membrane
for the JSLIST suit.
Digitization of DoD Technical Manuals.--Within 10 days of
the effective date of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall complete the transfer of contract and program
administration of the funds appropriated for the Digitization
of DoD Technical Manuals from the Army to the Marine Corps
Systems Command and shall transfer the balance of unobligated
fiscal year 2003 funds and all fiscal year 2004 funds
appropriated for this program from Other Procurement, Army to
the ``Auto Test Equipment Systems'' line in Procurement,
Marine Corps. The Secretary shall ensure that the transfer
occurs in a manner that causes no delays or disruption in the
program.
Vaccine Development.--The conferees are aware that there
has been considerable progress made by DARPA on the
development of a therapeutic vaccine for protection against
anthrax as a weapon of bioterrorism. The conferees understand
that the research and development has progressed to the point
where primate and human clinical trials are the next phase.
The conferees encourage the Department of Defense to continue
this important research, and if necessary, use existing
reprogramming authorities to address any fiscal year 2004
funding shortfalls should they emerge.
Philadelphia Military Academy.--The conferees recommend the
Department of Defense establish a Junior ROTC program at the
Philadelphia Military Academy. The Department should
establish this program as quickly as feasible and use funds
previously appropriated for these types of training programs.
Consequence Management Training.--It is the conferees'
intent that the funds appropriated in Public Law 107-248 for
consequence management training at Camp Gruber are to train
both DoD personnel and non-DoD first responders.
Family Assistance and Ombudsman for WRAMC.--The demand for
medical treatment and family assistance has increased
significantly at our military medical facilities. In
particular, there have been almost 2,000 soldiers who have
gone through Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) for
medical treatment since the beginning of Operation Iraqi
Freedom. The WRAMC staff has responded exceptionally well to
the medical needs of our injured troops and should be
commended for their work. The conferees, however, are
concerned that family members coming to the Washington, DC
area to visit their loved ones are experiencing
transportation and information difficulties once they arrive.
These include difficulties in obtaining and paying for
transportation from airports to Walter Reed and confusion
once they get to Walter Reed regarding lodging, per diem, and
the availability of family assistance resources. The
conferees recommend that the Army establish an Ombudsman
program, as part of the overall family assistance outreach
program, to assist family members of injured soldiers at
Walter Reed. This should include representatives to meet and
greet family members at Walter Reed upon their initial
arrival to guide them to their destination and inform them of
available assistance.
Walter Reed Amputee Center.--The conferees are aware of
Walter Reed Army Medical Center's efforts to improve amputee
treatment and rehabilitation, especially in light of the
growing number of injured military members returning from
Operation Iraqi Freedom who require such care. As such, the
conferees direct the Surgeon General of the Army to prepare
and submit an infrastructure improvement plan for the Walter
Reed Amputee Center to the congressional defense committees.
The plan should be submitted not later than January 15, 2004,
and should include a detailed description of the types of
infrastructure improvements needed, a timetable for making
these improvements, and associated cost estimates.
Section 117. The conference agreement includes language
relating to previously appropriated funds for the False Pass,
Alaska, project.
[[Page 31772]]
Section 118. The conference agreement includes language
regarding the Central Riverfront Park project on the Ohio
River in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Section 119. The conference agreement includes language
providing for the use of available funds from the Hamlet City
Lake, North Carolina, project to carry out current projects
in Richmond County.
Section 120. The conference agreement includes language
regarding the project for clearing and snagging in Deep
River, near Lake Station, Indiana.
Section 121. The conference agreement includes a technical
correction to Section 117 of H.R. 2754, the Energy and Water
Development Appropriations Act, 2004, relating to the Idaho,
Montana, Rural Nevada, New Mexico, and Rural Utah project.
Section 122. The conference agreement includes language
providing for the use of available funds from the Savannah
Harbor Deepening Project, Savannah, Georgia, for the Savannah
Harbor Expansion Project.
Section 123. The conference agreement includes language
regarding the Columbia River Channel Improvements project in
Oregon and Washington.
Section 124. The conference agreement includes language
directing the Corps of Engineers to proceed with work to
complete the Stillwater, Minnesota, project.
