Order Code RL34092
Commerce, Justice, Science, and
Related Agencies:
FY2008 Appropriations
July 20, 2007
William J. Krouse, Coordinator
Specialist in Social Legislation
Domestic Social Policy Division
Edward Vincent Murphy, Coordinator
Analyst in Financial Institutions
Government and Finance Division
M. Angeles Villarreal, Coordinator
Analyst in International Trade and Finance
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division


Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget
resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and
budget reconciliation bills. The process begins with the President’s budget request and is
bounded by the rules of the House and Senate, the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 (as amended), the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, and current
program authorizations.
This report is a guide to the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year.
It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House Committee on
Appropriations and Senate Subcommittee on Legislative Branch of the Senate Committee
on Appropriations. It summarizes the current legislative status of the bill, its scope, major
issues, funding levels, and related legislative activity. The report lists the key CRS staff
relevant to the issues covered and related CRS products.
NOTE: A Web version of this document with active links is
available to congressional staff at [http://beta.crs.gov/cli/
level_2.aspx?PRDS_CLI_ITEM_ID=73].



Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies:
FY2008 Appropriations
Summary
This report monitors actions taken by the 110th Congress for the FY2008
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill. For
FY2008, the Administration has requested $53.355 billion for Departments of
Commerce and Justice, certain “science” agencies, and related agencies, or about a
1.0% increase over the comparable amount appropriated by Congress for the current
fiscal year ($52.843 billion). The request includes $6.596 billion for the Department
of Commerce (a 0.4% decrease compared to the FY2007 enacted level), $22.252
billion for the Department of Justice (a 4.1% decrease), $23.744 billion for science
agencies (a 6.9% increase), and $762.5 million for related agencies (a 4.8%
decrease).
The Senate Appropriations Committee reported an FY2008 CJS appropriations
bill (S. 1745; S.Rept. 110-124) on June 28, 2007. The Senate bill would provide
$56.580 billion, or $3.738 billion more than the FY2007 enacted level, and $3.226
billion more than the Administration’s request. The Senate amount would provide
Commerce with $7.35 billion (an 10.9% increase over the FY2007 enacted level),
Justice with $24.312 billion (an 4.7% increase), science agencies with $24.019
billion (an increase of 8.2%), and related agencies with $899.7 million (a 12.4%
increase).
The House Appropriations Committee ordered reported an FY2008 CJS
appropriations bill (H.R. 3093) on July 12, 2007. The House bill would provide
$55.975 billion for FY2008, or $3.132 billion more than the FY2007 enacted level,
and $2.621 billion more than the FY2007 request, but $605 million less than the
Senate mark. The House amount would provide Commerce with $7.063 billion (a
6.6% increase over the FY2007 enacted level), Justice with $23.929 billion (a 3.1%
increase), science agencies with $24.137 billion (an 8.7% increase), and related
agencies with $845.7 million (a 5.6% increase).
As Congress considers the FY2008 CJS appropriations, several overarching
issues have emerged. For the Department of Commerce, increased funding is being
considered for the 2010 Census, while cuts to other population surveys are being
considered as well. For both Commerce and science agencies, increased funding for
technological research, development and education is being considered as part of the
President’s American Competitiveness Initiative. There are also congressional calls
for increased funding to research the effects of global warming. And, Congress is
weighing proposals made by the President to re-prioritize NASA programs, but at the
same time to cut personnel (especially in aeronautics research). Regarding the
Department of Justice, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees have
expressed concern about recent upticks in violent crime rates. The Committees have
approved funding for state, local, and tribal law enforcement assistance that is
roughly comparable to the levels provided for FY2007, rather than cutting such
funding by more than half as proposed by the Administration for FY2008.
This report will be updated to reflect legislative action.

CRS Key Policy Staff
Area of Expertise
Name
Division
Telephone and E-Mail
Departments
Department of Justice
Celinda Franco
DSP
7-7360
cfranco@crs.loc.gov
Department of Commerce
Ted Murphy
G&F
7-6201
tmurphy@crs.loc.gov
Agencies and Policy Areas
Office of Justice Programs
Nathan James
DSP
7-0264
njames@crs.loc.gov
Trade-related agencies: ITA, ITC,
M. Angeles Villarreal
FDT
7-0321
USTR, NIPLECC
avillarreal@crs.loc.gov
BIS
Ian Fergusson
FDT
7-4997
ifergusson@crs.loc.gov
EDA
Eugene Boyd
G&F
7-8689
eboyd@crs.loc.gov
MBDA
Ted Murphy
G&F
7-6201
tmurphy@crs.loc.gov
Telecommunications, NTIA
Glenn McLoughlin
RSI
7-7073
gmcloughlin@crs.loc.gov
Bureau of the Census
Jennifer D. Williams
G&F
7-8640
jwilliams@crs.loc.gov
Patent and Trademark Office, NIST,
Wendy H. Schacht
RSI
7-7066
Technology Administration
wschacht@crs.loc.gov
Office of Science and Technology
Dana Shea
RSI
7-6844
Policy
dshea@crs.loc.gov
NOAA
Wayne Morrissey
RSI
7-7072
wmorrissey@crs.loc.gov
NASA
Daniel Morgan
RSI
7-5849
dmorgan@crs.loc.gov
NSF
Christine Matthews
RSI
7-7055
cmatthews@crs.loc.gov
Marine Mammal Commission
Gene Buck
RSI
7-7262
gbuck@crs.loc.gov
Equal Employment Opportunity
Linda Levine
DSP
7-7756
Commission
llevine@crs.loc.gov
Abigail Rudman
DSP
7-9519
arudman@crs.loc.gov
Legal Services Corporation
Carmen Solomon-
DSP
7-7306
Fears
csolomonfears@crs.loc.gov
Antitrust Modernization Commission
Jan Rubin
ALD
7-9079
jrubin@crs.loc.gov
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Garrine Laney
DSP
7-2518
glaney@crs.loc.gov
State Justice Institute
Steve Rutkus
G&F
7-7162
srutkus@crs.loc.gov
Division abbreviations: ALD = American Law Division; DSP = Domestic Social Policy Division;
FDT = Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division; G&F = Government and Finance Division; RSI
= Resources, Science, and Industry Division.

Contents
Most Recent Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Overview of FY2008 CJS Appropriations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Subcommittee Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Synopsis of FY2007 Appropriations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
FY2008 Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Senate Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
House Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Departmental Funding Trends, FY2003-FY2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Survey of Selected Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Department of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Department of Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Science Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Department of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
International Trade Administration (ITA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Economic Development Administration (EDA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Economic and Statistical Analysis (ESA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Bureau of the Census . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) . . 16
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Technology Administration/Office of the Under Secretary of Technology . 18
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Departmental Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Related Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Related CRS Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Department of Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Government Performance and Results Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
FY2008 Budget Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
General Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
U.S. Parole Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Legal Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
National Security Division (NSD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Interagency Law Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) . . . . . . 36
Federal Prison System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Office on Violence Against Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Office of Justice Programs (OJP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Related Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Related CRS Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Science Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
National Science Foundation (NSF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Related Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Related CRS Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Related Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Antitrust Modernization Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Marine Mammal Commission (MMC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
National Veterans Business Development Corporation (VBC) . . . . . . . . . . 57
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
State Justice Institute (SJI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
List of Tables
Table 1. Legislative Status of CJS Appropriations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Table 2. CJS Appropriations by Department and Related Agencies,
FY2007 Enacted and FY2008 Proposed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Table 3. Funding for Departments of Commerce, Justice, and Science
and Related Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 4. Funding for the Department of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Table 5. NOAA Appropriations: FY2007 Enacted and FY2008 Proposed . . . . 22
Table 6. Funding for the Department of Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Table 7. Funding for Science Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Table 8. Funding for NASA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Table 9. Funding for the National Science Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Table 10. Funding for CJS Related Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Table 11. CJS Appropriations by Account, FY2007 Enacted and
FY2008 Proposed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related
Agencies: FY2008 Appropriations
Most Recent Developments
The Senate Appropriations Committee reported an FY2008 Commerce, Justice,
Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill (S. 1745; S.Rept. 110-124)
on June 28, 2007. This bill would provide $56.58 billion for FY2008, or $3.738
billion more than the FY2007 enacted level, and $3.226 billion more than the
Administration’s FY2008 request. The House Appropriations Committee ordered
reported an FY2008 CJS appropriations bill (H.R. 3093) on July12, 2007. This bill
would provide $55.975 billion for FY2008, or $3.132 billion more than the FY2007
enacted level, and $2.621 billion more than the FY2007 request, but $605 million
less than the Senate mark.
Table 1. Legislative Status of CJS Appropriations
Subcommittee
Conf. Report
Markup
House
House
Senate Senate
Conf.
Approval
Public
Report Passage Report Passage Report
Law
House Senate
House Senate
6/11/07 6/26/07 7/12/07
6/28/07
Overview of FY2008 CJS Appropriations
Subcommittee Jurisdiction
Appropriations bills reflect the jurisdiction of the subcommittees of the House
and Senate Appropriations Committees in which they are considered.1 In the 110th
Congress, the House and Senate committees have created parallel jurisdictions for
the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations
Subcommittees. This was not the case in the 109th Congress, however. In that
congress, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees transferred, from
what had previously been the Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related
Agencies (also abbreviated CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, jurisdiction for the
Judiciary to the Transportation and HUD Appropriations Subcommittees. In
1 For further information, see CRS Report RL31572, Appropriations Subcommittee
Structure: History of Changes from 1920-2007
, by James Saturno.

CRS-2
addition, certain “science” agency appropriations were transferred to the former CJS
subcommittees. Those science agencies included the White House’s Office of
Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), and National Science Foundation (NSF). In the Senate,
moreover, jurisdiction for the Department of State was transferred to the Foreign
Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. In the House, however, it remained under
the jurisdiction of the former CJS subcommittee, renamed the Science, State, Justice,
Commerce, and Related Agencies (SSJC) Appropriations Subcommittee.
Table 2. CJS Appropriations by Department and Related
Agencies, FY2007 Enacted and FY2008 Proposed
(budget authority in millions of dollars)a
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
Departments and Related Agencies
Enactedb
Request
reported
reported
Department of Commerce
$6,624.7
$6,595.8
$7,350.1
$7,063.4
Department of Justice
$23,210.4 $22,252.3
$24,312.0 $23,929.2
Science Agencies
$22,207.0 $23,743.9
$24,018.7 $24,137.0
Related Agencies
$800.7
$762.5
$899.7
$845.7
Total Appropriations
$52,842.9 $53,354.6
$56,580.4 $55,975.4
Sources: S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124) and H.R. 3093 (H.Rept. 110-240).
a. Amounts may not total due to rounding.
b. The FY2007 Enacted column includes funding provided by the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007(P.L. 110-5), and the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery,
and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28).
Table 2 shows comparable funding levels for the departments and related
agencies currently under the House and Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittees
for FY2007 enacted, FY2008 requested, FY2008 Senate-reported, and FY2008
House-reported. Not shown in Table 2 are enacted and proposed rescissions of
“unobligated balances” and “prior year appropriations,” as those rescissions do not
reflect new budget authority that was, or is proposed to be, appropriated.
Nevertheless, those rescissions are given below in the summary table at report’s end.
Synopsis of FY2007 Appropriations
On February 15, 2007, Congress passed the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007 (P.L. 110-5) providing funding for those agencies that had not yet
received a permanent appropriation.2 While this law funded certain CJS departments,
agencies, administrations, and offices with specific appropriations, most others were
funded by extending their FY2006 budget through FY2007 (subject to rescissions in
2 The full-year continuing resolution followed three temporary continuing resolutions (H.R.
5361/P.L. 109-289, effective through November 17, 2006; H.J.Res. 100, effective through
December 8, 2006; H.J.Res. 102, effective through February 15, 2007).

CRS-3
some cases).3 More recently, on May 24, 2007, Congress passed the U.S. Troop
Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability
Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28), which included supplemental funding for
some, but not all of the agencies for which the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee has
jurisdiction. Table 2 shows that Congress has provided $52.483 billion for the
departments, agencies, administrations, commissions, and offices that are under the
jurisdiction of the House and Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittees. That
amount is $2.402 billion more than the previous year ($50.441 billion), or an increase
of 4.8%.
FY2008 Request
For FY2008, Table 2 shows that the Administration’s request includes $53.355
billion for Departments of Commerce and Justice, certain science agencies, and
related agencies, or about a 1.0% increase over amounts appropriated by Congress
for FY2007. This amount includes $6.596 billion for the Department of Commerce
(a 0.4% decrease compared to the FY2007 enacted level), $22.252 billion for the
Department of Justice (a 4.1% decrease), $23.744 billion for science agencies (a
6.9% increase), and $762.5 million for related agencies (a 4.8% decrease).
Senate Action
Table 2 shows that the Senate-reported bill (S. 1745) would provide $56.58
billion in FY2008 funding for the departments, bureaus, agencies, administrations,
and offices under the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee’s jurisdiction. By
comparison, the Senate FY2008 mark would provide a 7.1% increase over the
FY2007 enacted level, and a 6.0% increase over the Administration’s request.
! For the Department of Commerce, the Senate mark includes $7.35
billion, or $725.3 million more than the FY2007 enacted level (an
increase of 10.9%), and $754.2 million more than the Presidents
FY2008 request (an increase of 11.4%).
! For the Department of Justice, the Senate mark includes $24.312
billion, or $1.102 billion more than the enacted FY2007 level (an
increase of 4.7%), and $2.06 billion more than the President’s
FY2008 request (an increase of 9.3%).
3 The House passed a Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies (SSJC)
appropriation bill (H.R. 5672; H.Rept. 109-520) on June 29, 2006. The Senate
Appropriations Committee reported a Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
(CJS) appropriations bill (H.R. 5672; S.Rept. 109-280) on July 11. In addition, the Senate
Appropriations Committee reported a State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies
appropriations bill (H.R. 5522; S.Rept. 109-277) on July 10. This Senate version of H.R.
5522 included funding for the Department of State and related agencies. As described
above, final funding was provided under the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution,
2007 (P.L. 110-5).

CRS-4
! For science agencies, the Senate mark includes $24.019 billion, or
$1.812 billion more than the enacted FY2007 level (an increase of
8.2%), and $274.8 million more than the President’s FY2008 request
(an increase of 1.2%).
! For related agencies, the Senate mark includes $899.7 million, or
$99 million more than the FY2007 enacted level (an increase of
12.4%), and $137.2 million more than the President’s FY2008
request (an increase of 18.0%).
House Action
Table 2 shows that the House bill (ordered reported) would provide $55.975
billion in FY2008 funding for the departments, bureaus, agencies, administrations,
commissions, and offices under the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee’s jurisdiction.
By comparison, the House mark would provide a 5.9% increase over the FY2007
enacted level, and a 4.9% increase over the Administration’s FY2008 request, but
$1.1% less than the Senate mark.
! For the Department of Commerce, the House mark would provide
$7.063 billion, or $438.7 million more than the FY2007 enacted
level (an increase of 6.6%), and $467.6 million more than the
FY2008 request (an increase of 7.1%), but $286.6 million less than
the Senate mark (a decrease of 3.9%).
! For the Department of Justice, the House mark would provide
$23.929 billion, or $718.8 million more than the FY2007 enacted
level (an increase of 3.1%), and $1.677 billion more than the
FY2008 request (an increase of 7.5%), but $382.7 million less than
the Senate mark (a decrease of 1.6%).
! For science agencies, the House mark would provide $24.137
billion, or $1.93 billion more than the FY2008 enacted level (an
increase of 8.7%), $393.1 million more than the FY2008 request (an
increase of 1.7%), and $118.3 million more than the Senate mark (an
increase of 0.5%).
! For related agencies, the House mark would provide $845.7 million,
or $44.9 million more than the FY2007 enacted level (an increase of
5.6%), $83.2 million more than the FY2008 request (an increase of
10.9%), but $54.0 million less than the Senate mark (a decrease of
6%).
Departmental Funding Trends, FY2003-FY2007
Table 3 shows funding trends for the major agencies in CJS appropriations over
the six-year period FY2002-FY2007, including supplemental appropriations.
Funding for the Department of Commerce increased by 14.1% from FY2002 through
FY2005. Due to rescissions, it decreased in FY2006, but increased in FY2007.

