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House Appropriations Committee Advances Justice, Financial Services Spending Bills

On July 13, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY2018 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (as-yet-unnumbered) and the Financial Services and General Government (as-yet-unnumbered) spending bills. Both bills were approved by separate votes, 31-21.

The charts below detail funding levels for programs important to women and their families.

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

According to the committee report, the bill would provide $53.935 billion in discretionary funds for programs within the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and the National Science Foundation and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This amount is $2.62 billion below FY2017.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) would receive $29.315 billion in FY2018, which is $367.864 million over FY2017 and $986.856 million over the president’s request. The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee approved the bill on June 29 (see The Source, 6/30/17).

Program/Agency

FY2017

President’s

FY2018 Request

FY2018

Office on Violence Against Women

$481.5 million

$480 million

$527 million

Grants to Combat Violence Against Women (STOP Grants)

$215 million

$215 million

$215 million

Transitional Housing Assistance

$30 million

$30 million

$30 million

Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women

$3 million

$5 million

$3.5 million

Consolidated Youth-Oriented Program

$11 million

$11 million

$11 million

Sexual Assault Victims Services

$35 million

$35 million

$35 million

Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement

$35 million

$34 million

$35 million

Violence on College Campuses

$20 million

$20 million

$20 million

Civil Legal Assistance

$45 million

$45 million

$45 million

Elder Abuse Grant Program

$5 million

$5 million

$5 million

Family Civil Justice

$16 million

$16 million

$16 million

Education and Training for Disabled Female Victims

$6 million

$6 million

$6 million

National Resource Center on Workplace Responses

$500,000

$500,000

$500,000

Indian Country-Sexual Assault Clearinghouse

$500,000

$500,000

$500,000

Research on Violence Against Indian Women

$1 million

$2 million

$1 million

Rape Survivor Child Custody Act

$1.5 million

$2.5 million

$1.5 million

Office of Justice Programs

$1.691 billion

$1.224 billion

$1.48 billion

Victims of Trafficking

$45 million

$45 million

$45 million

Prison Rape Prevention and Prosecution

$10.5 million

$15 million

$15 million

National Sex Offender Public Website

$1 million

$1 million

$1 million

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

$9 million

$9 million

$9 million

DNA Initiative

$125 million

$105 million

$125 million

Debbie Smith Backlog Grants

$117 million

$97 million

$117 million

Sexual Assault Forensic Exam

$4 million

$4 million

$4 million

Related Agencies

Commission on Civil Rights

$9.2 million

$9.43 million

$9.183 million

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

$364.5 million

$376.646 million

$363.807 million

Legal Services Corporation

$385 million

$33 million

$300 million

The report language contains several provisions to address human trafficking across several agencies and divisions within DOJ (see pp. 28, 31, 32, 33-34, 36, 43, and 47). Of particular note, the committee “encourages the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to examine ways to assist nonprofits and other nongovernmental entities with a proven track record of administering successful prevention and early intervention programs for girls vulnerable to trafficking” (p. 47).

Noting “targeted attacks against Internet users, particularly women,” the committee urges DOJ to intensify its efforts against cyberstalking and threat crimes.

The measure also includes $45 million in grants to address the sexual assault kit backlog (p. 51), as well as a provision to address female genital mutilation (p. 28).

Financial Services and General Government

According to the committee report, the bill would provide $20.231 billion in discretionary funds in FY2018 for several agencies, including the Small Business Administration (SBA), as well as a federal payment to the District of Columbia. This amount is $1.284 billion below FY2017 and $2.468 billion below President Trump’s FY2018 budget request. The Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee approved the bill on June 29 (see The Source, 6/30/17).

Program/Agency

FY2017

President’s

FY2018 Request

FY2018

Small Business Administration

$886.761 million

$829.148 million

$847.798 million

Entrepreneurial Development Programs

$245.1 million

$192.45 million

$211.1 million

Women’s Business Centers

$18 million

$16.7 million

$17 million

National Women’s Business Council

$1.5 million

$1.5 million

$1.5 million

Microloan Technical Assistance

$31 million

$31 million

$31 million

Small Business Development Centers

$125 million

$115 million

$120 million

The bill also would allocate $12.3 million for Veterans Outreach programs, which include the Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-Wise) program.