Black Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers, Alabama.--The
conference agreement on H.R. 2754, the fiscal year 2004
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, included an
additional $1,500,000 for operation and maintenance of the
Black Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers, Alabama, project. Of
those funds, $1,000,000 is to be used to fund the evaluation
of a plan for the relocation of project offices to
Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Section 125. The conference agreement clarifies that an
additional $166,100,000 is provided in the Energy and Water
Development Appropriations Act, 2004, for offsetting
collections for purchase power and wheeling expenses.
Energy Supply
Renewable Energy Resources
In calculating the non-Federal match commitment required
for the Upper Lynn Canal, Alaska, project, non-Federal
resources including cash, personnel, services, and equipment
expended in the last two fiscal years shall be included in
determining whether the non-Federal match requirement has
been fulfilled.
Biomass/biofuels.--The $960,000 earmark for the Mount Mass
CC Bio Wood Gasification Project provided for in the
statement of managers accompanying H.R. 2754 should be
properly titled as the Mount Wachusett Community College
Biomass Wood Gasification Project.
Nuclear Energy
Program Direction.--Of the amount made available for
program direction in the statement of managers accompanying
H.R. 2754, $34,237,000 is assigned to the 050 budget
function.
Science
Biological and Environmental Research.--The statement of
managers accompanying H.R. 2754 providing $5,000,000 for the
development of new molecular imaging probes is further
clarified to apply to programs that bring together PET
imaging, systems biology and nanotechnology to develop new
molecular imaging probes. These probes should provide a
biological diagnosis of disease that is informative of the
molecular basis of disease and specific for guiding the
development of new molecular therapies. The programs must
bring together chemists, physicists, biologists, and imaging
scientists to produce new technologies and science in the
stated area. The particular disease orientation is in cancers
such as breast, prostrate, colorectal, melanoma and
degenerative neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's diseases.
In addition, the $1,000,000 earmark for the Carnegie Mellon
University Green Chemistry Project should be properly titled
as the Carnegie Mellon University Advanced Building
Efficiency Testbed Initiative.
Science Laboratories Infrastructure.--The statement of
managers accompanying H.R. 2754 provides $1,000,000 for
excess facilities disposal for the 88-inch cyclotron at the
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. If the Department of
Energy decides to continue operating the 88-inch cyclotron
during fiscal year 2004, the $1,000,000 should be applied to
disposal of other excess facilities at the Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory.
Environmental and Other Defense Activities
Defense Site Acceleration Completion
Accelerated Completions 2035.--The statement of managers
accompanying H.R. 2754 indicates that the conference
agreement provides $1,929,536,000 for Accelerated
Completions, 2035, with the reduction of $49,061,000 below
the request due to the Department-requested adjustment for
Oak Ridge cleanup activities. The statement of managers
should be amended to reflect that $31,851,000 of this
reduction represents the Department-requested adjustment for
Oak Ridge cleanup and $17,210,000 represents a reduction to
the overall 2035 subaccount, not specific to Los Alamos, Oak
Ridge, or any other 2035 cleanup site.
Other Defense Activities
Environment, Safety and Health (Defense).--Of the funds
made available for transfer to the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health for epidemiological studies in
the statement of managers accompanying H.R. 2754, $7,500,000
shall be applied to conduct epidemiological research and
other activities to establish the scientific link between
radiation exposure and the occurrence of chronic lymphocytic
leukemia.
Section 127. The conference agreement includes language
related to Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.
Section 128. The conference agreement includes language
modifying Section 312 of the Energy and Water Development
Appropriations Act, 2004, and Section 634 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2003 regarding the classification of certain
materials as ``11 e.(2) by-product materials''.
Section 129. The conference agreement includes language
making technical corrections to H.R. 6, the Energy Policy
Act.
Sec. 130. The conference agreement includes an additional
$50,000,000 to the Department of Energy's Office of Science
to begin work on the Coralville, Iowa project.
Section 131. The conference agreement includes $250,000 for
Biological Sciences at DePaul University; $500,000 for the
Cedars-Sinai Gene Therapy Research Program; and $500,000 for
the Hartford Hospital Interventional Electrophysiology
Project.
Section 132. The conference agreement includes $750,000 for
the Energy Center of Wisconsin Renewable Fuels Project;
$500,000 for the Wind Energy Transmission Study; $250,000 for
the White Pine County, Nevada, Public School System biomass
conversion heating project; $250,000 for the Lead Animal
Shelter Animal Campus renewable energy demonstration project;
$3,000,000 for the establishment of a Hawaii Hydrogen Center
for Development and Deployment of Distributed Energy Systems;
and $250,000 for the Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition for
biomass restoration and science-based restoration.
