09.19.19

Senate Committee Advances FY2020 Financial Services & General Government Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to advance the FY2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which funds the U.S. Treasury Department, the Executive Office of the President, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and numerous independent agencies, including the Small Business Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the General Services Administration.  The $24.196 billion funding measure prioritizes national agencies and programs that protect national security, maintain the integrity of our financial markets, spur small business growth, maintain a fair and efficient judicial system, and target opioid abuse.

 

The FY2020 Financial Services and General Government spending bill, which recommends an increase of $773 million above the FY2019 enacted level, includes targeted funding increases for the Treasury Department to combat money laundering and terrorism financing; for the SEC and CFTC to oversee our nation’s securities, swaps, and futures markets; for the Federal courts to support the administration of justice; and for the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Buildings Fund.  The measure was approved by a committee vote of 31-0.

 

“This appropriations bill focuses on stimulating and supporting the growth of our economy, while also funding national programs and agencies that combat terrorism financing and encourage government accountability,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.).  “Further, this legislation promotes fiscal responsibility and increases government efficiency and innovation.  I commend Senator Kennedy and Senator Coons on their bipartisan effort to craft this good bill and look forward to its consideration by the full Senate.”

 

“This bill really focuses on taxpayers by ensuring that their dollars are spent wisely.  One thing we need to do is digitize the records on $24 billion in unredeemed savings bonds so that money can be united with the rightful owners. This bill accomplishes that guaranteeing that savings bonds dating back to World War II can be claimed,” said U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee.

 

 

Bill Highlights:

 

Department of Treasury – The bill provides $12.87 billion for the Treasury Department, which is $105 million more than the enacted level.

  • Treasury Departmental Offices – $223 million for Departmental Offices, an increase of $9 million above the FY2019 enacted level. Additional funds will allow the Department to manage a growing caseload associated with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, invest in information technology improvements, and hire additional staff to conduct economic analysis of tax regulatory actions. 
  • Treasury Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) – $167.7 million for TFI, which combats terrorism financing and administers economic and trade sanctions through its Office of Foreign Assets Control. The FY2020 amount is $8.7 million above the enacted level and is $1 million more than the President’s budget request.
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – $11.414 billion for the IRS, including $200 million more than the FY2019 enacted level for enforcement activities to address the tax gap.
    • In addition, to ensure accountability and transparency, the bill includes:
      • A prohibition on IRS funds for bonuses or to rehire former employees unless employee conduct and tax compliance is given consideration;
      • A prohibition on funds for the IRS to target groups for regulatory scrutiny based on their ideological beliefs;
      • A prohibition on funds for the IRS to target individuals for exercising their First Amendment rights;

 

Executive Office of the President (EOP) – $717 million for EOP.  The bill maintains the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) and Drug-Free Communities (DFC) programs within the Office of National Drug Control Policy.  The bill provides $280 million for the HIDTA program to combat heroin and prescription opioid abuse and $100 million for the DFC program.

 

Judiciary – $7.418 billion in discretionary funding for the federal judiciary, which is $166 million above the FY2019 enacted level.  This will provide sufficient funding for federal court activities, including timely and efficient processing of federal cases, court security, and defender services.

 

District of Columbia – $673 million in federal payments to the District of Columbia. Within this amount, the bill provides resources for public safety and security costs, and supports the District of Columbia court system and offender supervision program.

 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) – $274 million for the CFTC, which is $6 million above the FY2019 level and $10 million below the FY2020 budget request. 

 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – $339 million for the FCC, which is offset by regulatory fees and equal to the enacted level.  The bill also provides $132.5 million for the spectrum auctions program.

 

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – $312.3 million for the FTC, which is $2.6 million more than the FY2019 enacted level and equal to the FY2020 budget request.

 

General Services Administration (GSA) – The bill allows GSA to spend $9.581 billion out of the Federal Buildings Fund, an increase of $296 million compared to the FY2019 enacted level.  This level will provide funding for rent payments for privately-owned office space leased by the government, and operations and maintenance costs for buildings owned by federal government agencies across the nation.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – $1.767 billion for the SEC, which is

$10 million more than the budget request and includes $11 million for the potential relocation of the SEC’s New York Regional Office.  This appropriation is fully offset by fees.

 

Small Business Administration (SBA) – $876 million for the SBA to provide assistance to small businesses, expand the economy, and increase job growth for unemployed and underemployed Americans.  The bill fully funds the disaster loans program at $177 million.  The bill also funds several valuable programs, including $131 million for Small Business Development Centers, $31 million for microloan technical assistance, and $14.2 million for veterans outreach programs.

 

Other Oversight, Accountability, and Noteworthy Provisions:

  • Maintains current levels of pay for the Vice President and other senior political appointees;
  • A prohibition on funding for grants or contracts to tax cheats and companies with felony criminal convictions—and new provisions to ensure compliance with these provisions;
  • A prohibition against the use of funds to paint portraits of federal employees, including the President, Vice President, Cabinet Members and Members of Congress;
  • A requirement that agency inspectors general have timely access to agency documents and records;
  • A requirement that all departments and agencies link contracts that provide award fees to successful acquisition outcomes, and prohibit the use of funds to pay for award or incentive fees for contractors with below satisfactory performance; and
  • A new requirement that provides transparency into advertising produced or disseminated at U.S. taxpayer expense.

 

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