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Carter Supports Increased Funding for Law Enforcement, National Security, 2nd Amendment

Washington, DC, July 14, 2017
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31) supported and the House Appropriations Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. The bill funds the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other related agencies.

Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31) supported and the House Appropriations Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. The bill funds the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other related agencies.

The legislation contains $54 billion in funding, $4.8 billion above the President’s request for these programs. The bill targets funding increases for national security – including cybercrime, counter-terrorism, and espionage. The bill also provides increases for federal law enforcement to crack down on illegal immigration as well as combat violent crime, gangs, and opioid trafficking. Funds are included to help boost trade enforcement, continue investments in space exploration programs, and advance groundbreaking science and technologies essential for innovation, productivity, and economic growth.

The bill includes items championed by Rep. Carter including funding for active shooter training called for by the POLICE Act.  The bill provides for 65 new immigration judges, training for judicial personnel to recognize the signs of child abuse, and national training programs that prepare police officers to better protect our communities. Additionally, this bill includes a number of provisions to protect gun owner rights pertaining to the import and export of firearms and increased funding to update and maintain the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) electronic forms to reduce wait times.

“We must do all we can to support the men and women in uniform, both law enforcement and military, who put their lives on the line every day so we may be free and secure. I proudly supported this bill that will provide more resources for our law enforcement agencies so they may be successful in keeping our communities and nation safe,” said Rep. Carter. “This bill also provides funding to crack down on illegal immigration, combat violent crime and prevent the continued proliferation of opioids in our communities. Additionally, it blocks any funding for the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, and provides continued protections of our 2nd Amendment rights.”

Bill Highlights:

Department of Justice (DOJ) – The bill funds DOJ at $29 billion, an increase of $349 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. These investments will give federal law enforcement tools to thwart crime and terrorism, and bring criminals to justice.

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)– The bill includes $8.8 billion for FBI operations – an increase of $48 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. This funding maintains critical functions of the FBI, including anti-cybercrime, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and violent crime reduction programs.
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)– The DEA is funded at $2.6 billion – $98 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level and equal to the request.

Within the DEA, priority is placed on anti-opioid and other illegal drug enforcement efforts. This includes enhancements for heroin enforcement, and additional resources to combat transnational organized crime and violent crimes. This also includes a $37 million increase in the Diversion Control Program to enhance opioid diversion investigations and prosecutions.  In addition, the bill provides $526 million for the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces, a $9 million increase over the current level.

  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)– The legislation contains $1.3 billion for the ATF, $35 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. This funding will provide additional resources to reduce violent crime and expedite licensing applications.

The bill continues all legislative provisions carried in previous years to protect the Second Amendment rights of all Americans, and goes a step further to make four of these provisions permanent law. These four provisions relate to import applications on shotguns for sporting purposes, the importation of “curios and relics” firearms, the export of firearms to Canada, and a prohibition on “gun-walking,” such as the disastrous “Fast and Furious” operation.

Also included is a prohibition on forcing an unauthorized reporting and registration requirement on consumers purchasing multiple rifles or shotguns.

  • Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) – Funding for the EOIR is increased by $64.5 million, for a total of $505 million. This increase will provide for 65 additional immigration judge teams to process immigration reviews more quickly, and reduce the backlog of pending cases.

U.S. Marshals Service (USMS)– The bill includes $2.8 billion for the USMS, an increase of $88 million above fiscal year 2017. This funding will strengthen border and immigration enforcement efforts and will provide an additional $82 million to support an increased detainee population from more vigorous violent and immigration crime enforcement initiatives.

  • Grant Programs – The bill includes a total of $2.2 billion for various state and local law enforcement assistance grant programs.

Within this amount, funds are increased for the highest-priority grant programs, including $527 million for the Violence Against Women account (an increase of $46 million), $500 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (an increase of $104 million), and $220 million for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (an increase of $10 million).

