Appropriations for FY2002: Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies

Publication Date: February 2002

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Banking and finance

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This report tracks action by the 107th Congress on FY2002 appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and other related agencies (often referred to as CJS appropriations). President Bush’s FY2002 budget request totals $40.81 billion, about one billion dollars (2.6%) above the FY2001 total. The House agreed to $41.46 billion, the committee total, and passed the bill (H.R. 2500) on July 18th. The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended a total of $41.53 billion (S. 1215). The Senate passed its version of H.R. 2500, as amended, on September 13, 2001. Conferees met on November 8th and agreed to a total funding level of $39.3 billion. Conferees also agreed to file the conference report on the following day. Continuing resolutions have kept the government running into the new fiscal year: H.J.Res. 65 (P.L. 107-44) expired October 16th, H.J.Res. 68 (P.L. 107-48) expired October 23rd, H.J.Res. 69 (P.L. 107-53) expired October 31st, H.J.Res. 70 (P.L. 107-58) expired November 16th, and H.J.Res. 74 expired December 7, 2001. The bill was signed into law (P.L. 107-77) on November 28th, prior to the expiration of the continuing resolution.

Department of Justice. The FY2002 request was $21.11 billion, less than 1% above the FY2001 enacted level. Key issues included: addressing terrorism, reducing gun crimes through enforcement of existing laws; combating drug abuse; funding for community policing programs under the Office of Justice Programs; restructuring the Immigration and Naturalization Service, reducing pending immigration and naturalization caseloads, and increasing border enforcement. Congress passed $21.7 billion for this agency.

Department of Commerce. The FY2002 request was $5.1 billion, 2% below the FY2001 funding level. Congress debated such issues as funding for: NOAA’s next generation weather satellites, local economic development activities, and the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) grants. The enacted FY2002 budget for Commerce totals $5.4 billion.

Department of State. The FY2002 request was $7.5 billion, nearly 14% above the FY2001 enacted level. The Department had three top priorities in its FY2002 budget: hiring about 600 new staff in Foreign and Civil Service, as well as security professionals; continuing increases in embassy security; and more than doubling its current funds for information technology improvements worldwide. Congress passed $7.4 billion.

The Judiciary. The FY2002 request was $4.9 billion, 14.5% above the FY2001 funding level. The Judiciary request included funds for cost-of-living salary increases for federal judges and justices, as well as $117 million for the first major renovation of the Supreme Court building since its opening in 1935. Congress approved $4.61 billion, an 8.4% increase over FY2001, including $37.5 million for the Supreme Court building and $8.6 million for a cost-of-living pay adjustment for judges and justices.