CRS-5
Funding for the Department of Justice decreased 17.1% from FY2002 to FY2003.
This decrease largely reflects the transfer of the former Immigration and
Naturalization Service to the newly formed Department of Homeland Security.
Justice funding has increased by 18.1% from FY2003 to FY2007. Funding for the
science agencies has gradually increased by 12.7% from FY2002 to FY2007.
Table 3. Funding for Departments of Commerce, Justice,
and Science and Related Agencies
(billions in current dollars)a
Department/Agency
FY2002
FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007b
Commerce
5.739
5.796
5.943
6.550
6.426
6.625
Justice
23.707
19.648
19.850
21.000
21.404
23.210
Sciencec
19.710
20.600
20.960
21.676
22.833
22.207
Source: Funding totals provided by the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations.
a. Amounts may not total due to rounding.
b. The FY2007 Enacted column includes funding provided by the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007(P.L. 110-5), and the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery,
and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28).
c. Before FY2006, science agencies (OSTP, NASA, and NSF) were funded in the VA/HUD
appropriations bill.
Survey of Selected Issues
Department of Commerce
A number of key issues relating to the diverse collection of responsibilities in
the Department of Commerce may be considered during the deliberations of the
FY2008 budget. The Department’s trade and technology programs may be focal
points in discussions of export promotion in part because the deficit in the U.S.
current account has nearly doubled from $98.8 billion in January 2000 to $192.6
billion in January 2007. The constitutional requirement to redistrict the House of
Representatives in 2010 may involve increased preparations for the upcoming census.
The anniversary of hurricanes Katrina and Rita may draw attention to the
Department’s weather and ocean-stewardship programs. Some selected issues
affecting funding priorities follow.
Key issues include the following:
! Proposed increases in funds for the Census Bureau to prepare for the
2010 Census;
! Possible termination of the Census Bureau’s longitudinal Survey of
Income and Program Participation and its proposed replacement
with a new data collection system focusing on income and wealth
dynamics;

CRS-6
! The ability of U.S. trade agencies and PTO to fight intellectual
property infringement abroad;
! The efficacy of U.S. trade agency enforcement of U.S. trade remedy
laws against unfair foreign competition;
! For the third consecutive year, the Administration included in its
budget request a proposal that would revamp some of the programs
administered by the Department of Commerce by consolidating the
activities currently funded under the Economic Development
Administration’s Public Works, Technical Assistance, Research and
Evaluation, Economic Adjustment Assistance and Defense
Economic Adjustment Assistance programs under a Regional
Development Administration (RDA);
! Proposals to limit the access that the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office has to the fees it collects each fiscal year;
! Funding of the Advanced Technology Program, whereby the federal
government invests in applied research activities of private entities;
! Proposals to fund all of NOAA programs under a single authorizing
law, an Organic Act;
! Funding levels for NOAA satellite programs, ocean and coastal
research-related projects, and Tsunami research systems; and
! Implementation of the American Competitiveness Initiative,
announced in February 2006, intending to provide $50 billion in
research and $86 billion in research tax incentives over 10 years
across several Commerce and related agencies, to increase U.S.
leadership in technological research, development, and education.
Department of Justice
As Congress considers the FY2008 budget, there are a number of key issues that
may be considered during appropriations deliberations. The violent crime —
murders, robberies, forcible rapes and aggravated assaults — as reported by the FBI
in the Unified Crime Report, has increased over the last two years, by 2.3% in 2005
and 1.3% in 2006. As the lead federal agency whose mission is to protect the
American public and enforce the nation’s laws, DOJ agencies play an important role
in fighting crime, a role that must be balanced with the agency’s mission on
homeland security. Some of the following selected issues may be weighed in shaping
the funding priorities.
! During the past few Republican-controlled Congresses, the DOJ
appropriation’s legislation has included language which prohibits
ATF from sharing federal gun-trace data with state and local law
enforcement agencies except under limited circumstances. House
appropriators have included a modified version of this language,

CRS-7
popularly referred to as the “Tihart amendment” after its original
congressional sponsor, and such language was amended to the
Senate bill in full committee markup. Gun control advocates
reportedly will address this issue when the FY2008 CJS funding is
considered on the House and Senate floor.
! Declining levels of federal funding for state, local, and tribal law
enforcement continues to be an important concern for many in the
Congress particularly in light of recent upticks in violent crime rates.
The Administration’s budget request includes proposals to
significantly reduce funding for state, local, and tribal law
enforcement assistance programs, and consolidate most of the
targeted grant programs into a single, multi-purpose, competitive
grant program with a significantly lower funding level. In the past,
similar proposals by the Administration have been rejected by
Congress and the individual law enforcement grant programs have
been funded.
! The firing of nine U.S. Attorneys last year has been a concern and
the House Appropriations Committee has reportedly included $1.5
million for the Office of the Inspector General to pay for an
investigation of the U.S. Attorney firings.4
! DEA has been under a hiring freeze and the Administration
proposed further reductions in the number of agents. The Senate
Appropriations Committee report includes additional funding for to
lift the hiring freeze and restore DEA’s ability to support state and
local law enforcement in the fight against drugs.
Science Agencies
Key issues are as follows:
! President Bush’s “Vision for Space Exploration” and its consequent
reprioritization of NASA programs, and potential personnel cuts
(especially in aeronautics research);
! Whether to use the space shuttle to service the Hubble Space
Telescope; and
! Funds for programs to research and address global warming,
including a new study by the National Science Foundation and
improved data collection by National Polar-Orbiting Operational
Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS).
4 CQ Committee Coverage, House Appropriations Subcommittee Markup, June 11, 2007.

CRS-8
Department of Commerce
The origins of the Department of Commerce date to 1903 with the establishment
of the Department of Commerce and Labor (32 Stat. 825). The separate Department
of Commerce was established on March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. 7365; 15 U.S.C. 1501).
The department’s responsibilities are numerous and quite varied, but its activities
center on five basic missions: (1) promoting the development of U.S. business and
increasing foreign trade; (2) improving the nation’s technological competitiveness;
(3) encouraging economic development; (4) fostering environmental stewardship and
assessment; and (5) compiling, analyzing, and disseminating statistical information
on the U.S. economy and population.
The following agencies within the Commerce Department carry out these
missions:
! International Trade Administration (ITA) seeks to develop the
export potential of U.S. firms and to improve the trade performance
of U.S. industry;
! Bureau of Industry and Security enforces U.S. export laws consistent
with national security, foreign policy, and short-supply objectives
(formerly the Bureau of Export Administration);
! Economic Development Administration (EDA) provides grants for
economic development projects in economically distressed
communities and regions;
! Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) seeks to promote
private and public sector investment in minority businesses;
! Economic and Statistical Analysis Programs provide: (1) timely
information on the state of the economy through preparation,
development, and interpretation of economic data; and (2) analytical
support to department officials in meeting their policy
responsibilities. Much of the analysis is conducted by the Bureau of
Economic Analysis (BEA);
! Bureau of the Census collects, compiles, and publishes a broad range
of economic, demographic, and social data;
! National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) advises the President on domestic and international
communications policy, manages the federal government’s use of
the radio frequency spectrum, and performs research in
telecommunications sciences;
! Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) examines and approves
applications for patents for claimed inventions and registration of
trademarks;

CRS-9
! Technology Administration, through the Office of Technology
Policy, advocates integrated policies that seek to maximize the
impact of technology on economic growth, conducts technology
development and deployment programs, and disseminates
technological information;
! National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) assists
industry in developing technology to improve product quality,
modernize manufacturing processes, ensure product reliability, and
facilitate rapid commercialization of products based on new
scientific discoveries; and
! National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides
scientific, technical, and management expertise to: (1) promote safe
and efficient marine and air navigation; (2) assess the health of
coastal and marine resources; (3) monitor and predict the coastal,
ocean, and global environments (including weather forecasting); and
(4) protect and manage the nation’s coastal resources.
As Table 4 shows, the President’s FY2008 budget request includes $6.596
billion for the Commerce Department. This represents a decrease of $29.0 million,
or 0.4%, from the FY2007 appropriation for the department of $6.625 billion. By
comparison, the Senate committee has recommended a total of $7.350 billion for
FY2008, or $725.3 million above the FY2007 enacted level and $754.2 million
above the President’s FY2008 request. The House Committee has recommended a
total of $7.063 billion for FY2008, or $467.6 million above the President’s FY2008
request.5
5 The Administration’s FY2008 budget request proposes a rescission of nearly $49 million
from the emergency steel guaranteed loan program. Neither the Senate committee nor the
House committee includes the requested $49 million rescission for the emergency steel
guaranteed loan program. Instead, the Senate committee recommends rescinding $10
million for industrial technology services and the House recommends a $42 million
Department-wide rescission.

CRS-10
Table 4. Funding for the Department of Commerce
(budget authority in millions of dollars)a
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
Bureau or Agency
Enactedb
Request
Reported
Reported
International Trade
Administrationc
395.6 412.4 417.4
422.4
Bureau of Industry and
Security
75.4 78.8 78.8
78.8
Economic Development
Administration
280.6 202.8 282.8
302.8
Minority Business
Development Agency
29.7
28.7
30.2
31.2
Economic and Statistical
Analysis
79.8 85.0 85.0
86.5
Bureau of the Census
893.0
1,230.2
1,246.6
1,232.2
National Telecommunications
and Information
Administration
39.8 18.6d
48.6
40.3
Patent and Trademark Officee
(1,771.0) (1,915.5) (1,915.5)
(1,915.5)
Technology Administration
2.0
1.6
0.0
1.0
National Institute of Standards
and Technology
676.9
640.7
863.0
831.2
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
4,078.3
3,809.6
4,214.9
3,950.5
Departmental Management
73.7
87.4
82.7
86.5
Total: Department of
Commerce

6,624.7
6,595.8
7,350.1
7,063.4
Sources: S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124) and H.R. 3093 (H.Rept. 110-240).
a. Amounts may not total due to rounding.
b. The FY2007 Enacted column includes funding provided by the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007(P.L. 110-5), and the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery,
and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28).
c. Total funding for ITA may be higher than these amounts due to retained fees.
d. Does not include $45 million in mandatory spending from the Digital Transition and Safety Public
Fund.
e. The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is fully funded by user fees. The fees collected, but not
obligated during the current year are available for obligation in the following fiscal year and do
not count toward the appropriation totals. Only newly appropriated funds count toward the
annual appropriation totals.

CRS-11
International Trade Administration (ITA)6
The ITA provides export promotion services, works to assure compliance with
trade agreements, administers trade remedies such as antidumping and countervailing
duties, and provides analytical support for ongoing trade negotiations. ITA’s
estimated total full-time staff for FY2007 is 2,217. ITA’s mission is to improve U.S.
prosperity by strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and
investment, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements.
ITA strives to accomplish this through the following four policy units and the
Executive and Administrative Directorate: 1) Manufacturing and Services Unit,
responsible for certain industry analysis functions, and promoting the
competitiveness and expansion of the U.S. manufacturing sector; 2) Market Access
and Compliance Unit, responsible for monitoring foreign country compliance with
trade agreements, identifying compliance problems and market access obstacles, and
informing U.S. firms of foreign business practices and opportunities; 3) Import
Administration Unit, responsible for administering the trade remedy laws of the
United States; 4) Trade Promotion/U.S. Foreign Commercial Service program,
responsible for conducting trade promotion programs, providing U.S. companies with
export assistance services, and leading interagency advocacy efforts for major
overseas projects; and 5) the Executive and Administrative Directorate, responsible
for providing policy leadership, information technology support, and administration
services for all of ITA.

The President’s FY2008 request for ITA is $412.4 million, a $16.8 million
(4.2%) increase over the funding level of $395.6 million adopted by the FY2007
Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution (P.L. 110-5). The request anticipates
the collection of $13 million in fees, raising available funds to $425.4 million. The
Senate committee recommended $417.4 million for ITA, $21.8 million above the
FY2007 enacted level, and $5 million above the budget request. The Senate
recommendation anticipates the collection of $8 million in fees, $5 million less than
the budget request, which would raise available budget authority to $425.4 million.
The House committee recommended $422.4 million, $26.8 million above the
FY2007 enacted level, and $10 million above the budget request. The House
recommendation anticipates the collection of $8 million in fees, the same as the
Senate amount and $5 million less than the budget request, which would raise
available budget authority to $430.4 million.
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)7
The BIS administers export controls on dual-use goods and technology through
its licensing and enforcement functions. It cooperates with other nations on export
control policy and provides assistance to the U.S. business community to comply
with U.S. and multilateral export controls. It also administers U.S. anti-boycott
6 The sections on ITA, USTR, and ITC were written by M. Angeles Villarreal, Analyst in
International Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division.
7 This section was written by Ian F. Fergusson, Analyst in International Trade and Finance,
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division.

CRS-12
statutes, and it is charged with monitoring the U.S. defense industrial base. The
agency had an estimated 416 full-time employees in FY2007. Authorization for the
activities of BIS, the Export Administration Act (50 U.S.C. 2401, et seq.), last
expired in August 2001. On August 17, 2001, President Bush invoked the authorities
granted by the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1703(b))
to continue in effect the system of controls contained in the act and by the Export
Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R., Parts 730-799) and has renewed that
authority yearly.
The President’s FY2008 request for BIS is $78.8 million, a 4.5% increase from
the FY2007 enacted funding level of $75.4 million. The FY2008 funding request for
BIS is divided between licensing activity ($39.0 million), enforcement activities
($34.1 million), and management and policy coordination ($5.7 million). Of these
amounts, $14.8 million is requested for Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
enforcement. The FY2008 request also includes a proposal to consolidate the contract
management functions of the Export Control and Border Assistance Programs in the
Department of State, which provides the funds for these activities. The BIS
envisions a reduction of its management and policy coordination budget by $955,000
by this action. Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees
recommended the same level of funding for FY2008 as the President’s request, $78.8
million.
Economic Development Administration (EDA)8
The EDA was established under the Public Works and Economic Development
Act of 1965, as amended.9 The EDA’s mission is to generate jobs, help retain
existing jobs, by stimulating industrial and commercial growth in economically
distressed areas of the United States, with an emphasis on urban areas with high
unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress.
For the third consecutive year, the Administration included in its budget request
a proposal that would revamp the programs administered by EDA. The
Administration is requesting $202.8 million for EDA activities for FY2008. This
amount includes $170 million to fund planning grants, trade adjustment assistance,
and a new Regional Development Account (RDA) and $32.8 million for salaries and
expenses. Excluding funding for salaries and expenses, the Administration’s budget
request of $170 million for program activities is $80.7 million less than the $250.7
million appropriated for FY2007.
The proposed RDA would consolidate the activities currently funded under the
EDA’s Public Works, Technical Assistance, Research and Evaluation, Economic
Adjustment Assistance and Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance programs. In
addition, according to the Administration, RDA program consolidation would create
a streamlined application process allowing EDA grantees, including Economic
Development Districts and universities and colleges, to develop comprehensive
8 This section was prepared by Eugene Boyd, Analyst in American National Government,
Government and Finance Division.
9 42 U.S.C. § 3121.

CRS-13
strategies in support of regional economic development efforts in distressed rural
communities. Last year, during consideration of the 2007 appropriations, the Senate
committee included report language rejecting the Administration’s RDA proposal.10
In addition, under the Administration’s restructuring proposal, EDA’s Office of
Strategic Initiatives would be eliminated and a new Office of Regional Affairs (ORA)
would be created. The ORA would include the six regional offices and would be
charged with administering the new RDA program. During its consideration of EDA
funding for FY2007, the House committee included report language that directed
EDA to maintain all six regional offices in response to concerns that EDA was
considering eliminating three of the six offices.11
For FY2008, the Senate committee has included report language that rejects the
Administration’s RDA proposal.12 By comparison, for FY2008, the Senate bill
would provide $282.8 million for existing EDA. Excluding salaries and expenses,
the Senate amount would provide $250 million for the EDA assistance programs,
$80 million more than requested by the Administration, but $741,000 less than
appropriated for FY2007. This amount includes $154 million for public works
grants, $27 million for planning assistance, $8.5 million for technical assistance,
$500,000 for research and evaluation activities, $15 million for trade adjustment
assistance, and $45 million for economic adjustment grants. Consistent with the
Administration’s budget request, the bill recommends $32.8 million for salaries and
expenses.
In addition, it is worth noting that Senate report language expresses concern
about the distribution of EDA funds among the six regional offices, echoing similar
concerns raised last year during Senate consideration of EDA funding. The Senate
report language directs the Administration to disperse FY2008 funding to the six
regional offices in accordance with the funding levels for each account and using the
EDA formula. To monitor compliance with this directive, the report language directs
EDA to notify the Senate committee in writing when all grant funds have been
distributed to regional offices.
For FY2008, the House Appropriations Committee recommends an
appropriation of $302.8 million for EDA activities ($270 million) and salaries and
expenses ($32.8 million). This is $22.2 million more than appropriated in FY2007,
$100 million more than requested by the Administration, and $20 million more than
recommended by the Senate (S. 1745). Like its Senate counterpart, the House report
includes language rejecting the Administration’s RDA consolidation proposal. The
House bill recommends $160 million for public works grants, $27 million for
planning assistance, $10 million for technical assistance, $500,000 for research and
evaluation activities, $13.5 million for trade adjustment assistance, $49 million for
economic adjustment grants, and $32.8 million for salaries and expenses. The
House bill also includes $10 million for a Global Climate Change Mitigation
10 S.Rept. 109-280, accompanying the Senate-reported version of H.R. 5672.
11 H.Rept. 109-520, accompanying the House-passed version of H.R. 5672.
12 S.Rept. 110-124, accompanying S. 1745.

CRS-14
Incentive Fund (GCCMIF). The report accompanying the bill directs EDA to use the
GCCMIF to support proposals that incorporate mitigation strategies and technologies
aimed at promoting sustainable resource conservation and reducing energy
consumption and harmful gas emissions. Should Congress approve this initiative,
EDA would be required to develop criteria to evaluate GCCMIF grant applications
within 90 days of enactment of passage of the act.
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)13
The MBDA, established by Executive Order 11625 on October 13, 1971,14 is
charged with the lead role in coordinating all the federal government’s minority
business programs. As part of its strategic plan, the MBDA seeks to develop a more
industry-focused, data driven technical assistance approach to give minority business
owners the tools essential for becoming first or second tier suppliers to private
corporations and the federal government in the new procurement environment.
Progress will be measured in relation to entrepreneurial parity and strategic growth
through increased gross receipts, number of employees, size and scale of firms
associated with minority business enterprise. For FY2008 the President’s budget
requests $28.7 million for the MBDA, which is a 3.4% decrease from the FY2007
appropriation of $29.7 million. The Senate committee reported $30.2 million for
FY2008, which is $0.5 million above FY2007 and $1.5 million above the President’s
request. The House committee reported $31.2 million for FY2008. Both the Senate
and the House committees made specific reference to keeping funds available to
maintain current Native American Business Development Centers.
Economic and Statistical Analysis (ESA)15
The ESA provides economic data, analysis, and forecasts to government
agencies and, where appropriate, to the public. The ESA includes the Census Bureau
(discussed separately), the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and STAT-USA.
The ESA has three core missions: (1) compile a system of economic data, (2)
interpret and communicate the forces at work in the economy, and (3) support the
information and analytical needs of the executive branch. Excluding Census, the
ESA FY2008 request is $85.0 million. This is a 6.5% increase over the comparable
FY2007 enacted figure of $79.8 million. The Senate committee recommended the
same funding for the ESA as the President’s request, $85.0 million in FY2008. The
House committee recommended $86.5 million, which includes an additional $1.5
million to expand and improve regional datasets that benefit state and local officials
and economic development organizations.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) accounts for $81 million of the $85
million FY2008 administration request for Economic and Statistical Analysis. The
13 This section was written by Edward V. Murphy, Analyst in Financial Institutions,
Government and Finance Division.
14 36 FR 19967, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 616.
15 This section was written by Edward V. Murphy, Analyst in Financial Institutions,
Government and Finance Division.