Section 133. The conferees have included additional funding
in specified amounts for certain Army Corps of Engineers
Construction, General, projects, including, for the Red River
Below Denison Dam, Arkansas, project, $1,250,000; for the Red
River Red River Emergency, Arkansas, project, $1,750,000; for
the Napa River, California, project, $2,750,000; for the
Chicago Shoreline, Illinois, project, $1,000,000; for the
McCook and Thornton Reservoirs, Illinois, project,
$1,000,000; for the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock,
project, $1,000,000; Fort Peck Fish Hatchery, Montana,
$1,000,000; for the Passaic River Streambank Restoration
(Minish Park), New Jersey, project, $1,000,000; and for the
Grand Forks--East Grand Forks, MN, project, $3,000,000.
Section 135. The conferees agree to extend the Pre-Disaster
Mitigation Program authorization by one year to December 31,
2004.
Section 136. The conferees agree to extend the National
Flood Insurance Program authorization by six months to June
30, 2004.
Section 137. The conference agreement includes a provision
that modifies the Maritime Transportation Security Act of
2002 as it relates to fishing agreements.
The conference agreement includes technical corrections to
the fiscal year 2004 Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, Public Law 108-108, related to two
statutory citations in the Bureau of Indian Affairs
``Construction'' account.
The conference agreement includes technical corrections to
the Congaree National Park Boundary Revision in Public Law
94-545, to retain the current classification of the park
under section 162 of the Clean Air Act and to change the name
of the Congaree Swamp National Monument Wilderness to the
``Congaree National Park Wilderness''.
The conference agreement includes a technical correction to
section 123 of the fiscal year 2004 Interior and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, Public Law 108-108, to ensure
that the National Park Service can provide a grant to the
Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation for continued land
acquisition in the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National
Historic District.
The conference agreement includes a provision setting a
November 18, 2007, date for the termination of the Delaware
and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Commission.
The conference agreement corrects a citation in Title IV of
the fiscal year 2004 Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, Public Law 108-108.
The conference agreement includes a provision reallocating
certain funds provided to the Indian Health Service for
alcohol control, enforcement, prevention, treatment, sobriety
and wellness, and education in Alaska.
The conference agreement includes technical corrections to
section 344 of the fiscal year 2004 Interior and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, Public Law 108-108: (1)
clarifying that the across the board reduction to accounts in
the Act does not apply to emergency requirements pursuant to
section 502 of H. Con. Res. 95 (108th Congress), the
concurrent budget resolution on the budget for fiscal year
2004, and (2) allowing the Secretary of the Interior to use
her discretion in applying the reduction within the Indian
[[Page 31773]]
Land and Water Claim Settlements and Miscellaneous Payments
to Indians account.
The conference agreement establishes the Theodore Roosevelt
National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi; authorizes the
construction, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, of an
education center on the refuge; changes the name of the Bogue
Phalia Unit of the Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge to the
``Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge''; and changes the
name of the Central Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge
Complex to the ``Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge
Complex''.
The conference agreement amends section 386 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2003 to permit the consideration of an option
providing a loan guarantee for a liquefied natural gas
transportation project in Alaska.
The conference agreement amends the Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act to authorize the use of funds
to pay certain expenses after the death of certain Department
of the Interior employees in Alaska.
The conference agreement establishes the Office of Native
Hawaiian Relations within the Office of the Secretary of the
Interior and appropriates $100,000 for that office.
The conference agreement permits the Assiniboine and Sioux
tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana to
lease tribally owned land for interstate natural gas
pipelines.
The conference agreement authorizes the National Park
Service to purchase, from willing sellers, Fern Lake and its
surrounding watershed, approximately 4,500 acres, for
inclusion in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
This will ensure the protection of Fern Lake as the sole
water source for the city of Middlesboro, Kentucky.
The Smithsonian Institution should continue planning,
administration and other activities required for the
establishment of the National Museum of African-American
History and Culture. The Smithsonian Institution should use
General Service Administration consulting contracts to help
evaluate the four sites under consideration.