The bill also maintains funding for various other important grant programs at their current levels. This includes Adam Walsh Act grants ($20 million), National Instant Criminal background check system grants ($73 million), DNA Initiative grants ($125 million), the Reduce Sexual Assault Kits Backlog grants ($45 million), Second Chance Act grants ($68 million), and Missing and Exploited Children grants ($73 million).

  • Anti-Opioid Abuse– Opioid abuse is a national epidemic, killing more people than car crashes each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill includes $103 million for programs to help stem this abuse – the full amount authorized by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016. This includes funding for activities such as drug courts, treatment, and prescription drug monitoring.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – NASA is funded at $19.9 billion, $219 million above the 2017 enacted level. This funding includes:

  • $4.6 billion for Exploration – $226 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. This includes funding to continue the development of the Orion crew vehicle and Space Launch System and related ground systems.
  • $5.9 billion for NASA Science programs – $94 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. This targets funding to planetary science and astrophysics to ensure the continuation of critical research and development programs, while reducing funding for lower-priority research.

Department of Commerce– The bill includes $8.3 billion for the Commerce Department, a reduction of $892 million below the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. This includes funding for the following agencies:

  • Economic Development Administration (EDA)– The legislation includes $176 million for the EDA, a reduction of $100 million below the fiscal year 2017 level and $146 million above the President’s request. These funds will help facilitate international and domestic commerce, and help to boost economically recovering communities.
  • Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) –The bill provides $3.5 billion for the PTO, which is equal to the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of fees to be collected by the PTO during fiscal year 2018. The bill also includes a provision that allows the PTO to use any fees in excess of the estimated collected amount, subject to congressional approval. 
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – NIST is funded at $865 million in the bill – $87 million below the fiscal year 2017 enacted level and $140 million above the President’s request. Within this total, important core research activities are funded at $660 million to help advance U.S. competitiveness and economic growth, while lower-priority activities are reduced. 
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – The legislation contains $4.97 billion for NOAA, which is $710 million below the enacted level. Funding is targeted to important priorities such as the National Weather Service, fisheries management, weather research, and ocean exploration while reducing funds for lower priority activities.

The bill also includes full funding to continue the current Joint Polar Satellite System weather satellite program and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program to help maintain and improve weather forecasting to warn communities about potentially devastating natural disasters.

National Science Foundation (NSF)– The legislation funds NSF at $7.3 billion – $133 million below the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. Research and Related Activities are funded at the current level of $6 billion. These funds will foster innovation and U.S. economic competitiveness, including funding for research on advanced manufacturing, physics, mathematics, cybersecurity, neuroscience, and STEM education.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC)– The bill funds LSC at $300 million – $85 million below the fiscal year 2017 level – and continues all existing LSC restrictions including those regarding abortion, representing illegal immigrants, and engaging in political activities.

Trade Enforcement– The bill includes $15 million for the Trade Enforcement Trust fund, which is the full amount authorized by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. The bill also funds the International Trade Commission at $92.5 million, which is a $1 million increase above the enacted level, and increases Enforcement and Compliance at the International Trade Administration to the President’s request of $88.5 million. 

Other Provisions – The bill includes several policy provisions, such as:

  • Continues a prohibition on the transfer or release of Guantanamo detainees into the U.S.;
  • Continues various existing provisions related to firearms, such as a prohibition on the implementation of the UN Arms Trade Treaty, and making four of these provisions permanent;
  • Prohibits unauthorized reporting and registration requirement on consumers purchasing multiple rifles or shotguns;
  • Prevents settlement money from going to activist groups by prohibiting the Justice Department from entering into civil settlement agreements in which a defendant is required to make a donation to a third party;
  • Prohibits NASA and the Office of Science and Technology Policy engaging in bilateral activities with China unless authorized or certified via procedures established in the bill;
  • Combats cyberespionage by requiring agencies to conduct supply chain review before procuring sensitive information technology systems;
  • Continues existing policies related to the sanctity of life.

Rep. Carter represents Texas District 31, which includes Fort Hood, the largest active duty armored military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, co-chairman of the Congressional Army Caucus, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

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