S.Amdt. 3951

SA 3951, submitted by Ms. Collins, is an amendment to bill H.R. 4016. Its purpose is to replace the original text of the bill with a comprehensive appropriations package for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.

The amendment aims to change and add the following:

Expanded Funding Scope The amendment expands the bill to provide funding, specific budget amounts, and operational rules for several departments and agencies, including:

• Department of Defense: Funding for all military branches (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force), including personnel pay, procurement of equipment, and research and development.
• Department of Justice: Funding for the FBI, DEA, ATF, Federal Prison System, and the Office on Violence Against Women.
• Department of Commerce: Funding for the Bureau of the Census, NOAA, and the USPTO.
• Science and Related Agencies: Funding for NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
• Department of the Interior: Funding for the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Funding for water projects, the Hazardous Substance Superfund, and the Clean Air Act.
• Department of Agriculture: Funding for the Forest Service and wildland fire management.
• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Funding for the NIH, Medicare, Medicaid, and Indian Health Services.
• Department of Education: Funding for Special Education (IDEA), Pell Grants, and HBCUs.
• Department of Transportation (DOT): Funding for the FAA, Amtrak, and various highway and rail administrations.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Funding for Section 8 rental assistance, public housing, and homeless assistance.

International and Special Programs

• Security Assistance: Allocates funds for Ukraine, Taiwan, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and Israeli Cooperative Programs (including the Iron Dome).
• Special Initiatives: Provides for the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Accountability and Official Oversight The amendment adds strict rules to hold officials accountable:

• Spending Controls: Implements "rescissions" to permanently cancel specific amounts of previously unobligated funds across multiple departments.
• Reporting Requirements: Mandates detailed "spend plans," quarterly reports on fund balances, and reporting on political appointee staffing levels.
• Contracting and Travel: Prohibits federal contracts over $1,000,000 for companies forcing employees into arbitration for sexual assault or harassment claims. It also bans the use of government travel cards for adult entertainment or gaming and restricts first-class airline travel.
• Operational Restrictions: Prohibits the use of funds for abortions (with specific exceptions), torture, the promotion of Schedule I controlled substances, and the targeting of parents at school board meetings.
• Buy American: Requires adherence to the Buy American Act for various procurements, specifically for certain ship components and water projects.

Administrative Changes and Mandates

• Naming and Land Use: Reinstates the name "Denali" for the mountain in Alaska and renames the Cottonwood Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park to the "Senator Dianne Feinstein Visitor Center."
• Policy Restrictions: Limits collaboration with China or Chinese-owned companies and prohibits funds for the Wuhan Institute of Virology or EcoHealth Alliance, Inc.
• Agency Management: Requires a 45-day notice to Congress before agency reorganizations affecting 10 or more staff members.