CRS-15
BEA has four core programs, each of which supports other agencies and
policymakers. The National Economic Accounts support federal budget projections
and macroeconomic policy. Balance-of-Payments data are required by international
agreements on exchange rates. Regional data are used to allocate federal funds and
state budget forecasts. Industry accounts are used to compile the other datasets and
also by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Producer Price Index. The $81 million
request for BEA compares to $75 million requested in FY2007 and $72 million
enacted in FY2006.
Bureau of the Census16
The Bureau of the Census, established as a permanent office on March 6, 1902
(32 Stat. 51), is authorized by the Constitution (Article I, Section 2, clause 3, as
modified by Section 2 of the 14th Amendment) to conduct a census of population
every 10 years, and by Title 13 U.S.C. to collect and compile a wide variety of other
demographic, economic, housing, and governmental data.
For discretionary spending by the Bureau of the Census in FY2008, the
Administration requested new budget authority totaling $1,230.2 million: $202.8
million for salaries and expenses and $1,027.4 million for periodic programs,
including $797 million (about 78% of the periodics account) for the 2010 decennial
census. By comparison, the FY2007 enacted amounts were $196.6 million for
salaries and expenses, $696.4 million for periodic programs, totaling $893 million
for the Bureau as a whole.
The large difference (+$337.2 million) between the FY2008 request and the
FY2007 enacted amount for the Bureau largely reflects heightened preparations, or
the “ramp up,” for the 2010 census. In 2008, the Bureau will conduct a dress
rehearsal to test all aspects of 2010 operations. The Bureau also will improve its
geographic database — essential for getting census questionnaires to the right
addresses — by correcting and aligning information on street locations with Global
Positioning System coordinates. The re-engineered 2010 census will consist of a
short form, to collect data from all households for, among other purposes, House
reapportionment and within-state redistricting. In addition, the American
Community Survey (ACS), which the Bureau will continue to implement fully,
nationwide, in FY2008, will replace the census long form in 2010 and will provide
detailed demographic data annually to meet various legislative and programmatic
requirements.
The Senate committee recommended an FY2008 amount of $1,246.6 million
for the Bureau, $353.6 million above FY2007 and $16.4 million above the
President’s request. Of the committee-recommended amount, salaries and expenses
would receive $226.2 million and periodic programs, $1,020.4 million ($29.6 million
and $324 million, respectively, over FY2007).
16 This section was written by Jennifer D. Williams, Project Management Coordinator,
Government and Finance Division.

CRS-16
In discussion of the salaries and expenses account, the Senate committee
expressed concern with the Bureau’s attempt — now abandoned — to phase out the
longitudinal Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and replace it with
a new Dynamics of Economic Well-being Survey (DEWS), a switch that would have
been associated with, in the committee’s words, a “lack of continuity of poverty
measures.” The committee, “aware that the Census Bureau has decided not to initiate
DEWS, but to return to the SIPP,” recommended an additional $26 million that,
combined with $15.9 million “in funds from DEWS,” would fund a SIPP sample size
of 45,000 in 25 states.17
Under the periodics account, the committee noted the Bureau’s recent report that
hundreds of its laptop computers and other electronic devices were “lost, stolen, or
missing,” and directed the Bureau to submit a report “no later than 45 days after
enactment that details steps taken to ensure that adequate property controls are in
effect for both electronic devi[c]es specifically acquired for the decennial census and
... equipment generally purchased by the Bureau.”18
The House committee’s recommended FY2008 amount of $1,232.2 million for
the Bureau exceeded the Administration’s request by $2 million and the FY2007
enacted amount by $339.2 million.
The committee’s recommendation of $196.8 million for salaries and expenses
was $191,000 above the amount enacted for FY2007 and $6 million below the
request. Regarding this account, the committee instructed the Bureau to discontinue
work on DEWS and direct its efforts toward restoring SIPP.
For periodic programs, the committee recommended $1,035.4 million, with the
stipulation that the Bureau continue to include “some other race” as a category when
collecting census data on racial identification. The recommendation exceeded the
FY2007 enacted amount by $339 million and the FY2008 request by $8 million. The
$187.2 million recommended for the American Community Survey matched the
request and exceeded the FY2007 enacted amount by $10.7 million.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA)19

The NTIA is the executive branch’s principal advisory office on domestic and
international telecommunications and information technology issues and policies. Its
mandate is to provide greater access for all Americans to telecommunications
services; to support U.S. attempts to open foreign markets; to advise on international
telecommunications negotiations; to fund research grants for new technologies and
their applications; and to assist nonprofit organizations converting to digital
17 S.Rept. 110-124, p. 17.
18 Ibid., pp. 18-19.
19 This section was written by Glenn McLoughlin, Specialist in Technology and
Telecommunications Policy, Resources, Science, and Industry Division.

CRS-17
transmission in the 21st century. The NTIA also manages federal use of radio
frequency spectrum domestically and internationally.
Under the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007 (P.L. 110-5),
the total NTIA budget for FY2007 is $39.8 million; to date Senate appropriators have
approved a total of $48.6 million; the House bill under consideration would fund
NTIA at $40.3 million. There are two major components to the current NTIA budget
(the Bush Administration has sought to create a third program in its FY2008 budget
request, created out of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, discussed below). The first
is Salaries and Expenses. For FY2007, that total was $18.1 million; for FY2008, the
Bush Administration recommended $18.6 million. Both Senate and House
appropriators have approved $18.6 million for the coming fiscal year. In the past, a
large part of this program has been for the management of various information and
telecommunications policies both domestically and internationally. Also, a
significant portion of this program ($7.0 million) is for the management of the federal
government’s use of the radio spectrum. For the second NTIA program component,
the Public Telecommunications and Facilities Program (PTFPC), Congress funded
this program in FY2007 at $21.7 million; for FY2008 Senate appropriators have
approved $20.0 million, while House appropriations language seeks to fund this
program at $21.7 million. (In its request for FY2008, the Administration has
requested no funding for this program). Senate appropriators also have approved
$10 million for the Technologies Opportunities Program (TOP), which was
eliminated after FY2005. The Senate is seeking to have this program targeted for
broadband deployment to rural areas and tribal governments.
The third NTIA program that the Bush Administration has requested in both its
FY2007 and FY2008 budget requests comes out of the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act.
That law — and the creation of the new NTIA program — called for the creation of
a Digital Transition and Safety Public Fund, which would offset receipts from the
auction of licenses to use electromagnetic spectrum recovered from discontinued
analog signals. The Bush Administration set those reimbursable funds at $45 million
in FY2007. These receipts would fund the following programmatic functions at
NTIA: a digital-analog converter box program to assist consumers in meeting the
2009 deadline for receiving television broadcasts in digital format; public safety
interoperable communications grants (which would be made to ensure that public
safety agencies have a standardized format for sharing voice and data signals on the
radio spectrum); New York City’s 9/11 digital transition funding (until the planned
Freedom Tower is built); assistance to low-power television stations for converting
from analog to digital transmission; a national alert and tsunami warning program;
and funding to enhance a national alert system as stated in the ENHANCE 911 Act
of 2004. However, congressional policymakers are still discussing the spectrum
auction and governance issues and the roles of both NTIA and the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC); this may be reconciled during this session of
the 110th Congress.

CRS-18
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)20
The USPTO examines and approves applications for patents on claimed
inventions and administers the registration of trademarks. It also assists other federal
departments and agencies to protect American intellectual property in the
international marketplace. The USPTO is funded by user fees paid by customers that
are designated as “offsetting collections” and subject to spending limits established
by the Appropriations Committee. For FY2007, the USPTO has been provided with
the budget authority to spend $1.771 billion.
The Administration’s FY2008 budget proposal includes $1.916 billion21 in
budget authority for the USPTO. In addition, the budget document requests that the
Office be permitted “full access” to its fee collections and that fee increases passed
in 2005 and 2006 be maintained. Legislation could likely be introduced extending
these provisions.
The FY2008 appropriations bill reported from the Senate committee would
provide the USPTO with $1.916 billion, an increase of 8.2% over the previous fiscal
year and equal to the President’s budget request. The committee report to accompany
the bill requests that the Office have “fuller access to fees” and recommends that the
increase in fees be extended through the end of FY2008.
The FY2008 appropriations legislation reported from the House Committee on
Appropriations also provides the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the budget
authority to spend $1.916 billion. The bill also mandates that the fee increases
remain in effect during FY2008.
Beginning in 1990, appropriation riders have limited the ability of the USPTO
to utilize the full amount of fees collected in each fiscal year. This is an area of
controversy. Opponents of this approach argue that agency operations are supported
by payments for services that must be financed in the year the expenses are incurred.
Proponents of methods to limit USPTO fee usage maintain that the fees are necessary
to help balance the budget and the fees appropriated back to the Office are sufficient
to cover operating costs.
Technology Administration/Office of the
Under Secretary of Technology22

The Technology Administration and the Office of the Under Secretary of
Technology in the Department of Commerce advocate national policies that foster
20 This section was written by Wendy Schacht, Specialist in Science and Technology,
Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
21 On p. 209 of the Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2008 — Appendix,
the amount of $1,915,500,000 requested for the USPTO is not rounded up and is presented
as $1,915 million.
22 This section was written by Wendy Schacht, Specialist in Science and Technology,
Resources, Science, and Industry Division.

CRS-19
technology development to stimulate economic growth, conduct technology
development and deployment programs, and disseminate technological information.
The Office of the Under Secretary for Technology also manages and supervises the
activities of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National
Technical Information Service. For FY2007, the Office has been appropriated $2
million, a 66% decrease in funding from FY2006.
The Administration’s FY2008 budget proposes funding of $1.6 million for the
Technology Administration, 20% below the current level of support. The
appropriations bill reported from the Senate committee does not include financing
for the Technology Administration. The FY2008 appropriations legislation reported
from the House committee would provide $1 million in funds for the Technology
Administration, a 50% decrease from the current fiscal year, to allow for the
“...necessary costs associated with the elimination of the position of Under Secretary
for Technology, as proposed in the budget request.”
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)23
The NIST is a laboratory of the Department of Commerce. The organization’s
mandate is to increase the competitiveness of U.S. companies through appropriate
support for industrial development of pre-competitive generic technologies and the
diffusion of government-developed technological advances to users in all segments
of the American economy. NIST research also provides the measurement,
calibration, and quality assurance techniques that underpin U.S. commerce,
technological progress, improved product reliability, manufacturing processes, and
public safety.
FY2007 appropriations for NIST totaled $676.9 million. Funding for internal
research and development under the Scientific and Technical Research and Services
(STRS) account increased from the previous year to $434.4 million (including the
Baldrige National Quality Program). The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) is
financed at $79.1 million, while $104.7 million is provided for the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership (MEP) program. The construction budget is $58.7 million.
The Administration’s FY2008 budget requests $640.7 million for NIST, 5.3%
below FY2007 due primarily to the absence of support for ATP and reduced funding
for MEP. The STRS account would increase 15.2% to $500.5 million (including the
Baldrige National Quality Program). There would be no funding for the Advanced
Technology Program and appropriations for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
would be reduced 55.8% to $46.3 million. Construction expenses would increase
60.0% to $93.9 million.
The FY2008 appropriations bill, S. 1745, reported from the Senate committee
includes $863.0 million for NIST, an increase of 27.5% over FY2007. Funding for
the STRS account would total $502.1 million (including the Baldrige National
Quality Program), 15.6% above the current fiscal year. The Advanced Technology
23 This section was written by Wendy Schacht, Specialist in Science and Technology,
Resources, Science, and Industry Division.

CRS-20
Program would be financed at $100 million, an increase of 26.4%, recognizing that
there is a possible revision of the program in discussion at the conference over the
competitiveness legislation. Support for the Manufacturing Extension Program
would increase 5.1% to $110 million. There is also a $10 million rescission
(unobligated balances) to the Industrial Technology Development account which is
comprised of the ATP and MEP activities. The committee report to accompany the
appropriations bill recommends a new pilot program for manufacturing technology
development under MEP. The construction budget would total $150.9 million, over
two and one half times more than FY2007 funding.
The bill reported to the House from the House Committee on Appropriations,
including Manager’s amendments, provides $831.2 million for NIST, 22.8% above
the current fiscal year. Included in this total is $500.5 million for the STRS account
(with the Baldrige National Quality Program), an increase of 15.2% over FY2007.
Support for ATP would increase 17.7% to $93.1 million, while funding for MEP
would increase 3.9% to $108.8 million. The Committee Report to accompany the
bill notes support for House-passed legislation that reestablishes ATP as the
Technology Innovation Program while making some changes to the activity. The
construction budget would more than double from the current fiscal year to $128.9
million.24
Continued support for the Advanced Technology Program has been a major
funding issue. The ATP provides “seed financing,” matched by private sector
investment, to businesses or consortia (including universities and government
laboratories) for development of generic technologies that have broad applications
across industries. Opponents of the program cite it as a prime example of “corporate
welfare,” whereby the federal government invests in applied research activities that,
they emphasize, should be conducted by the private sector. Others defend ATP,
arguing that it assists businesses (and small manufacturers) in developing
technologies that, while crucial to industrial competitiveness, would not or could not
be developed by the private sector alone. Although Congress has maintained (often
decreasing) funding for the Advanced Technology Program, the initial appropriation
bills passed by the House since FY2002 failed to include financing for ATP. During
the 109th Congress, the version of the measure reported from the Senate Committee
on Appropriations also did not fund ATP. For FY2006, support again was provided
for the program, but the amount was 41% below that included in the FY2005
appropriations; FY2007 funding remained the same as the previous fiscal year.
The budget for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, another extramural
program administered by NIST, was an issue during the FY2004 appropriations
deliberations. Although in the recent past congressional support for MEP remained
constant, the Administration’s FY2004 budget request, the initial House-passed bill,
and the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act substantially decreased federal
funding for this initiative, reflecting the President’s recommendation that
manufacturing extension centers “...with more than six years experience operate
without federal contribution.” However, P.L. 108-447 restored financing for MEP
in FY2005 to the level that existed prior to the 63% reduction taken in FY2004.
24 The sum of these figures may not total $831.2 million because of rounding.

CRS-21
While the level of support decreased in FY2006, it remained significantly above the
FY2004 figure; FY2007 funding remained at a similar level.
As part of the American Competitiveness Initiative,25 announced by the
President in the 2006 State of the Union, the Administration has indicated that it
intends to double over 10 years funding for “innovation-enabling research”
performed at NIST. This is to be accomplished through increased support of NIST’s
“core” programs, defined as internal research in the STRS account and the
construction budget. To this end, the President’s FY2007 budget requested an 18.3%
increase in funding for intramural R&D at the laboratory. P.L. 110-5, provides for
approximately half this increase (9.6%) in support research performed within the
NIST facilities. For FY2008, the Administration’s budget includes a 15.2% increase
in funding for the STRS account, as does the bill reported from the House Committee
on Appropriations, while the appropriations bill reported from the Senate Committee
on Appropriations contains a 15.6% increase for STRS.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)26
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s
environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the
nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.27 In terms of funding, NOAA
is the largest agency in the Department of Commerce, accounting for about 62% of
the department’s FY2007 budget ($4.053 billion). That amount includes a $25
million rescission and a total of $170.4 million in emergency supplemental funding
provided under P.L. 110-28 for NOAA Hurricane Katrina recovery operations.
The President’s FY2008 request for NOAA was $3.81 billion. The request is
$243.6 million less than the total amount appropriated by Congress for FY2007, or
a 6% decrease. In Table 5, total budget authority is given for NOAA’s Operations,
Research, and Facilities (ORF), Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction (PAC),
and other accounts. Also, included in Table 5 is $79 million in offsetting budget
authority for NOAA that the President has requested to be transferred from a U.S.
Department of Agriculture fund for developing American fishery products. The
FY2008 budget also proposed $30.2 million in savings from FY2007 appropriations
that were either “unrequested” by the Administration or “performing poorly.”28
NOAA’s Administrator, Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. (Ret. Navy),
25 For further information, see The White House, Office of Science and Technology Policy,
Domestic Policy Counsel, American Competitiveness Initiative: Leading the World in
Innovation
, February 2006, 23 pp.
26 This section was prepared by Wayne A. Morrisey, Science and Technology Information
Analyst, Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
27 Mission statement from Department of Commerce, NOAA FY2008 Budget Summary,
February 8, 2007, at [http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/%7Enbo/08bluebook_
highlights.html].
28 See for example performance ratings for NOAA’s “National Marine Fisheries Service,”
at [http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/summary/10000036.2002.html].

CRS-22
opined that the budget request represents a “national consensus” of requirements to
fund ongoing activities at the agency.29
The FY2008 request included $2.77 billion for NOAA’s ORF account; $980
million for the PAC account; and, for NOAA’s “Other Accounts,” a net total of $62.8
million, including $66.8 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund
(PCSRF) and a $3 million transfer to ORF from the Coastal Zone Management Fund
(CZMF). ORF BA would be offset by a transfer of $66.1 million from the Promote
and Develop American Fishery Products Fund (PDAF).
Table 5. NOAA Appropriations:
FY2007 Enacted and FY2008 Proposed
(budget authority in millions of dollars)a
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
NOAA Accounts
Enactedb
Request
Reported Reported
Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF)
National Ocean Service
493.2
436.8
532.1
449.0
NOAA Fisheries 669.8
704.6
763.1
700.5
NOAA Research 368.9
358.4
428.2
413.0
National Weather Service
735.8
807.8
819.1
811.5
NOAA Satellites 177.0
157.8
172.3
157.8
Program Support
351.8
389.5
407.0
407.8
ORF BA Total
2,796.5
2,854.9
3,121.8
2,939.6
Emergency Supplemental (P.L. 110-28)
170.4
NA
NA
NA
BA Offsets (PDAF/CZMF
transfer/deobligations) (55.4)
(88.0)
(84.9)
(91.0)
Subtotal ORF Discretionary
2,911.5
2,766.9
3,036.9
2,848.6
Procurement, Acquisition, &
Construction

1,110.1
979.9
1,089.0
1,039.1
Other Accounts/
CSRF/CZMF/Finance

56.7
62.8
89.0
62.8
Total: NOAA
$4,078.3
$3,809.6
$4,214.9
$3,950.0
Sources: S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124) and H.R. 3093 (H.Rept. 110-240).
a. Amounts may not total due to rounding.
b. The FY2007 Enacted column includes funding from P.L. 110-5, the Revised Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2007, and P.L. 110-28, the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care,
Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007.
29 U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, “2008 President’s Budget Rollout,” presentation
of Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.), Under Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, February 8, 2007. Slide presentation available at
[http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/%7Enbo/FY08%20Rollout%20Materials/1_31_07_
R O L L O U T / V A D M _ P r e s e n t a t i o n / F Y 0 8 _ V A D M _ C o n s t i t u e n t s % 2 0 B r i e f _
FINAL_2_7_07.pdf].

