House Expected to Pass CJS Bill Today

The House of Representatives worked until just after midnight completing consideration of amendments to the FY2013 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill.  Only one step remains — passage of the amended bill — which is expected to occur early this afternoon.

The House adjourned at two minutes after midnight following lengthy debate on amendments to the bill as reported from the appropriations committee.   Only one amendment debated Wednesday-Thursday would have affected NASA and it was defeated.  The amendment, by Rep. John Tierney (D-MA), would have taken $10 million from the Mars Next Decade account and used it for a program in the Department of Justice (the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders program, part of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act).   It was defeated 160-260.

The only amendment that succeeded in changing the amount allocated for NASA during floor debate was agreed to on Tuesday.   It takes $126 million from NASA’s Cross Agency Support account to use for a community policing program in the Department of Justice.

No changes were made to the appropriations commitee’s recommendations for NOAA’s satellite programs.

House passage of the bill will complete House action on its version of the CJS bill, H.R. 5326, but the Senate still must pass its bill and the two must then reconcile their differences before sending it to the President for signature.   The White House indicated before debate on the bill began that it would veto the bill as it was reported from committee.  One of its objections was the reduction in funding for commercial crew compared to the President’s request; that was not changed during floor debate.