Sec. 151 authorizes the Attending Physician to Congress to
have authority and responsibility for overseeing and
coordinating the use of medical assets in response to a
bioterrorism event and other medical contingencies or public
health emergencies.
Sec. 152 authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to lease
any portion of the real property located at 449 South Capitol
Street Southwest, DC for the use of the United States Capitol
Police.
Sec. 153 establishes the United States Senate-China
Interparliamentary Group.
Sec. 154 establishes the United States Senate-Russia
Interparliamentary Group.
Sec. 155 is a provision regarding the expenses of the
Chaplain of the Senate.
Sec. 157. Pension Plan Parity.--The conference agreement
includes a provision directing the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation to restore certain guaranteed pension benefits.
Neither the House nor the Senate bills contained these
provisions.
vision rehabilitation
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services is directed to carry out a nationwide outpatient
vision rehabilitation services demonstration project. The
purpose of this demonstration project is to examine the
impact of standardized national coverage for vision
rehabilitation services provided in the home by physicians,
occupational therapists and certified vision rehabilitation
teachers.
This demonstration project should be conducted over a
period of five years beginning July 1, 2004. The Secretary
shall expend from available funds appropriated to him in FY
2004, including transfers authorized under existing
authorities from the Federal Supplementary Insurance Trust
Fund, an amount not to exceed $2 million for FY 2004 to carry
out this demonstration project.
Sec. 158. The conference agreement includes a general
provision, which appropriates $9,692,000 to the Department of
Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund and offsets the
appropriation with a rescission in the same amount from the
``Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense''
account.
Sec. 159. The conferees agree to provide an additional
amount of $1,000,000,000 for requirements payments to states
under the Help America Vote Act.
Sec. 160. designates the courthouse at 333 Lomas Boulevard
in New Mexico as the ``Pete V. Domenici United States
Courthouse.''
Sec. 161. requires the Director, Office of Management and
Budget to consult with Alaska Native corporations on the same
basis as Indian tribes under Executive Order 13175.
Sec. 162. provides a total of $50,000,000 from the highway
trust fund for the reconstruction of the Treasure Island
Bridge in Florida and for plaza design and road improvements
at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Sec. 163 extends the Japanese Imperial Government
Disclosure Act for one additional year.
Cash balance plans.--The conference agreement on the
Departments of Transportation and Treasury, and Independent
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 directs the Secretary of
the Treasury to prepare a legislative proposal that would
provide transition relief to older and longer service
participants affected by conversions from traditional defined
benefit plans to cash balance plans. The conference agreement
also prohibits the use of funds to complete certain
regulations pending at the Treasury Department. The purpose
of this prohibition is not to call into question the validity
of hybrid pension plan designs (cash balance and pension
equity). The purpose of the prohibition is to preserve the
status quo with respect to conversions through the entirety
of fiscal year 2004 while the applicable committees of
jurisdiction review the Treasury Department's legislative
proposals.
Sec. 164. The conference agreement includes a provision
related to the distribution of certain Department of Housing
and Urban Development block grant funds to Alaska Native
recipients.
Sec. 168. The conference agreement includes a rescission of
$1,800,000,000 funds made available to the Department of
Defense and made available in P.L. 107-38 and P.L. 107-117,
as well as a 0.59 percent across-the-board rescission to
discretionary budgetary resources provided in fiscal year
2004 regular appropriations Acts (except Defense and Military
Construction), as well as to any previously enacted fiscal
year 2004 advance appropriation.
Bill Young,
Ralph Regula,
Jerry Lewis,
Frank R. Wolf
(except for section 617 of Division B),
James T. Walsh,
Dave Hobson,
Henry Bonilla,
Jack Kingston,
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen,
George R. Nethercutt, Jr.,
Tom Latham,
Virgil Goode,
Ray LaHood,
John P. Murtha,
Managers on the Part of the House.
Ted Stevens,
Thad Cochran,
Arlen Specter,
Pete V. Domenici,
Christopher Bond,
Mitch McConnell,
Conrad Burns,
Richard C. Shelby,
Judd Gregg,
Robert F. Bennett,
Ben Nighthorse Campbell,
Larry E. Craig,
Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Mike DeWine,
Sam Brownback,
Daniel K. Inouye,
Tom Harkin,
Managers on the Part of the Senate.
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