CRS-23
During briefings in Washington, DC, Administrator Lautenbacher discussed
NOAA’s FY2008 budget and how the President’s request would be prioritized at the
agency. Areas of focus included the following:
! NOAA Personnel and Core Mission Administrative, custodial, and
mission support-related functions; including personnel safety of
NOAA Corps officers involved in marine vessel piloting and
research services;
! NOAA Satellites, including reprogramming of funds to prioritize the
launch of the POES-N Prime (N’) in 2009 to help ensure
uninterrupted critical meteorological and environmental
observations, and a National Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite
System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) to test sensors and
ground systems for weather data collection, management, and
analysis systems to support the launch of the first NPOESS-C1
satellite launch in 2013, replacing the current POES program;
! Ocean Activities which, for FY2008, the Administration would
provide $14 million for the International Ocean Observation System
(IOOS) and $123 million for U.S. ocean research, fisheries
management, and marine conservation as part of the President’s
Ocean Action plan;
! In addition to weather and environmental satellite continuity, $5.5
million is requested to operate and maintain a third WP-3 Orion
“hurricane hunter,” funded in post-Katrina emergency supplemental
appropriations (P.L. 109-234), and amounts necessary are requested
to deploy 19 remaining tsunami detection (DART) buoys procured
for Pacific waters; and
! NOAA is pursuing an organic act that would authorize all of its
programs and activities under a single law.30 The House Resources
and Science Committees are considering legislation, H.R. 21, whose
Title II would establish NOAA in the Department of Commerce
statutorily, and among other things, define its mission and functions,
and place greater emphasis on ecosystem-based management at the
agency.31
For FY2008, the Senate committee has recommended a total of $4.215 billion
for NOAA. This amount is $136.62 million more than FY2007 appropriation of
30 NOAA was created in the Department of Commerce by President Nixon with
Reorganization Plan No. 4 in 1970, which consolidated programs from different agencies
across the federal government. Those programs have maintained their respective original
authorizing laws.
31 Hearings on H.R. 21 were held by the House Resources Subcommittee on Subcommittee
hearing were held April 26, 2007. The Administration differs with Congress’s decisions
about agency flexibility and budget autonomy.

CRS-24
$4.078 billion,32 and $405 million more than the President’s request for FY2008 of
$3.81 billion. This Senate total includes $3.037 billion for NOAA’s ORF account;
almost $1.089 billion for the PAC account; and a net total of $89 million for other
accounts (Table 5). The Senate amount includes a total of $795 million for Joint
Ocean Commission Initiative’s recommendations for FY2008 “for greater
stewardship of our Oceans.” Other increases were recommended for NOAA satellite
programs, including funding for certain sensors critical for continuing climate change
research.
Under the Senate recommendation, emphasis was given to supporting
development and preservation of climate data and information. A number of “open
competitive” research programs, including for drought research, would be established
across the agency and $425 million was recommended. New funding is requested for
NOAA climate change program activities. Funding is also included for renovation
of a Pacific Regional Facility in the Pacific Northwest that was recently destroyed by
fire. (The House called for a report and inventory of damage and needs prior to
funding its restoration.) Also, a Gulf of Mexico Disaster response center would be
established to respond to severe weather events. Certain coastal and ocean programs
under the National Ocean Service would be elevated to programs status out of base
funding.
The House Appropriations Committee approved a total of $3.950 billion for
NOAA (Table 5). That amount is $140.9 million, or 3.7% more than the FY2008
request and $127.8 million or 1.0% less than the FY2007 funding level (including
supplemental appropriations of $107 million). The House total is also $264.4 million
or nearly 6.3% less than the Senate Appropriation Committee recommendation of
$4.215 billion. Total appropriations would include $2.85 billion for ORF, $1.04
billion for PAC, and a net $62.8 million for NOAA’s Other Accounts. Also, $77
million in offsetting budget authority is transferred to the NOAA PDAF and $11
million is authorized from FY2007 deobligation of funds.
The FY2008 total includes $6 million for a study by the National Academy of
Sciences for NOAA to establish a Climate Change Study Committee. An increase
of $23 million was provided for NOAA Satellite Services to restore critical sensors
to future satellite missions that would ensure continuity of climate change data.
Funding is provided to address a coastal and outer continental shelf hydrologic
surveys, including electronic charting. The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund
would receive $64.8 million and allocated to Pacific Northwest states. NOAA is also
required to report on the status and composition of its ocean observation capabilities.
NOAA education and outreach funding would increase by $18.3 million or almost
100% above the President’s request, and include $5 million in competitive education
grants. Climate research funding would include $172 million in competitive research
grants. In addition, increases notably greater than the President’s request for Coastal
Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) and funding for marine sanctuaries
construction/acquisition were approved for the National Ocean Service, an increase
of about $60 million total for the NOAA PAC account.
32 Includes enacted rescission of $25 million.

CRS-25
Departmental Management33
The President’s FY2008 budget requested $87.4 million in budget authority for
Departmental Management: $58.7 million for salaries and expenses, $23.4 million
for the Office of Inspector General (IG), and $4.3 million for renovation to the
department’s headquarters, the Herbert C. Hoover Building. The $58.7 million for
salaries and expenses would be approximately $11.6 million above the FY2007
appropriation, a 24% increase. The $23.4 million for the IG would be a slight
increase from the FY2007 appropriation of $22.6 million. The President’s FY2008
budget included $1 million for the Coordination Council, which did not receive any
funding in FY2007. The $87.4 million for Departmental Management is $13.8
million more than FY2007 appropriation, a 18.7% increase. The President’s FY2008
request did not include any funding for United States Travel and Tourism Promotion,
compared to $3.9 million enacted in FY2007.
The Senate committee recommended a total of $82.7 million for Departmental
Management, which is $4.7 million less than the President’s request. The House
committee recommended $86.5 million for Departmental Management, which is $0.9
million less than the Administration’s request. The difference between the
Administration’s request and the House recommendation is that the House included
$3.4 million for renovations to the Herbert C. Hoover Building, while the
Administration included $4.3 million. Neither the Senate nor the House
recommendation included any funds for United States Travel and Tourism
Promotion.
Related Legislation
H.R. 21 (Farr)
The Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century
Act was introduced on January 4, 2007 and referred to the House Committees on
Resources and Science. Title II of this act would repeal the executive order that
created NOAA in 1970, establish the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency
(NOAA) within the Department of Commerce, and authorize all of its programs and
activities under a single law, or organic act. It would maintain the current leadership
structure and preserve the status of extant NOAA rules, regulations, and other legal
matters with few exceptions. The act lays out the mission and programs required to
be maintained by NOAA to support operations, research, and, services. It identifies
research and development (R&D) and education and outreach part of NOAA’s
mission. It would authorize a NOAA Science Advisory Board. It would require
National Academy of Sciences reviews of NOAA activities, including adequacy of
environmental data and information systems, a strategic plan for R&D, and
extramural support of NOAA operations. A reorganization plan would be required
18 months after enactment and an annual internal assessment of NOAA’s
effectiveness and efficiency. The Administrator of NOAA would be required to
notify Congress and the public prior to closing, transferring, changing, or establishing
any NOAA facility. Conditions are set for developing major programs to include
33 This section was written by Edward V. Murphy, Analyst in Financial Institutions,
Government and Finance Division.

CRS-26
determining cost baseline and notifying Congress when cost increases or schedule
delays occur in major programs. Finally, the act places greater emphasis on
ecosystem-based management as part of NOAA research and operations. A hearing
on H.R. 21 was held by the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife,
and Oceans on April 26, 2007. Sponsor’s remarks on H.R. 21 were included in the
Congressional Record, June 6, 2007: H6104.
H.R. 1868 (Wu)
The Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007, as
passed by the House, would authorize funding for NIST through 2010 and create
several new manufacturing R&D programs within NIST.
H.R. 2272 (Gordon)
The 21st Century Competitiveness Act of 2007, as passed by the House, would
authorize appropriations for NIST through 2010 and create several new
manufacturing R&D programs within that organization, among other things.
S. 761 (Reid)
The America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in
Technology, Education, and Science Act, as passed by the Senate, would authorize
appropriations for NIST through FY2011, as well as provide for the creation of a new
manufacturing R&D program within NIST, among other things.
Related CRS Products
CRS Report 95-36, The Advanced Technology Program, by Wendy H. Schacht.
CRS Report RL31832, The Export Administration Act: Evolution, Provisions, and
Debate, by Ian F. Fergusson.
CRS Report 97-104, Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program: An Overview,
by Wendy H. Schacht.
CRS Report 95-30, The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An
Overview, by Wendy H. Schacht.
CRS Report RS22614, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA): FY2008 Budget and Congressional Appropriations, by Wayne A.
Morrissey.
CRS Report RL32739, Tsunamis: Monitoring, Detection, and Early Warning
Systems, by Wayne Morrissey.
CRS Report RS21469, The National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA): Budget, Programs, and Issues, by Glenn McLoughlin.
CRS Report RS20906, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Appropriations Process:
A Brief Explanation, by Wendy H. Schacht.

CRS-27
Department of Justice34
Background
Established by an act of 1870 (28 U.S.C. 501) with the Attorney General at its
head, the Department of Justice provides counsel for citizens and protects them
through law enforcement. It represents the federal government in all proceedings,
civil and criminal, before the Supreme Court. In legal matters, generally, the
Department provides legal advice and opinions, upon request, to the President and
executive branch department heads. The major functions of DOJ agencies and
offices are described below.
! United States Attorneys prosecute criminal offenses against the
United States, represent the federal government in civil actions, and
initiate proceedings for the collection of fines, penalties, and
forfeitures owed to the United States.
! United States Marshals Service provides security for the federal
judiciary, protects witnesses, executes warrants and court orders,
manages seized assets, detains and transports unsentenced prisoners,
and apprehends fugitives.
! Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates violations of
federal criminal law; helps protect the United States against
terrorism and hostile intelligence efforts; provides assistance to other
federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; and shares
jurisdiction with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) over
federal drug violations.
! Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigates federal drug
law violations; coordinates its efforts with state, local, and other
federal law enforcement agencies; develops and maintains drug
intelligence systems; regulates legitimate controlled substances
activities; and conducts joint intelligence-gathering activities with
foreign governments.
! Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
enforces federal law related to the manufacture, importation, and
distribution of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives. It was
transferred from the Department of the Treasury to the Department
of Justice by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296).
! Federal Prison System provides for the custody and care of the
federal prison population, the maintenance of prison-related
facilities, and the boarding of sentenced federal prisoners
incarcerated in state and local institutions.
34 This section was written by Celinda Franco, Specialist in Social Legislation, Domestic
Social Policy Division.

CRS-28
! Office on Violence Against Women coordinates legislative and other
initiatives relating to violence against women and administers grant
programs to help prevent, detect, and stop violence against women,
including domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
! Office of Justice Programs (OJP) manages and coordinates the
activities of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice
Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention, Community Oriented Policing Services
(COPS), and the Office of Victims of Crime.
! Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) administers
grants to assist law enforcement agencies in enhancing public safety
through the implementation of community policing strategies.
COPS grants support, among other things, the enhancement of law
enforcement officers’ problem-solving and community interaction
skills to foster working relationships with community members that
are focused on improving crime prevention within communities.
Most crime control has traditionally been a state and local responsibility. With
the passage of the Crime Control Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-351), however, the federal
role in the administration of criminal justice has increased incrementally. Since
1984, Congress has approved five major omnibus crime control bills, designating
new federal crimes, penalties, and additional law enforcement assistance programs
for state and local governments.
Government Performance and Results Act
The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) required the
Department of Justice, along with other federal agencies, to prepare a five-year
strategic plan, including a mission statement, long-range goals, and program
assessment measures. The Department’s Strategic Plan for FY2003-2008 sets forth
four goals:
! prevent terrorism and promote national security;
! enforce federal criminal laws and represent the rights and interests
of the American people;
! prevent and reduce crime and violence by assisting state, local, and
tribal efforts; and
! ensure the fair and efficient operation of the federal justice system.

CRS-29
Table 6. Funding for the Department of Justice
(budget authority in millions of dollars)a
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
Accounts
Enactedb
Request
Reported
Reported
General Administration
$1,836.2
$1901.6
$1,864.0
$1,869.7
U.S. Parole Commission
11.5
12.2
12.2
12.2
Legal Activities
3,393.1
3,664.9
3,672.8
3,608.3
General legal activities
678.8
750.6
753.0
750.6
United States Attorneys
1,660.0
1,747.8
1,747.8
1,747.8
United States Marshals Service
825.4
899.9
904.9c
886.2
Other
229.0
266.6
267.1
223.7
National Security Division
68.7
78.1
78.1
78.1
Interagency Law Enforcement
497.9
509.2
509.2
509.2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
6,298.6
6,431.3
6,578.7
6,531.3
Salaries and expenses
3,987.5
4,041.4
4,063.7
4,189.5
Counterintelligence and
2,308.6
National Security
2,259.7
2,308.6
2,308.6
Construction
51.4
81.4
206.4
33.2
Drug Enforcement Administration
1,761.1
1,802.6
1,854.2
1,842.6
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives
984.1
1,014.0
1,049.0
1,014.0
Federal Prison System
5,448.2
5,363.9
5,648.9
5,268.9
Office of Violence Against Women
382.6
370.0
390.0
430.0
Office of Justice Programs
2,528.5
1,104.7
2,655.1
2,765.0
Justice assistance
238.3
167.3
240.0
250.0
State and local law enforcement
assistance

1,286.8
550.0
1,400.0
1,315.0
Weed and seed program fund
49.4

50.0
— d
Community oriented policing
services

541.8
32.3
550.0
725.0e
Juvenile justice programs
338.4
280.0
340.0
399.9
Public safety officers benefits
program

73.8
75.1
75.1
75.1
Total: Department of Justice
23,210.4
22,252.3
24,312.0
23,929.2

Sources: S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124) and H.R. 3093 (H.Rept. 110-240).
a. Amounts may not total due to rounding.
b. The FY2007 Enacted column includes funding provided by the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007 (P.L. 110-5), and the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina
Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28).
c. Amount includes the Senate committee’s proposal to create a separate account for Construction
under USMS and includes additional FY2008 funding of $8.015 million.
d. FY2008 proposed funding in the House-reported bill for COPS of $725 million includes $49.7
million for the Weed and Seed program.

CRS-30
FY2008 Budget Request
The Department of Justice FY2008 budget request would provide approximately
$22.252 billion in funding. The FY2008 DOJ budget request would represent a
decrease of $ 958.1 million from FY2007 appropriations enacted by Congress of
approximately $23.210 billion (see Table 6).35 By comparison, the Senate
Appropriations Committee has recommended total DOJ funding of $24.312 billion,
$1.1 billion above the FY2007 enacted level ($23.210 billion), and over $2.060
billion more than the President’s FY2008 budget request ($22.252 billion). The
House Appropriations Committee has recommended total DOJ funding of $23.929
billion for FY2008, a funding level that would reflect an increase of $718.8 million
over FY2007 appropriations, almost $1.677 billion more than the President’s request,
and $382.7 million less than the Senate FY2008 recommendation.
In recent years, as a part of the DOJ appropriations process there has been
controversy over the appropriate level of assistance the department provides to states
and localities for law enforcement and crime prevention grants. The divergence
between the Administration’s and Congress’ perspectives on the issue is evident in
the relatively large difference in the funding levels requested by the President and the
funding appropriated by Congress for programs under the Office of Justice Programs
(OJP). Generally, Congress has provided higher funding levels for these activities
compared to the President’s budget request.
For FY2008, the Administration’s budget request would provide $1.105 billion
for all programs funded from OJP appropriations which would amount to a reduction
of almost $1.424 billion compared to the FY2007 enacted level of $2.529 billion.
The Senate recommendation would provide $2.655 billion for these programs, an
amount that is $126.6 million more than FY2007 appropriations, and nearly $1.550
billion more than the President’s request. The House committee proposal would
provide OJP funding of $2.765 billion, $236.5 million more than the FY2007
appropriation, an amount that exceeds the President’s budget request by more than
$1.660 billion, and exceeds the Senate proposal by $109.9 million. (For a more
detailed discussion, see the Office of Justice Programs section of the report.)
General Administration. The General Administration account for DOJ
provides funds for salaries and expenses, the Attorney General’s office, the Inspector
General’s office, as well as other programs designed to ensure that the collaborative
efforts of DOJ agencies are coordinated to help fight crime as efficiently as possible.
One example of such activities and programs is the Joint Automated Booking System
and the Automated Biometric Identification System, which is designed to integrate
fingerprint identification systems (e.g., IAFIS and IDENT). In addition, DOJ
continues to enhance its counterterrorism and intelligence capabilities through
35 The DOJ appropriations process often includes proposals to rescind unobligated balances
or unobligated recoveries from prior year appropriations. Rescissions are included in the
FY2008 appropriations proposals for specific activities or programs. Because these amounts
do not reduce the amounts appropriated by Congress for the current fiscal year they are not
detailed in Table 6. Total amounts of proposed DOJ rescissions are reflected in the
summary table at the end of the report.

CRS-31
infrastructure improvements and initiatives, including the Law Enforcement Wireless
Communications (LEWC, formerly known as Narrowband Communications) for
developing and implementing nation-wide integrated wireless networks to support
the federal law enforcement and homeland security missions of DOJ. Additionally,
funding for the Justice Information Sharing Technology (JIST) account provides for
investments in information technology to further support the Department’s strategic
goals.
For FY2008, the President’s budget would provide $1.902 billion for General
Administration activities,36 $65.4 million more than Congress appropriated for
FY2007. Of this amount, for salaries and expenses, the President’s FY2008 budget
would provide funding of $104.8 million. The FY2008 request would include JIST
funding of $100.5 million and funding for LEWC of approximately $81.4 million.
The President’s FY2008 budget request also proposes funding of $16 million for a
National Drug Intelligence Center, significantly less than the enacted FY2007
funding of approximately $37 million.
The Senate committee has recommended $1.864 billion for FY2008 funding of
the General Administration account. This amount reflects an increase of $27.8
million compared to the FY2007 appropriation, although it is $37.6 million less than
the President’s FY2008 budget request. The House reported bill would provide
$1.870 billion for General Administration, $33.5 million more than the FY2007
appropriation level, $31.9 million less than the President’s request, and $5.7 million
more than the Senate recommendation.
For JIST, the Senate committee has recommended $95.8 million, a reduction of
$27.8 million from the FY2007 appropriation level of $123.6 million, and $4.7
million less than the President’s FY2008 request. The House bill would provide the
same amount as requested by the President’s budget.
For the Federal Office of Detention Trustee (OFDT), the FY2008 President’s
request would provide $1.294 billion in funding. The proposal would reflect an
increase of $68.4 million more than the $1.226 billion appropriated in FY2007. The
OFDT provides overall management and oversight for federal detention services
relating to federal prisoners in non-federal institutions or otherwise in the custody of
the U.S. Marshals Service.
For FY2008 funding for OFDT, the Senate committee has recommended
approximately $1.266 billion. This amount reflects an increase of $40 million over
the FY2007 appropriation, although it would be $28.4 million less than the
President’s request. The House bill would provide OFDT funding of $1.261 billion,
an amount that would exceed FY2007 appropriations by $35 million, while falling
36 For FY2008, the President’s request and the Senate and House bills include a proposed
rescission of $41 million of unobligated balances from prior year appropriations for the
Working Capital Fund.

CRS-32
below the President’s request by $33.4 million and $5.0 million below the Senate
committee recommendation.37
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for detecting and
deterring waste, fraud, and abuse involving DOJ programs and personnel and
promoting economy and efficiency in DOJ operations. The OIG also investigates
allegations of departmental misconduct. The Administration’s FY2008 budget would
provide $73.2 million for the OIG, an increase of $2.6 million over the FY2007
appropriation of $70.6 million.
For FY2008, the Senate committee has recommended $73.7 million for the OIG,
an increase of approximately $3.1 million over the FY2007 appropriation and
$492,000 more than the President’s request for FY2008. The House committee
would provide $74.7 million, $4.1 million more than appropriated funding in
FY2007, $1.5 million more than the President’s request, and $1.0 million more than
the Senate committee.
U.S. Parole Commission. The U.S. Parole Commission adjudicates parole
requests for prisoners who are serving felony sentences under federal and District of
Columbia code violations. For FY2008, the President’s budget request would
provide $12.2 million for the Parole Commission, an increase of approximately
$690,000 more than the $11.509 million appropriated in FY2007. For FY2008, the
Senate and the House committees have recommended appropriations equal to the
amount requested by the President.
Legal Activities. The Legal Activities account includes several subaccounts:
(1) general legal activities, (2) U.S. Attorneys, (3) U.S. Marshals Service, (4) prisoner
detention, and (5) other legal activities. For FY2008, the Administration’s budget
request includes $3.665 billion for legal activities, an increase of $271.8 million over
the FY2007 enacted appropriations of $3.393 billion.38 The Senate committee has
recommended funding for legal activities of almost $3.673 billion, $279.7 million
more than total FY2007 appropriations and $7.9 million more than the President’s
FY2008 request. The House committee would provide $3.608 billion for legal
activities, an amount exceeding FY2007 appropriations by $215.2 million, although
$56.6 million less than the President’s request and $64.5 million less that the Senate
committee recommendation for FY2008.39
The General Legal Activities account funds the Solicitor General’s supervision
of the department’s conduct in proceedings before the Supreme Court. It also funds
several departmental divisions (tax, criminal, civil, environment and natural
resources, legal counsel, civil rights, and antitrust). For these purposes, the
37 For FY2008, both the Senate and House bills include a proposed rescission of $135
million of unobligated balances from prior year appropriations for OFDT.
38 This amount includes $1.648 million in FY2007 Emergency appropriations for General
Legal Activities (P.L. 110-28), described below.
39 For FY2008, the President’s budget request and the Senate and House bills include a
proposed rescission of $240 million in unobligated balances from prior year appropriations
for the Assets Forfeiture Fund.

CRS-33
Administration’s FY2008 budget would provide $750.6 million, an increase of $71.8
million over total FY2007 enacted appropriations of $678.8 million.40
The Senate committee has recommended $753 million for General Legal
Activities in FY2008, an increase of $74.2 million over total FY2007 enacted
appropriations and $2.4 million more than requested in the President’s FY2008
budget. The House committee would provide $750.6 million, an amount equal to
the President’s request.
The U.S. Attorneys are present in all of the 94 federal judicial districts. The U.S.
Attorneys enforce federal laws through prosecution of criminal cases and represent
the federal government in civil actions. For the U.S. Attorneys Office, the
Administration’s FY2008 request includes almost $1.748 billion, an increase of over
$87.9 million over total enacted FY2007 appropriations of $1.660 billion. The
Senate and House committees would provide the U.S. Attorneys Office the same
amount as requested by the Administration for FY2008.
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) is responsible for the protection of the
federal judicial process, including protecting judges, attorneys, witnesses, and jurors.
In addition, USMS provides physical security in courthouses, safeguards witnesses,
transports prisoners from court proceedings, apprehends fugitives, executes warrants
and court orders, and seizes forfeited property. The FY2008 President’s request
would provide $899.9 million for the USMS, an increase of $74.5 million over the
Service’s total FY2007 enacted appropriations of $825.4 million.41
The Senate bill includes total FY2008 funding of $904.9 million for the USMS.
The Senate committee’s recommendation for total USMS FY2008 funding would
provide a funding increase of $79.5 million more than the enacted FY2007
appropriations, and $5.0 million more than the President’s FY2008 request. Of the
total recommended appropriation for USMS, the Senate committee recommends the
creation of a separate account for construction42 that would be funded at just over
$8.0 million for FY2008. The House bill would provide $886.2 million for USMS,
an increase of almost $60.9 million over FY2007 appropriations, although nearly
$13.7 million less than the President’s request and $18.7 million less than the Senate
committee’s recommendation.
For other legal activities — the Community Relations Service, the Independent
Counsel, the U.S. Trustee Fund (which is responsible for maintaining the integrity
of the U.S. bankruptcy system by, among other things, prosecuting criminal
bankruptcy violations), and the Asset Forfeiture program — the FY2008 request
includes $266.6 million, $37.6 million more than appropriations for FY2007 of $229
million. By comparison, the Senate committee has recommended $267.1 million for
other legal activities, an increase of $38.1 million more than FY2007 appropriations
40 This amount includes $1.648 million in FY2007 Emergency appropriations (P.L. 110-28).
41 This amount includes $6.450 million in FY2007 Emergency appropriations (P.L. 110-28).
42 Funding for USMS construction is generally included within the Salaries and Expenses
account.

CRS-34
and $500,000 more than the FY2008 President’s request. The House committee
would provide $223.7 million for other legal activities, an amount that would be $5.3
million less than FY2007 appropriations, $42.9 million less than the President’s
request, and $43.4 million less than the Senate recommendation.
National Security Division (NSD). The NSD coordinates DOJ’s national
security and terrorism missions through law enforcement investigations and
prosecutions. The NSD was established in DOJ in response to the recommendations
of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD Commission), and authorized by Congress on
March 9, 2006, in the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005
(P.L. 109-177). Under the NSD, the DOJ resources of the Office of Intelligence
Policy and Review and the Criminal Division’s Counterterrorism and
Counterespionage Sections are consolidated to coordinate all intelligence-related
resources and ensure that criminal intelligence information is shared, as appropriate.
For FY2008, the President’s budget requests $78.1 million for NSD, an increase
of $9.4 million compared to FY2007 appropriations of nearly $68.7 million.43 The
Senate and House bills would provide the same amount as requested in the
President’s FY2008 budget.
Interagency Law Enforcement. The Interagency Law Enforcement account
reimburses departmental agencies for their participation in the Organized Crime
Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
program. Organized into nine regional
task forces, this program combines the expertise of federal agencies with the efforts
of state and local law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle major narcotics-
trafficking and money-laundering organizations. From DOJ, the federal agencies that
participate in OCDETF are the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal
Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives;
the U.S. Marshals Service; the Justice, Tax and Criminal Divisions of DOJ; and the
U.S. Attorneys. From the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Bureau of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard participate in
OCDETF. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Office of
Enforcement also participate from the Department of the Treasury. State and local
law enforcement agencies participate in approximately 87% of all OCDETF
investigations.
The FY2008 President’s budget request would provide $509.2 million for
OCDETF. For FY2007, $497.9 million was appropriated for OCDETF, an amount
$11.3 million less than the FY2008 request. The Senate and House committees have
recommended an appropriation amount equal to the Administration’s FY2008
request for OCDETF.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI is the lead federal
investigative agency with the mission of protecting and defending the country
against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats. The FBI’s mission upholds and
enforcing federal laws and provides leadership and criminal justice services to
43 This amount includes $1.736 million in FY2007 Emergency appropriations (P.L. 110-28).

CRS-35
federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners. To accomplish
these goals, the FBI continues to reorganize to focus more sharply on preventing
terrorism and other criminal activities. The President’s FY2008 budget request
would provide funding of over $6.431 billion for the FBI. This funding level would
represent an increase in FBI appropriations by $132.7 million more than total
FY2007 enacted appropriations of almost $6.299 billion.44 Of the President’s
requested amount for FY2008, $81.4 million would fund construction, $30 million
more than the FY2007 level of $51.4 million.
The Senate committee has recommended $6.579 billion for FBI appropriations
in FY2008, almost $280.1 million more than total FY2007 appropriations and $147.3
million more than the President’s FY2008 request. The Senate committee also
recommends the consolidation of funding for sensitive compartmented information
facilities (SCIFs) in the Construction account for total funding of $206.4 million. Of
that total amount under the Construction account, the Senate committee recommends
that $63.7 million would be for SCIFs, $52.7 million would be for the Terrorist
Explosives Device Analytical Center, and $90.0 million would be for a Biometrics
Technology Center. Under the Senate committee’s proposal, Construction account
funding would provide $125.0 million more than the President’s FY2008 request and
$155.0 million over the FY2007 appropriation for this account.
The House committee would provide $6.531 billion for FY2008 FBI funding,
$232.7 million more than appropriations in FY2007 and $100 million more than the
President’s request. The House bill would provide, however, would provide $47.3
million less than the amount recommended by the Senate committee for FY2008.
The House committee proposal would include almost $148.2 million for additional
positions to increase the Bureau’s capacity for counter-terrorism and crime fighting.
The House recommendation would include $80 million for SENTINEL, the FBI’s
new case management system, as well as $47 million to improve the speed and
accuracy of IAFIS and help support the integration of the FBI’s IAFIS with the
Department of Homeland Security’s IDENT system. The House committee would
also provide $33.2 million for FBI’s Construction account, $18.2 million less than
the FY2007 appropriation, $48.2 million less than the FY2008 President’s request,
and $173.2 million less than the Senate committee recommendation.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA is the lead federal
agency tasked with reducing the illicit supply and abuse of dangerous narcotics and
drugs through drug interdiction and seizing of illicit revenues and assets from drug
trafficking organizations. According to DEA, the agency’s efforts to reduce the drug
supply has contributed to a 23% drop in national drug use over the past 5 years. By
2009, one of DEA’s goals is to take $3 billion each year from international drug
trafficking networks operating in the United States. In Congressional testimony on
April 17, 2007, DEA noted that they continue to face evolving challenges in limiting
the supply of illicit drugs such as the illicit use of pharmaceutical drugs available
through the Internet; enforcement along the Southwest border with Mexico where
DEA estimates that 85% of illicit drugs are smuggled into the United States; and
DEA’s limited intelligence infrastructure inability to keep pace with the well-
44 This amount includes $258 million in FY2007 Emergency appropriations (P.L. 110-28).

CRS-36
financed use and sophistication of communications technology used drug trafficking
organizations in their smuggling operations. The Administration’s FY2008 request
would provide approximately $1.803 billion for DEA, an increase of approximately
$41.5 million more than the $1.761 billion appropriated by Congress for FY2007.45
For FY2008, the Senate bill has recommended $1.854 billion for DEA. This
funding level would be $93.1 million more than the total FY2007 appropriation and
$51.6 million more than the President’s FY2008 request. The House bill would
provide $1.843 billion for DEA in FY2008, $81.5 million more than FY2007
appropriations, $40 million more than the President’s request, although $11.6 million
less than the Senate committee recommendation for FY2008 funding.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The
ATF enforces federal criminal law related to the manufacture, importation, and
distribution of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives. ATF works both
independently and through partnerships with industry groups, international, state and
local governments, and other federal agencies to investigate and reduce crime
involving firearms and explosives, acts of arson, and illegal trafficking of alcohol and
tobacco products. The FY2008 President’s request would provide almost $1.014
billion for ATF, $29.9 million more than FY2007 appropriations of $984.1 million.
The President’s FY2008 budget request also includes a proposal for $10 million of
the requested amount be used to increase funding for the Arson and Explosives
Decision Unit whose funding had been reduced; $6.3 million to expand ATFs
domestic firearms trafficking enforcement efforts nationwide; $2.2 million for the
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative to expand PSN’s gang and firearms
enforcement efforts nationally; and $0.4 million for ATF agents dedicated to the
National Gang Targeting Enforcement and Coordination Center (GangTECC), a
national anti-gang taskforce designed to facilitate law enforcement strategies and
operations across agency lines.
The Senate bill has recommended $1.049 billion for ATF’s FY2008
appropriation, an increase of $35.0 million over the Administration’s budget request,
and $64.9 million more than FY2007 appropriations. The Senate committee report
language specifies that $35 million of the recommended appropriation would be for
the construction of the National Center for Explosives Training and Research.
The House bill would provide $1.014 billion for ATF’s FY2008 funding, an
amount equal to the President’s budget request, with similar amounts directed at the
same initiatives found in the request for the Firearms Trafficking/Gun Runner
Program, PSN/Firearms Violence Reduction program, and GangTECC. In addition,
the House committee would direct ATF to submit a report on recommended
improvements to upgrade its information technology systems and $1.0 million of the
FY2008 appropriation would be provided for this purpose.
Federal Prison System. The Federal Prison System is administered by the
Bureau of Prisons (BOP), which maintains penal institutions nationwide and
45 This amount includes $16.166 million in FY2007 Emergency appropriations (P.L. 110-
28).

CRS-37
contracts with state, local, and private concerns for additional detention space. The
Administration estimates that as of January 11, 2007, there were nearly 193,616
federal inmates in 114 institutions. Of the total number of federal inmates, 163,000
are in facilities operated by BOP, while the remaining 16% of federal inmates were
in contract care at privately operated secure facilities that are managed by state and
local governments, residential reentry centers, or serving a sentence of home
confinement. BOP projects that the total federal prison population will continue to
increase, reaching 202,584 by 2008, 207,885 by 2009, and reach 212,987 by the year
2010. According to BOP, the increased federal prison population can be attributed
to stepped-up law enforcement efforts, tougher federal criminal laws, and altered
sentencing in the federal criminal justice system, with the largest increases of
FY1998-2000 due to higher number of prosecutions of drug defendants, immigration
cases, and weapons offenses. Systemwide, BOP facilities are estimated to be
operating at 36% above capacity in FY2007 and to continue at this level in FY2008.
The Administration’s budget request would provide $5.364 billion for funding
for the Federal Prison System in FY2008, almost $84.3 million less than total
FY2007 appropriations of $5.448 billion.46 Of this amount for FY2008, $5.151
billion would fund salaries and expenses and $210 million would be used for
buildings and facilities expenses. The Senate committee has recommended $5.649
billion for BOP’s FY2008 appropriation, which would represent a $200.7 million
increase over total FY2007 appropriations and $285 million more than the
President’s FY2008 request. The House committee would provide $5.269 billion for
FY2008 funding of the Federal Prison System, $179.3 million less than FY2007
appropriation level, as well as $95 million less than the President’s budget request,
and $380 million less than the Senate committee’s proposed FY2008 funding level.
Office on Violence Against Women. The Administration’s FY2008
budget request for the Office on Violence against Women (OVW) would consolidate
all of OVW’s current formula and discretionary grant programs into a single grant
program. Grants under the proposed consolidated program would be awarded on a
competitive basis to state, local, and tribal governments. State, local, and tribal
governments receiving grants could use the funding in one or more of several
proposed purpose areas, including (1) combating violent crimes against women; (2)
encouraging arrest policies and enforcement of protection orders; (3) providing legal
assistance to victims; (4) combating domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
assault, and stalking on college campuses; (5) preventing victimizations in rural
areas; (6) enhancing training and services to end violence and abuse towards elderly
and disabled women; (7) supporting safe haven programs; (8) supporting violence
and abuse prevention program on tribal lands; (9) funding stalking databases; and
(10) supporting comprehensive approaches to sex offender management. Grants
awarded under the proposed program would support state, local, and tribal efforts to
develop and implement coordinated prevention and prosecution of domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, along with supporting related victim
services.
46 This amount includes $17 million in FY2007 Emergency appropriations (P.L. 110-28).

CRS-38
The President’s budget request for FY2008 would provide funding of $370
million, $12.6 million less than FY2007 appropriations of $382.6 million. The
Senate bill would provide FY2008 appropriations of $390 million for OVW, $20.0
million more than the President’s FY2008 budget request and $7.4 million over
FY2007 appropriations. The Senate committee rejected the Administration’s
proposal to create a consolidated, competitive grant program, stating that the current
OVW program operates proven and successful programs as established by Congress
when OVW was reauthorized in 2005. The House committee would provide $430
million for OVW in FY2008, an amount that would exceed FY2007 appropriations
by $47.4 million, the President’s budget request by almost $60.0 million, and the
Senate proposal by $40.0 million.

Office of Justice Programs (OJP). The OJP manages and coordinates the
National Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Victims of Crimes, Bureau of Justice
Assistance, and related grant programs. For the Office of Justice Programs and
related offices, bureaus, and programs, the Administration’s FY2008 request would
provide just under $1.105 billion, a reduction of almost $1.424 billion from total
FY2007 appropriated levels of $2.529 billion.47
The Senate committee recommends funding of over $2.655 billion for OJP,
$1.550 billion more than proposed under the President’s FY2008 budget request and
$126.6 million more than total FY2007 appropriations. The House committee would
provide $2.765 billion for OJP programs and activities. This funding level would
exceed the FY2007 appropriations level by almost $236.5 million and the President’s
budget request for OJP by $1.660 billion. The House committee’s recommendation
would also exceed the Senate FY2008 funding proposal by $109.9 million.48
Justice Assistance. For FY2008, the Administration’s budget request
would provide $167.3 million in funding for Justice Assistance, $71.1 million less
than appropriated in FY2007. The Administration’s request would provide $61.5
million for the Bureau of Justice Assistance; $55.7 million for the National Institute
of Justice (NIJ); $38.5 million for Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS); and
$11.6 million for the Office of Victims of Crime.
The Senate committee recommendation includes $240 million for Justice
Assistance, $1.7 million more than FY2007 appropriations and $72.7 million more
than the President’s FY2008 request. Of these amounts, the Senate committee
recommendation would include $60 million for NIJ; $60 million for RISS; and $10
million for the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The Senate committee’s
recommendation would include $65 million in FY2008 for the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, of which $5 million would fund the Jimmy Rice
47 The total FY2007 appropriations for OJP include a $50 million Emergency appropriations
for state and local law enforcement (P.L. 110-28), described below.
48 The President’s request and the Senate and House bills include a proposed rescission of
$87.5 million for OJP of unobligated recoveries from prior year appropriations. In addition,
the House bill would rescind $86 million department-wide for OJP from prior year
appropriations.

CRS-39
Law Enforcement Training Center, $15 million would support the Internet Crimes
Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the AMBER Alert initiative would be
funded at $9.0 million.
The House committee would provide $250 million for Justice Assistance in
FY2008. This funding level would provide $11.7 million more than FY2007
appropriations, $82.7 million more than the Administration’s FY2008 budget
request, and $10 million more than the Senate committee recommendation. The
House committee would include $60 million for NIJ; $45 million for BJS; $50
million for RISS; $61.4 million for the Missing Children Programs that are designed
to combat crimes against children, particularly kidnapping and sexual exploitation;
and, $10 million to support state and local law enforcement agencies in the
prevention, investigation and prosecution of Internet, high-tech and economic crimes,
including fraud and identity theft, as well as anti-piracy and counterfeiting
enforcement.
State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance. The Administration’s
FY2008 proposal would consolidate the programs and funding under the State and
Local Law Enforcement Assistance account into two new grant programs: the
Violent Crime Reduction Partnership Initiative and the Byrne Public Safety and
Protection (Byrne) program. Under the proposed Violent Crime Reduction
Partnership Initiative, OJP would award grants on a competitive basis to
communities seeking to establish partnerships between federal, state, and local law
enforcement, to investigate and reduce violent crime. Partnerships funded under the
proposed grant program could include efforts to address drug trafficking and gang
crime.
The President’s proposed Byrne program would consolidate most OJP law
enforcement assistance grant programs into a single grant program that would be
awarded to state, local, and tribal governments on a competitive basis. Under the
proposed Byrne program, OJP would focus assistance on those jurisdictions
experiencing significant criminal justice problems and assist state and local
governments in addressing a number of high-priority criminal justice concerns, such
as: (1) reducing violent crime at local levels through Project Safe Neighborhoods; (2)
addressing the criminal justice issues involving substance abuse treatment through
drug courts, residential treatment programs for inmates, prescription drug monitoring
programs, methamphetamine lab clean-up, and cannabis eradication efforts; (3)
promoting and enhancing law enforcement information sharing efforts; (4) improving
the capacity of state and local law enforcement and justice system personnel to make
use of forensic evidence and reducing the DNA backlog; (5) addressing trafficking
of persons; (6) improving and expanding prisoner re-entry initiatives; and (7)
improving services to victims of crime to facilitate their participation in the legal
process. State, local, and tribal governments that would receive a grant award under
the proposed Byrne program would be allowed to use funding for one or more of
several proposed program purpose areas, most of which would be derived from
current OJP grant programs. The proposed program purposes areas would allow
state, local, and tribal governments to use their grant award to develop programs that
address the particular needs of their jurisdiction.

CRS-40
The Administration’s FY2008 request would provide state and local law
enforcement $550.0 million, of which $200 million would fund the Violent Crime
Reduction Partnership and $350 million would fund the Byrne program. This
amount would be $736.8 million below FY2007 total appropriated amounts of
$1.287 billion49 for state and local law enforcement.
The Senate committee rejected the President’s budget proposal to consolidate
state and local law enforcement programs into a single competitive grant program.
Instead the Senate committee has recommended FY2008 funding of $1.4 billion for
state and local law enforcement assistance, which would be $113.2 million more than
total FY2007 appropriations and $850 million more than the President’s budget
request for FY2008. The Senate committee report includes FY2008 funding of $660
million for the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG), of which $60
million would be allocated to the Boys and Girls Club and $5 million would be
allocated to state and local law enforcement anti-terrorism training; $400 million for
the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP); $190 million for Byrne
Discretionary Grants, with a special emphasis on projects related to drugs, violent
crime, and serious offenders; $28 million for Indian Tribal Assistance; $25 million
for Drug Courts; and $25 million for reimbursement of state and local law
enforcement entities for security and related costs, including overtime, associated
with the 2008 Presidential Candidate Nominating Conventions, of which OJP would
be required to make grants of $12.5 million each for the cities of St. Paul, Minnesota
and Denver, Colorado.
The House committee bill would provide $1.315 billion for state and local law
enforcement assistance, $78.2 million less than total FY2007 appropriations. The
House proposal would be $765 million more than the FY2008 funding level
proposed in the Administration’s budget request, although $85 million less than the
Senate committee’s recommendation. The House committee proposal would include
FY2008 funding of $600 million for the Byrne Memorial JAG program, of which
$25 million would be provided for NIJ; $375 million for SCAAP; $124 million for
Byrne Discretionary Grants; $31 million for Tribal Law Enforcement Assistance; $40
million for Drug Courts; $30 million for Southwest Border Prosecutions; $15 million
for Victims of Trafficking; $10 million for State Prison Drug Treatment; $7.5 million
for the Hal Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program; $25 million for Prison
Rape Prevention and Prosecution; $10 million for the Mentally-Ill Offenders
program; and $10 million for Sex Offender Management Assistance.
Weed and Seed Program. The Weed and Seed program is designed to
provide grants to help communities build stronger, safer neighborhoods by
implementing local-level approaches to solve and prevent crime problems. The
program provides assistance for community-based strategies of “weeding and
seeding” activities based on the premise that leaders from neighborhood and
community organizations, including faith-based organizations, law enforcement and
private enterprise, must be involved in leverage resources to solve community
problems at the local level. Site funding generally provides resources for “weeding”
activities, which include joint law enforcement operations and community policing,
49 This amount includes a $50 million Emergency appropriations (P.L. 110-28).

CRS-41
and “seeding” activities, which range from prevention activities, including physically
improving the neighborhood and economic development.
The Administration’s FY2008 budget request did not include specific funding
for the Weed and Seed program. The Senate committee has recommended FY2008
funding of $50 million for the Weed and Seed program, an amount reflecting an
increase of $639,000 over the FY2007 appropriation level of $49.4 million. The
House committee would provide $49.7 million for Weed and Seed for FY2008,50
$331,000 more than FY2007 appropriations and $308,000 less than the Senate
committee proposal.
Community Oriented Policing Services. The Administration’s FY2008
budget request would provide $32.3 million for the Community Oriented Policing
Services (COPS) Office.51 The Administration’s request contains $28.3 million for
program management and administration and $4 million for training and technical
assistance. For FY2007, Congress appropriated $541.8 million for the COPS
programs.
For COPS, the Senate committee has recommended funding of $550 million,52
almost $8.2 million more than appropriated in FY2007 and approximately $517.7
million more than the President’s FY2008 budget request. The Senate recommends
funding for COPS initiatives including $25 million for Bullet Proof Vests; $35
million for Tribal Law Enforcement; $80 million for the Meth Hot Spots program;
$110 million for Law Enforcement Technology grants for numerous state and local
initiatives; $169 million for DNA Backlog and Crime Lab improvement; $55 million
for Child Sexual Predator Elimination; and $40 million for Paul Coverdell Forensic
Science grants.
The House committee would provide $725.0 million53 for COPS in FY2008, an
amount which includes $49.7 million for the Weed and Seed program (described
above). The House committee proposal would include FY2008 funding of $100
million for Cops on the Beat, the COPS universal hiring program; $128 million for
Law Enforcement Technologies and Interoperable Communications; $85 million for
the Meth Hot Spots program; $30 million for Bulletproof Vests; $12 million for the
Criminal History Record Upgrades program; $18 million for Tribal Law
Enforcement; $175 million for DNA backlog reduction; $80 million for Violent
Gang and Gun Crime Reduction; and $15 million for Offender Re-entry.
50 This amount is included in the $725 million proposed in the House bill’s proposed
FY2008 funding for COPS, discussed below.
51 The President’s request includes a proposed rescission of $87.5 million for COPS of
unobligated balances from prior year appropriations.
52 The Senate bill includes a proposed rescission of $37.5 million for COPS of unobligated
balances from prior year appropriations.
53 The House bill would rescind $87.5 million for COPS of unobligated recoveries from
prior year appropriations, and $10.3 million of unobligated funds from prior year
appropriations for the COPS Violent Crime Reduction Fund.

CRS-42
Juvenile Justice Programs. For FY2008, the Administration’s budget
proposal would consolidate existing juvenile justice and exploited children programs
into a single grant program, the Child Safety and Juvenile Justice program. Grants
under the proposed Child Safety and Juvenile Justice program would be awarded to
state and local governments through a competitive award process. Grants awarded
to state and local governments under the proposed program would allow state and
local government to fund a multitude of juvenile justice and child safety programs.
Grant funds under the proposed program could be used by state and local
governments in one or more of several proposed program purpose areas, including
(1) preventing online exploitation of children (Project Child Safe); (2) controlling
and apprehending sex offenders; (3) supporting efforts to prevent and control juvenile
delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system; (4) improving school security;
(5) preventing the misuse of guns by juveniles; (6) funding the Missing and Exploited
Children Program; (7) funding Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces;
(8) supporting AMBER alert programs; (9) supporting the Boys and Girls Club of
America; (10) supporting the development and use of Closed Circuit Television
(CCTV) testimony of children in child abuse cases; and (11) supporting the Court
Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program.
The Senate committee rejected the President’s consolidation proposal for
Juvenile Justice programs. Instead, the Senate committee has recommended Juvenile
Justice programs funding of $340 million, $1.6 million more than enacted
appropriations for FY2007 and $60 million more than the Administration’s FY2008
budget request. The Senate committee report recommends FY2008 funding of $80
million for the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG); $73 million for the
State Formula Grants; $76.5 million for Discretionary Grants under Part E -
Demonstration Programs; $65 million for Title V Incentive Grants to fund the
following initiatives: Big Brothers and Big Sisters ($5 million), Incentive Grants
($25 million), Tribal Youth Program ($10 million), and Enforcing Underage
Drinking Laws ($25 million); $10 million for the Gang Prevention initiative; $10
million for the Secure Our Schools Act to ensure school safety and crime deterrence;
$20 million for the various programs authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse
Act (P.L 101-647); and $5 million for Part G - Juvenile Mentoring.
The House committee also rejected the President’s consolidation proposal for
Juvenile Justice programs. Instead, the House committee would provide FY2008
funding for Juvenile Justice programs of $399.9 million, $61.5 million more than
enacted appropriations for FY2007, $119.9 million more than the Administration’s
FY2008 budget request, and $59.9 million more than the Senate committee’s
recommendation. The House committee would provide FY2008 funding of $60
million for the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG); $81.2 million for the
State Formula Grants; $53 million for Discretionary Grants under Part E -
Demonstration Programs; $100 million for the Juvenile Mentoring program; $70
million for Title V Incentive Grants to fund the following initiatives: Gang
Prevention ($25 million), Tribal Youth Program ($17.5 million), and Enforcing
Underage Drinking Laws ($25 million). In addition, the House committee would
provide $20 million for the Secure Our Schools Act to ensure school safety and crime
deterrence; and $15 million for programs authorized under the Victims of Child
Abuse Act (P.L 101-647).

CRS-43
Related Legislation
H.R. 660 (Conyers)/S. 378 (Leahy)
Court Security Improvement Act of 2007. Amends current law to strengthen
and improve judicial security through measures that would (1) improve judicial
security measures and increase funding for judicial security, (2) amend the criminal
code to provide greater protection for judges, their family members and witnesses,
and (3) provide grant funding for states to provide protection for judges and
witnesses. H.R. 660 was ordered to be reported by the House Judiciary Committee
on June 13, 2007. S. 378 was considered and reported by the Senate Judiciary
Committee on April 18, 2007 and passed by the Senate on April 19, 2007.
H.R. 1700 (Weiner)/S. 368 (Biden)
COPS Improvements Act of 2007. Amends current law to expand the scope of
COPS grant programs, change the COPS program into a multi-grant program instead
of a single-grant program, and authorize additional funding for COPS. H.R. 1700, as
amended by the House Judiciary Committee, was reported on May 2, 2007, and
passed by the House on May 15, 2007. S. 368 was referred to the Senate Judiciary
Committee and reported out of the Committee without amendment on May 24, 2007.
H.R. 1592 (Conyers)/S. 1105 (Kennedy)
Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. Authorizes
grants for state, local, and tribal law enforcement for extraordinary expenses of
investigating hate crimes. Provides technical, forensic, prosecutorial, and other
forms of assistance to local law enforcement agencies for investigating and
prosecuting hate crimes. Following hearings on the bill on April 17, 2007, the bill
was reported by the House Judiciary Committee on April 30, 2007, and passed by the
House on May 3, 2007.
H.R. 1593 (Conyers)/S. 1060 (Biden)
Second Chance Act of 2007. Amends current law to reauthorize the adult and
juvenile state and local reentry demonstration projects; provides for improvements
in the offender residential substance abuse treatment for state offenders; establishes
state and local reentry courts, establishes grants for state and local prosecutors to
develop, implement, or expand qualified drug treatment program alternatives to
imprisonment; and provides grants for the establishment of family substance abuse
treatment alternatives to incarceration. After hearings on H.R. 1593 on March 20,
2007, the bill was marked up by the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and
Homeland Security on March 28, 2007, and reported by the House Judiciary
Committee on May 9, 2007.
H.R. 2640 (McCarthy)
NICS Improvement Amendment Act 2007. This bill would (1) amend the
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to require federal agencies to provide, and
the Attorney General to secure, any government records with information relevant
to determining the eligibility of a person to receive a firearm for inclusion in NICS;
(2) require states to make available to the Attorney General certain records that
would disqualify persons from acquiring a firearm, particularly those records related
to convictions for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence and persons adjudicated
as mentally defective; and (3) authorize appropriations for grant programs to assist

CRS-44
states, courts, and local governments in establishing or improving such automated
record systems. This bill would also allow persons adjudicated mentally defective
to apply for relief and regain eligibility to possess a firearm if it could be
demonstrated that based upon the prohibited person’s record and reputation, it would
be unlikely that he/she would act in a manner dangerous to public safety. In addition,
this bill would permanently prohibit the FBI from collecting a fee for NICS
background checks. H.R. 2640 passed the House on June 13, 2007 under suspension
of the rules.
S. 456 (Feinstein)
Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007. Amends current law to create
new criminal penalties for gang-related crimes, authorize grants for gang prevention
activities, as well as for federal, state, and local law enforcement cooperation in
fighting gangs, and for hiring 94 assistant U.S. Attorneys to be deployed in “high
intensity interstate gang activity” areas. S. 456, was amended and reported by the
Senate Judiciary Committee on June 14, 2007.
Related CRS Products
CRS Report RL33308, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS): Background,
Legislation, and Issues Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Program
, by Nathan James.
CRS Report RS22416, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program:
Legislative and Funding History, by Nathan James.
CRS Report RL32824, Federal Crime Control: Background, Legislation and Issues,
by Lisa M. Seghetti.
CRS Report RL32249, Gun Control Proposals to Regulate Gun Shows, by William
J. Krouse.
CRS Report RL32842, Gun Control Legislation, by William J. Krouse.
CRS Report RS22458, Gun Control: Statutory Disclosure Limitations on ATF
Firearms Trace Data and Multiple Handgun Sales Reports, by William J.
Krouse.
CRS Report RL33403, Hate Crime Legislation in the 109th Congress, by William J.
Krouse.
CRS Report RL34050, Missing and Exploited Children: Background and Polices
and Issues, by Adrienne Fernandes.
CRS Report RL33033, Intelligence Reform at the Federal Bureau of Investigation:
Issues and Options for Congress, by Alfred Cumming and Todd Masse.
CRS Report RS22070, Juvenile Justice: Overview of Legislative History and
Funding Trends, by Blas Nuñez-Neto.

CRS-45
CRS Report RS22655, Juvenile Justice Funding Trends, by Blas Nuñez-Neto.
CRS Report RL33947, Juvenile Justice: Legislative History and Current Legislative
Issues, by Blas Nuñez-Neto.
CRS Report RL32800, Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Law:
Enforcement and Other Issues, by Garrine P. Laney.
CRS Report RL33011, Terrorist Screening and Brady Background Checks for
Firearms, by William J. Krouse.
CRS Report RL32579, Victims of Crime Compensation and Assistance: Background
and Funding, by Celinda Franco.
CRS Report RL30871, Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding,
by Garrine P. Laney.

Science Agencies
Science agencies include the White House’s Office of Science and Technology
Policy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and National
Science Foundation. As Table 7 shows, NASA accounts for over 73% of the total
amount enacted for FY2007 for science agencies. The Administration’s FY2008
request for science agencies is $23.744 billion, or $1.537 billion more than the
FY2007 enacted amount for those agencies (a 6.9% increase). By comparison, the
Senate Appropriations Committee recommendation is $24.019 billion, or nearly
$1.812 billion more than the FY2007 amount (an 8.2% increase). And, the House
Appropriations Committee recommendation is $24.137 billion, or $1.930 billion
more than that FY2007 amount ($8.7% increase).
Table 7. Funding for Science Agencies
(budget authority in millions of dollars)a
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
Accounts
Enactedb
Request
Reported Reported
Office of Science and Technology
Policy
$5.5
$5.5
$5.7
$5.5
NASA
16,284.3
17,309.4
17,459.6
17,622.5
National Science Foundation
5,917.2
6,429.0
6,553.4
6,509.0
Total: Science Agencies
$22,207.0 $23,743.9 $24,018.7 $24,137.0
Sources: S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124) and H.R. 3093 (H.Rept. 110-240).
a. Amounts may not total due to rounding.
b. The FY2007 Enacted column includes funding provided by the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007(P.L. 110-5), and the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery,
and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28).
c. House committee proposed rescissions include $69.8 million for NASA and $24.0 million for the
NSF.

CRS-46
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)54
The OSTP is one of two offices in the Executive Office of the President (EOP)
that are funded in the CJS appropriations bill.55 Established in 1976 by P.L. 94-282,56
the OSTP provides advice within the EOP on scientific and technical aspects of
policy issues, assists in the development of the federal R&D budget, coordinates and
evaluates federal R&D programs, and consults with non-federal entities on science
and technology matters. Dr. John H. Marburger, III is the Director of OSTP and
Science Adviser to the President.
For FY2008, the President’s budget requests $5.5 million for OSTP, $13,000
less than the FY2007 enacted funding level.57 The Senate committee has
recommended $5.7 million for the OSTP, $200,000 more than the President’s
request. Report language directs that $200,000 be used for the creation of an
Associate Director for Earth Science and Applications, who would coordinate all
federal assets directed at understanding the Earth’s oceans and climate. Additionally,
report language directs the OSTP to provide to the committee a five year strategic
budget plan in response to the National Research Council’s decadal survey on earth
science and space applications. The House committee has recommended $5.5
million for the OSTP, the same as the President’s request. Report language directs
the OSTP to provide to the committee a report on current and future needs regarding
U.S. icebreaking capability.
Policy issues related to OSTP include its oversight and coordination of
interagency R&D activities, such as the National Nanotechnology Initiative and the
American Competitiveness Initiative, its role in maintaining the nation’s international
scientific stature, and its leadership in federal support of science and mathematics
education.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)58
NASA was created by the 1958 National Aeronautics and Space Act (P.L. 85-
568) to conduct civilian space and aeronautics activities. The agency is managed
from headquarters in Washington, DC. It has nine major field centers around the
country, plus the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is operated under contract by the
California Institute of Technology. Dr. Michael Griffin became NASA
Administrator in April 2005.
54 This section was prepared by Dana Shea, Specialist in Science and Technology Policy,
Resources, Science, and Industry Division.
55 The other is the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
56 The National Science and Technology Policy and Organization Act, codified at 42 U.S.C.
6611-18.
57 The OSTP was funded for FY2007 by P.L. 110-5, which appropriated funds at the
FY2006 enacted level, subject to specific rescissions. P.L. 110-5, The Revised Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2007.
58 This section was prepared by Daniel Morgan, Analyst in Science and Technology Policy,
Resources, Science, and Industry Division.

CRS-47
Table 8. Funding for NASA
(budget authority in millions of dollars)a
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
Accounts
Enactedb
Request
Reported
Reported
Science, Aeronautics, &
Exploration
$10,086.5
$10,483.1 $10,633.0
$10,896.2
Exploration Capabilities
6,165.6
6,791.7
6,792.0
6,691.7
Inspector General
32.2
34.6
34.6
34.6
Total: NASA
16,284.3
17,309.4
17,459.6
17,622.5
Sources: S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124) and H.R. 3093 and H.Rept. 110-240.
a. Amounts may not total due to rounding.
b. The FY2007 Enacted column includes funding provided by the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007 (P.L. 110-5) and the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery,
and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28).
NASA has requested $17.309 billion for FY2008, a 6.3% increase over its
FY2007 appropriation. The Senate committee recommended $17.460 billion, while
the House committee recommended $17.623 billion.59 See Table 8 for a breakdown
by appropriations account. A change in how NASA accounts for overhead expenses
complicates comparisons between FY2008 and previous years. The new system,
implemented in September 2006 and known as “full cost simplification,” increases
the stated cost of some programs and decreases the stated cost of others, without
affecting actual program content. The increases and decreases exactly balance, so
that NASA’s total budget is unchanged, but, for any particular account or program,
amounts expressed in the new system are not directly comparable with amounts
expressed in the previous system. In Table 8 and in the discussion of specific NASA
programs that follows, all FY2007 amounts have been adjusted for the accounting
change to make them comparable with FY2008.
Budget priorities throughout NASA are being driven by the Vision for Space
Exploration (“the Vision”), announced by President Bush in January 2004 and
endorsed by Congress in the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-155). The
Vision includes returning the space shuttle to flight status (already accomplished)
then retiring it by 2010; completing the space station, but discontinuing U.S. use of
it by 2017; returning humans to the moon by 2020; and then sending humans to Mars
and “worlds beyond.” The President did not propose significantly increased funding
for NASA to accomplish the Vision. Instead, most of the funding was to come from
redirecting funds from other NASA activities. Moreover, subsequent NASA funding
has been less than was projected at the time of the Vision announcement. The
funding requirements of the Vision thus constrain other NASA programs. NASA
59 The House bill also includes a proposed rescission of $69.8 million in prior year
appropriations for NASA.

CRS-48
officials stress, however, that their strategy is to “go as we can afford to pay,” with
the pace of the exploration program set, in part, by the available funding.
In the Science, Aeronautics, and Exploration (SA&E) account,60 funding for
Constellation Systems, the program responsible for developing the Orion spacecraft
and Ares I launch vehicle to return humans to the moon, would increase from $2.550
billion in FY2007 to $3.068 billion in the FY2008 request. Although this is a 20%
increase, the FY2007 appropriation was $682 million less than had been requested,
so the FY2008 request is actually less than the FY2007 request. An initial operating
capability for Orion and Ares I (i.e., a first crewed flight) is now planned for early
2015. The Senate committee recommended $3.118 billion, with the $50 million
increase to be devoted to Ares I. The House committee recommended the requested
amount.
Also in SA&E, the request for Science is $5.516 billion, an increase of 2.7%.
In late 2006, responding to concern in Congress and the scientific community about
NASA support for earth science, the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) created a
separate Earth Science Division. The FY2008 request includes increased funding for
Earth Science and projects further increases in FY2009 and FY2010 relative to
previous plans, but most of these increases would go to cover cost increases and
schedule delays in existing missions. In SMD’s Astrophysics Division, the request
defers the Space Interferometer mission (SIM) beyond FY2012 but reinstates funding
for the SOFIA airborne infrared telescope. The Senate committee recommended
$5.655 billion, with the bulk of the increase to be devoted to Earth Science. The
House committee recommended $5.696 billion, with increases of $60 million for
Earth Science missions recommended by the National Academy of Sciences, $60
million for Research and Analysis across SMD, $50 million for SIM, and $10 million
for definition of a new mission to the outer planets.
The FY2008 request for Aeronautics Research in SA&E is $554 million. This
request and the accompanying projections through FY2011 have increased by about
$50 million per year relative to NASA’s previous plans. However, Congress
provided $717 million in FY2007, which was $187 million more than NASA had
requested, so the FY2008 request is a 23% decrease relative to the FY2007
appropriation. The effect of the congressional increase for FY2007 on NASA’s
future plans for Aeronautics Research is not yet known because final congressional
action for FY2007 occurred after the release of the FY2008 budget. For FY2008, the
Senate committee recommended the requested amount, while the House committee
recommended $700 million.
The FY2008 request for Exploration Capabilities consists of $6.792 billion for
the Space Operations Mission Directorate, which includes the space shuttle, the space
station, and the Space and Flight Support program. This would be an 11% increase
above the FY2007 appropriation. Most of the requested increase results from the
60 The House committee recommended dividing the SA&E account into five separate
accounts: Science, Aeronautics, Exploration, Education, and Cross-Agency Support
Programs. This structure is the same as NASA uses in its budget justification documents,
so comparisons are straightforward.

CRS-49
schedule of space station construction, which remains as previously planned. In
addition, the request includes $150 million for two new Tracking and Data Relay
System (TDRS) satellites, which are required for ground communications with
near-Earth spacecraft. The increase for these satellites is approximately offset by
reductions in planned reserves for the shuttle and the station. A key issue for
Congress is the expected gap between the end of shuttle flights in 2010 and the
planned initial availability of Orion and Ares I in 2015. Retaining NASA’s skilled
workforce during the transition period will be a major challenge, especially if
development of the new vehicles takes longer than planned and the gap lengthens.
Some analysts worry that placing a fixed termination date on the shuttle will create
schedule pressure, which was identified as a contributing factor in the 2003
Columbia disaster. Some also are uncomfortable with the fact that Russian
spacecraft will be the only way to launch U.S. astronauts to the space station during
the gap period. The Senate committee recommended the requested amount for
Exploration Capabilities. The House committee recommended $6.692 billion, or
$100 million less than the request.61 The bulk of the House-recommended reduction
was from the TDRS procurement request. The House report stated that “this
reduction should not affect the viability of the system.”
For more on NASA’s FY2008 budget request, see CRS Report RS22625,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Overview, FY2008 Budget in Brief,
and Key Issues for Congress
, by Daniel Morgan and Carl E. Behrens.
National Science Foundation (NSF)62
The NSF was created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as
amended (P.L. 81-507). The NSF has the broad mission of supporting science and
engineering in general and funding basic research across many disciplines. The
majority of the research supported by the NSF is conducted at U.S. colleges and
universities. In addition to helping to ensure the nation’s supply of scientific and
engineering personnel, the NSF promotes academic basic research and science and
engineering education across many disciplines. Other federal agencies, in contrast,
support mission-specific research. The NSF provides support for investigator-
initiated, merit-reviewed, competitively selected awards, state-of-the-art tools, and
instrumentation and facilities. Also, NSF provides almost 30% of the total federal
support for science and mathematics education. Support is provided to academic
institutions, industrial laboratories, private research firms, and major research
facilities and centers. Although the NSF does not operate any laboratories, it does
support Antarctic research stations, selected oceanographic vessels, and national
research centers. In addition, the NSF supports university-industry relationships and
U.S. participation in international scientific ventures.
The FY2008 request for the NSF is $6.429 billion, an 8.7% increase over the
FY2007 enacted level of $5.917 billion. The President’s American Competitiveness
61 The House committee referred to this account as Space Operations. The present
Exploration Capabilities account funds the Space Operations Mission Directorate.
62 This section was prepared by Christine M. Matthews, Specialist in Science and
Technology Policy, Resources, Science, and Industry Division.

CRS-50
Initiative (ACI) has proposed to double the NSF budget over the next 10 years. The
FY2008 request would be another installment toward that doubling effort. NSF
asserts that international research partnerships are critical to the nation in maintaining
a competitive edge, and capitalizing on global economic opportunities. To address
these needs, the Administration has requested $45.0 million for the Office of
International Science and Engineering. Also, NSF is the lead agency supporting
polar research. A focus of planned polar research, requested at $464.9 million in
FY2008, will be in climate change and environmental observations.
Table 9. Funding for the National Science Foundation
(budget authority millions of dollars)a
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
Accounts
Enacted
Request
Reported
Reported
Research and Related Activities
$4,666.0
$5,131.7
$5,156.1
$5,139.7
Major Research Equipment and
Facilities Construction
190.9
244.7
244.7
244.7
Education and Human Resources
796.7
750.6
850.6
822.6
Agency Operations and Award
Management
248.2
285.6
285.6
285.6
National Science Board
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
Office of Inspector General
11.4
12.4
12.4
12.4
Total: NSF
$5,917.2
$6,429.0
$6,553.4
$6,509.0
Sources: S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124) and H.R. 3093 (H.Rept. 110-240).
a. Amounts may not total due rounding.
Included in the FY2008 request is $5.132 billion for R&RA, a 10% increase
over the FY2007 enacted level of $4.666 billion. R&RA funds research projects,
research facilities, and education and training activities. Partly in response to
concerns in the scientific community about the imbalance between support for the
life sciences and the physical sciences, the FY2008 request provides increased
funding for the physical sciences. The FY2008 request transfers support for the
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) from the
Education and Human Resources (EHR) to Integrative Activities. The FY2008
request provides $107 million for EPSCoR.
The FY2008 request for the EHR Directorate is $750.6 million, 5.8% below the
FY2007 enacted level of funding. The EHR portfolio is focused on increasing the
technological literacy of all citizens, preparing the next generation of science,
engineering, and mathematics professionals, and closing the achievement gap in all
scientific fields. Support at the various educational levels in the FY2008 request is:
precollege, $222.5 million; undergraduate, $210.2 million; and graduate, $169.5
million. The Math and Science Partnership Program, a crosscutting program with the
Department of Education, is proposed at $46 million in the FY2008 request.

CRS-51
The Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) account
is funded at $244.7 million in the FY2008 request, a 28.2% increase over the FY2007
enacted level of funding. Projects receiving support in the FY2008 request are:
Atacama Large Millimeter Array Construction ($102.1 million), Ice Cube Neutrino
Observatory ($22.4 million), National Ecological Observatory Network ($8.0
million), South Pole Station Modernization project ($6.6 million), Alaskan Region
Research Vessel ($42.0 million), Ocean Observatories Initiative ($31.0 million), and
Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory ($32.8 million).
The Senate-reported bill would provide a total of $6.553 billion for the NSF in
FY2008, $124.4 million above the request and $636.2 million above the FY2007
enacted level of funding. Included in the total is $5.156 billion for R&RA, $24.4
million above the FY2008 request and $490.1 million above FY2007. The Senate
bill would fund the EHR at $850.6 million and the MREFC at $244.7 million. The
House-reported bill would provide $6.509 billion for the NSF in FY2008, $80
million more than the request, and $44.4 million less than the Senate version.63 The
House would fund the R&RA at approximately $5.140 billion, $8 million more than
the request and $16.1 million less than the Senate bill. For the MREFC and the EHR,
the House would provide $244.7 million and $822.6 million, respectively.
Related Legislation
H.R. 1867 (Baird)
The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2007, as passed by the
House, would authorize appropriations for NSF for FY2008-FY2010. The bill
would, among other things, require an increase in funding for the Research
Experiences for Undergraduates programs; would direct the National Science Board
to evaluate the role of NSF in supporting interdisciplinary research; and would
require the creation of a pilot program to award one-year grants to individuals to
assist them in improving research proposals that were previously submitted to NSF
but not selected for funding.
Related CRS Products
CRS Report RS21767, Hubble Space Telescope: NASA’s Plans for a Servicing
Mission, by Daniel Morgan.
CRS Report RS21267, National Science Foundation: Major Research Equipment
and Facility Construction, by Christine Matthews.
CRS Report 95-307, U.S. National Science Foundation: An Overview, by Christine
M. Matthews.
63 The House bill also includes a proposed rescission of $24 million in prior year
appropriations for the NSF.

CRS-52
Related Agencies
Title IV of the FY2008 CJS appropriations bill includes several commissions
and agencies as Table 10 shows. The FY2008 budget request includes nearly $763
million for these agencies, $38.2 million less than the amount appropriated by
Congress for these agencies for FY2007. The request includes no additional funding
for the Antitrust Modernization Commission, the National Veterans Business
Development Corporation, or the State Justice Institute. The Senate Appropriations
Committee’s recommendation includes funding for the State Justice Institute, but
would not fund the other two agencies. Nevertheless, the Senate committee mark
would provide nearly $99.0 million over the FY2007 enacted level for Title IV
agencies for FY2008, with the largest increases going to the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission and the Legal Services Corporation. By comparison, the
House committee mark would provide $45 more than the FY2007 enacted level for
FY2008.
Table 10. Funding for CJS Related Agencies
(budget authority in millions of dollars)a
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
Commission, Office, or Corporation
Enacted
Request reported
reported
Antitrust Modernization Commission
$0.5
— -
— -
— -
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
9.0
8.8
9.0
9.0
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC)
328.7
327.7
378.0
332.7
International Trade Commission
62.0
68.4
68.4
68.4
Legal Services Corporation
348.6
310.9
390.0
377.0
Marine Mammal Commission
2.9
2.3
3.0
3.0
National Veterans Business
Development Corporation
1.5
— -
— -
2.5
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
44.2
44.4
47.8
48.4
State Justice Instituteb
3.5
— -
3.5
4.6
Total: Related Agencies
$800.7
$762.5
$899.7
$845.7
Sources: S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124) and H.R. 3093 (H.Rept. 110-240).
a. Amounts may not total due to rounding.
b. Under the terms of its enabling legislation, the State Justice Institute (SJI) is authorized to present
its budget request directly to Congress.

CRS-53
Antitrust Modernization Commission64
The Antitrust Modernization Commission Act (PL-107-273, enacted 11/2/02)
created a 12-person commission to evaluate U.S. antitrust laws. The commission
issued its final report on April 3, 2007. The Commission expired at the end of May,
2007. The President’s FY2008 request does not include any continued funding for
the Antitrust Modernization Commission. This follows $1.2 million enacted in
FY2006 and $0.5 million in FY2007. Neither the Senate nor the House committees
include any funding in FY2008.
The final product was the “Antitrust Modernization Commission: Report and
Recommendations.” In order to prepare the report, the commission held 18 hearings
and interviewed 117 witnesses. The topics included merger enforcement,
exclusionary conduct, international antitrust, and criminal remedies, among others.
The final report included recommendations organized under (1) substantive law, (2)
enforcement institutions, (3) civil and criminal penalties, and (4) government
exceptions to free-market competition. The report also included separate statements
submitted by the individual commissioners.
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights65
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission), established by the Civil
Rights Act of 1957, investigates allegations of citizens, who may have been denied
the right to vote based on color, race, religion, or national origin; studies and gathers
information on legal developments constituting a denial of the equal protection of the
laws; assesses federal laws and policies in the area of civil rights; and submits reports
on its findings to the President and Congress when the Commission or the President
deems it appropriate.
For FY2008, the Bush Administration has requested $8.8 million for the
Commission, or $172,000 less that the FY2007 enacted level of nearly $9 million for
the Commission. For FY2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee has
recommended $9 million for the Commission, as has the House Appropriations
Committee.
The House Appropriations Committee has expressed concern that 36 of the 51
State Advisory Committees are inoperative because their authorizing charters have
expired.66 The House committee has directed the Commission to give priority to
reconstituting the State Advisory Committees and to make appointments that reflect
a balance of viewpoints and a diversity in membership, especially in terms of gender,
disability, party affiliation, and civil rights experience with affected communities.
Further, the Committee has stated that no one should be denied an opportunity to
64 This section was written by Edward V. Murphy, Analyst in Financial Institutions,
Government and Finance Division.
65 This section was written by Garrine P. Laney, Analyst in Social Legislation, Domestic
Social Policy Division.
66 H.Rept. 110-240.

CRS-54
serve on a State Advisory Committee because of race, age, sex, sexual orientation,
religion, national origin, disability, or political persuasion.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)67
The EEOC enforces laws banning employment discrimination based on race,
color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. In recent years, appropriators have been
particularly concerned about the agency’s implementation of a restructuring plan.
The three-phase restructuring plan includes the National Contact Center, pilot
project, that began in March 2005; the January 2006 commencement of field
structure and staff realignment that the Commission approved in mid-2005; and the
examination of headquarters’ structure and operations to streamline functions and
clarify roles and responsibilities.
The President’s FY2008 budget request for the EEOC is $327.7 million, which
is $1 million less than the FY2007 enacted level ($328.7 million). No staffing or
program expansion is proposed for the coming fiscal year. The budget includes $28
million for payments to state and local entities with which the agency has work-
sharing agreements to address workplace discrimination within their jurisdictions
(i.e., Fair Employment Practices Agencies, FEPAs, and Tribal Employment Rights
Organizations, TEROs); this is the same amount requested last year and less than the
$33 million to which the Congress typically has raised the allocation. The
President’s budget request also includes $1 million to relocate the EEOC’s
headquarters in Washington, D.C.; the lease on its current location will expire in July
2008. In addition, the Administration proposes reconfiguring or relocating field
offices to comply with reduced space requirements. Lastly, the Administration
indicated it would make a decision on the permanence of the National Contact Center
(NCC) by FY2008.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a FY2008 budget of $378.0
million for the EEOC — $50.3 million more than the Administration’s request and
$49.3 million more than the FY2007 enacted level. None of the funds appropriated
under S. 1745 may be used to operate the NCC. The bill further provides that the
agency take no action to implement any workforce repositioning, restructuring, or
reorganization until the Appropriations Committee has been notified of proposals.
In Senate report language, the Committee expressed concern about the large backlog
of employment discrimination charges and pointed to findings in the Inspector
General’s report on the NCC in prohibiting use of FY2008 appropriations to support
it. The Committee also called upon the Inspector General (IG) to evaluate the effect
of the Commission’s repositioning plan on the delivery of core services and any cost
savings associated with it; the IG is directed to submit a report within 90 days of the
act’s enactment.
The House Appropriations Committee has approved a considerably smaller
increase for the EEOC than the Senate Appropriation Committee ($332.7 million and
67 This section was prepared by Abigail Rudman, Information Research Specialist,
Knowledge Services Group, and Linda Levine, Specialist in Labor Economics, Domestic
Social Policy Division.

CRS-55
$378.0 million, respectively). The House committee’s proposed FY2008 budget for
the Commission is $4 million above the current year’s budget and $5 million above
the Administration’s request. The Committee directs the EEOC to use the increase
to reduce its backlog of discrimination complaints. It further instructs the
Commission to report to the Committee within two month’s of the bill’s enactment
on steps that will be taken to cut the backlog. Reflecting previously expressed
concerns about the National Call Center pilot, the House committee — like the
Senate committee — would not fund it. Instead, the Committee recommends that the
agency use those funds to update current telephone technology and hire additional
field staff to handle phone calls or locate an in-house call center in surplus space at
the EEOC.
U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC)68
The ITC is an independent, quasi-judicial agency that advises the President and
Congress on the impact of U.S. foreign economic policies on U.S. industries and,
along with the Import Administration Unit of ITA, is charged with administering
various U.S. trade remedy laws. Its six commissioners are appointed by the President
for nine-year terms. As a matter of policy, its budget request is submitted to
Congress by the President without revision. In FY2007, ITC had 383 employees.
For FY2008, ITC requested $68.4 million, a $6.4 million increase over the $62.0
million that was provided under the FY2007 Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution (P.L. 110-5). The Senate and House Appropriations Committees
recommended amount for ITC is $68.4 million, the same as the President’s budget
request.
Legal Services Corporation (LSC)69
The LSC is a private, non-profit, federally funded corporation that provides
grants to local offices that, in turn, provide legal assistance to low-income people in
civil (non-criminal) cases. The LSC has been controversial since its incorporation
in the early 1970s and has been operating without authorizing legislation since 1980.
There have been ongoing debates over the adequacy of funding for the agency and
the extent to which certain types of activities are appropriate for federally funded
legal aid attorneys to undertake. In annual appropriations bills, Congress traditionally
has included legislative provisions restricting the activities of LSC-funded grantees,
such as prohibiting any lobbying activities or prohibiting representation in certain
types of cases. Current LSC funding remains below the LSC’s highest funding level
of $400 million in FY1994 and FY1995.70
68 This section was written by M. Angeles Villarreal, Analyst in International Trade and
Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division.
69 This section was prepared by Carmen Solomon-Fears, Specialist in Social Legislation,
Domestic Social Policy Division.
70 For additional information on the LSC, see CRS Report RL34016, Legal Services
Corporation: Background and Funding
, by Carmen Solomon-Fears.

CRS-56
The FY2007 Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution (P.L. 110-5)
included language that specified that the LSC would be funded at $348.6 million for
FY2007. The LSC FY2007 appropriation includes $330.8 million for basic field
programs and required independent audits, $12.7 million for management and
administration, $2.1 million for client self-help and information technology, and $3.0
million for the Office of the Inspector General.
For FY2008, the Bush Administration requested $310.9 million for the LSC.
The Administration’s budget request includes $289 million for basic field programs
and required independent audits; almost $13 million for management and
administration; $5 million for client self-help and information technology; and $3
million of the Office of the Inspector General.
For FY2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee has recommended $390
million for the LSC, a $41.4 million increase above the FY2007 LSC appropriation,
and $79.1 million above the Administration’s budget FY2008 budget request for the
LSC.
For FY2008, the House Appropriations Committee has recommended $377
million for the LSC, a $28.4 million increase above the FY2007 LSC appropriation,
$66.1 million above the Administration’s budget FY2008 budget request for the
LSC, and $13 million below the Senate Appropriation Committee’s recommendation.
Marine Mammal Commission (MMC)71
The MMC is an independent agency of the executive branch, established under
Title II of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; P.L. 92-522). The MMC
reviews and makes recommendations on domestic and international actions and
policies of all federal agencies with respect to marine mammal protection and
conservation and with carrying out a related research program. As funding permits,
the MMC supports research to further the purposes of the MMPA. In 2005, the
MMC awarded seven competitive grants totaling approximately $252,000 plus an
additional three non-competitive grants totaling approximately $40,000.
The President’s FY2008 budget request for the MMC is $2.3 million. On June
29, 2007, the Senate reported S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124), proposing $3 million for the
MMC. The Senate committee stated that the proposed increase would
... cover the costs of inflation, and for necessary expenses including the hiring of
one full-time equivalent [FTE] to help ensure the Commission meets its
responsibilities. This increase will allow the Commission to address a variety of
challenges including climate change and the continued study of endangered
species.
71 This section was prepared by Eugene H. Buck; Specialist in Natural Resources Policy;
Resources, Science, and Industry Division.

CRS-57
The Senate committee also stated that the MMC would
... also pursue a number of projects including, but not limited to, completing a
report on Federal spending for marine mammal research over the past three
decades, reviewing cumulative effects of risk factors on marine mammals, and
the continuance of work with National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Fish
and Wildlife Service to assess issues related to marine mammal and fishery
interactions.
On July 12, 2007, the House reported its version of this bill, recommending $3
million for the MMC to increase funding to monitor marine mammal adaptation to
climate change. In addition, the House committee expects the MMC to
continue its efforts to minimize the direct and indirect effects of fisheries, noise,
disease, chemical contaminants, harmful algal blooms, climate change, habitat
alteration, boating and commercial shipping, marine debris, and other factors that
may pose a risk of sublethal and lethal effects on marine mammals or that may
affect the health and stability of the marine ecosystem.
The FY2007 Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution (P.L. 110-10)
provided the MMC with nearly $2.9 million for FY2007. In its report on FY2007
appropriations for the MMC (H.Rept. 109-520), the House Appropriations
Committee urged the MMC to continue prioritizing activities related to minimizing
the direct and indirect effects of chemical contaminants, marine debris, noise, and
other forms of ocean pollution on marine mammals and other marine organisms.
National Veterans Business Development
Corporation (VBC)72

The VBC was established under the Veterans Entrepreneurship ans Small
Business Development Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-50). The corporation’s mission is to
foster entrepreneurship and business opportunities for veterans, including service-
disabled veterans. The VBC provides veterans with access to capital and business
services, entrepreneurial education, surety bonding, insurance and prescription
coverage, as well as a veterans business directory. Congress provided the corporation
with $1.5 million in funding for each year, FY2006 and FY2007. For FY2008, the
Administration requested no funding for the VBC, however. Nor, has the Senate
Appropriations Committee recommended any funding for the VBC. By comparison,
the House Appropriations Committee recommended $2.5 million for the VBC.
House report language also directs the corporation to submit a spending plan to the
Committee within in 30 days of enactment that breaks out funding for overhead
costs, salary, benefits and places of operation for all of its community based
organizations.
72 This section was written by William J. Krouse, Specialist in Domestic Security.

CRS-58
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)73
USTR, located in the Executive Office of the President (EOP), is responsible
for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade and direct investment
policies. The President’s FY2008 request is $44.4 million, close to the FY2007
funding level of $44.2 million provided under the FY2007 Revised Continuing
Appropriations Resolution (P.L. 110-5). The Senate Appropriations Committee
recommendation is $47.8 million, $3.4 million above the budget request. The Office
had 229 full-time employees in FY2007. The USTR is responsible for advancing
U.S. interests at the WTO and negotiating bilateral and regional free trade agreements
(FTAs). In 2006 and 2007, the Administration concluded FTAs with Peru,
Colombia, Oman, Panama, and South Korea. The Administration has ongoing
negotiations with Thailand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2006, USTR
obtained congressional approval of FTAs with Bahrain, the Dominican Republic, and
Central American countries.
State Justice Institute (SJI)74
The SJI is a private, nonprofit corporation that makes grants to state courts and
funds research, technical assistance, and informational projects aimed at improving
the quality of judicial administration in state courts across the United States. Under
the terms of its enabling legislation, SJI is authorized to present its budget request
directly to Congress, apart from the President’s budget.
For FY2008, SJI has requested an appropriation of $4.64 million, a 34.3%
increase over $3.46 million appropriated both for FY2007 and FY2006. The Bush
Administration, as in its budgets for the previous five years, has not requested any
appropriated funds for the institute in FY2008.75 The House Appropriations
Committee has approved $4.64 million for SJI in FY2008 (the same amount as
requested by the institute), while the Senate Appropriations Committee, in S. 1745,
has approved $3.5 million for SJI, $45,000 above the FY2007 enacted level.
For the six fiscal years prior to FY2008, appropriations conferees in Congress
had encouraged SJI to obtain funds, at least in part, from sources other than
Congress. In the FY2006 appropriations process, for instance, the House
Appropriations Committee endorsed an approach of providing some directly
appropriated funds to SJI, but with the institute at the same time seeking additional
funding from Department of Justice (DOJ) grant programs. In report language, the
73 This section was written by M. Angeles Villarreal, Analyst in International Trade and
Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division.
74 This section was written by Denis Steven Rutkus, Specialist in American National
Government, Government and Finance Division.
75 In the Appendix of the Budget of the United States Government for each fiscal year from
FY2002 through FY2008, a funding table for the State Justice Institute, and brief
accompanying text, indicated that the proposed budget for each year entailed no
appropriated funds for SJI but did not provide an explanation for why no funding was
requested.

CRS-59
House committee stated that it understood that SJI had “been unable to generate
stable sources of non-Federal funding” and that the SJI had contacted bar
associations and court organizations as possible alternative sources of funding.76
However, the committee noted, these groups were “not inclined to contribute to
operations of the SJI beyond providing matching grant funds for individual projects.”
For this reason, the committee said, it continued to recommend funding for SJI even
though the President’s FY2006 request did not. The committee commended SJI for
seeking to establish grant-making partnerships with DOJ’s Office of Justice
Programs on issues involving state courts and encouraged SJI to continue these
efforts.
Subsequently, in response to a directive from House-Senate conferees for the
FY2006 appropriations act, SJI, in its FY2007 budget request, noted that it had
adopted a 50% “cash match requirement” from its grantees.77 Also in that request,
the institute stated that it was continuing to pursue grant-making partnerships with
the Department of Justice, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), and other public
and private entities. At a March 29, 2007 House Appropriations CJS Subcommittee
hearing, regarding SJI’s FY2008 budget request, the institute’s executive director
explained that it had created a new “partner grant,” in which private foundations, or
federal entities like LSC, would match the funding amounts of SJI grants to state
and local courts for pilot program in such areas as technology innovation and judicial
education and training. In its first fiscal year with this new grant-making approach,
he said, SJI had managed to secure $2.8 million in cash matches. Subsequently, the
House Appropriations Committee, in its report approving $4.64 million for SJI in
FY2008, commended the institute “for its recent successes in obtaining dollar-for-
dollar matching funds for grants awarded.”78
76 H.Rept. 109-118, p.154.
77 Conferees for the FY2006 appropriations act (in H.Rept. 109-272, p. 206) had stated that
they expected that “successful applicants for new and continuing SJI grants will provide a
cash match of not less than 50 percent of the total cost of the project.”
78 H.Rept. 110-240.

CRS-60
Table 11. CJS Appropriations by Account,
FY2007 Enacted and FY2008 Proposed
(budget authority in millions of dollars)a
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
Bureau or Agency
Enactedb
Request
reported
reported
Department of Commerce (DOC)
International Trade Administration
$395.6
$412.4
$417.4
$422.4
Bureau of Industry and Security
$75.4
$78.8
$78.8
$78.8
Economic Development
Administration
$280.6
$202.8
$282.8
$302.8
Minority Business Development
Agency
$29.7
$28.7
$30.2
$31.2
Economic and Statistical Analysis
$79.8
$85.0
$85.0
$86.5
Bureau of the Census
$893.0
$1,230.2
$1,246.6
$1,232.2
National Telecommunications and
Information Administrationa
$39.8
$18.6
$48.6
$40.3
Patent and Trademark Officeb
($1,771.0)
($1,915.5) ($1,915.5)
($1,915.5)
Technology Administration
$2.0
$1.6
$0.0
$1.0
National Institute of Standards and
Technology
$676.9
$640.7
$863.0
$831.2
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
$4,078.3
$3,809.6
$4,214.9
$3,950.5
Departmental Management
$73.7
$87.4
$82.7
$86.5
DOC Subtotal
$6,624.7
$6,595.8
$7,350.1
$7,063.4
Department of Justice (DOJ)
General Administration
$1,836.2
$1,901.6
$1,864.0
$1,869.7
U.S. Parole Commission
$11.5
$12.2
$12.2
$12.2
Legal Activities
$3,393.1
$3,664.9
$3,672.8
$3,608.3
National Security Division
$68.7
$78.1
$78.1
$78.1
Interagency Law Enforcement
$497.9
$509.2
$509.2
$509.2
Federal Bureau of Investigation
$6,298.6
$6,431.3
$6,578.7
$6,531.3
Drug Enforcement Administration
$1,761.1
$1,802.6
$1,854.2
$1,842.6
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms & Explosives
$984.1
$1,014.0
$1,049.0
$1,014.0
Federal Prison System
$5,448.2
$5,363.9
$5,648.9
$5,268.9
Office of Violence Against Women
Office
$382.6
$370.0
$390.0
$430.0
Office of Justice Programs
$2,528.5
$1,104.7
$2,655.1
$2,765.0
DOJ Subtotal
$23,210.4
$22,252.3 $24,312.0
$23,929.2
Science Agencies
Office of Science and Technology
$5.5
$5.5
$5.7
$5.5
NASA
$16,284.3
$17,309.4 $17,459.6
$17,622.5
National Science Foundation
$5,917.2
$6,429.0
$6,553.4
$6,509.0

CRS-61
FY2007
FY2008
Senate-
House-
Bureau or Agency
Enactedb
Request
reported
reported
Science Agencies Subtotal:
$22,207.0
$23,743.9 $24,018.7
$24,137.0
Related Agencies
Antitrust Modernization Commission
$0.5
— -
— -
——
Commission on Civil Rights
$9.0
$8.8
$9.0
9.0
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC)
$328.7
$327.7
$378.0
332.7
International Trade Commission
$62.0
$68.4
$68.4
68.4
Legal Services Corporation
$348.6
$310.9
$390.0
377.0
Marine Mammal Commission
$2.9
$2.3
$3.0
3.0
National Veterans Business
Development Corporation
$1.5
— -
— -
2.5
U.S. Trade Representative
$44.2
$44.4
$47.8
48.4
State Justice Institutec
$3.5
— -
$3.5
4.6
Related Agencies Subtotal
$800.7
$762.5
$899.7
$845.7
Total Appropriationse
$52,842.9
$53,354.6 $56,580.4
$55,975.4
Rescissions
Department of Commerce
($32.0)
($48.6)
($10.0)
($41.8)
Department of Justice
($328.5)
($456.0)
($541.0)
($687.3)
Science Agencies
— -
— -
— -
($93.8)
Total Rescissions
($360.5)
($504.6)
($551.0)
($823.0)
Grand Total
$52,482.4
$52,850.0 $56,029.4
$55,152.4
Sources: S. 1745 (S.Rept. 110-124) and H.R. 3093 (H.Rept. 110-240).
a. Amounts may not total due to rounding.
b. The FY2007 Enacted column includes funding provided by the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007(P.L. 110-5), and the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery,
and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28).
c. FY2008 request does not include $45 million in mandatory spending from the Digital Transition
and Safety Public Fund.
d. The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is fully funded by user fees. The fees collected, but not
obligated during the current year, are available for obligation in the following fiscal year and
do not count toward the appropriation totals. Only newly appropriated funds count toward the
annual appropriation totals.
e. Under the terms of its enabling legislation, the State Justice Institute (SJI) is authorized to present
its budget request directly to Congress.