Congress Approves FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill

Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act by a vote of 82-15. The legislation, which passed the House of Representatives last week by a vote of 397 to 28, provides support for law enforcement, economic development, scientific research, and other national priorities. It now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.

The bill provides $78 billion in discretionary funding, including $71.4 billion in nondefense funding and $6.6 billion in defense funding.

"This legislation includes funding to ensure the brave men and women who make up law enforcement departments across the country have the resources and personnel needed to combat the fentanyl crisis, apprehend violent fugitives, and prosecute criminals," said Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee. "The bill also funds research in critical scientific and technological fields that are necessary to ensure the United States remains competitive with China."

"This legislation strengthens the programs that are important to Kansas - support for local law enforcement to combat violent crime and disrupt fentanyl trafficking, investments to bolster economic growth, and resources to provide critical 24/7 weather coverage - while also taking steps to make targeted reductions in spending. I appreciate the support from my colleagues to fund critical programs that strengthen our nation's federal law enforcement, invest in NASA's Artemis program, support scientific research, and improve our economic competitiveness," said Senator Jerry Moran, Chair of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee.

Bill Highlights:

Trade Promotion and Negotiation:

• Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration: $582 million to assist efforts to promote exports from small- and medium-sized businesses and to protect U.S. businesses from unfair competition in the United States.

• Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security: $235 million to enforce export controls and protect sensitive technologies.

• Office of the United States Trade Representative: $88 million to ensure adequate staffing in trade negotiations.

Bureau of the Census: $1.5 billion for the Bureau of the Census. The funding supports the Bureau's efforts to begin preparations for the 2030 Decennial Census, a constitutional obligation.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): $1.85 billion for NIST to help maintain U.S. leadership in cutting-edge fields such as quantum information science and artificial intelligence. This includes $175 million for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): $6.2 billion for NOAA.

• Procurement, Acquisition and Construction: $1.6 billion to maintain the cadence of recapitalizing our nation's end-of-life weather satellites.

• Operations, Research, and Facilities: $4.8 billion, including full operational funding for the National Weather Service to ensure that all Weather Forecast Offices are fully staffed to protect lives across the nation. The agreement also includes increased funding for fisheries science to support fishing communities along all of our coastlines.

Federal Law Enforcement:

• U.S. Marshals Services: $3.9 billion to support efforts to apprehend and detain violent fugitives and criminal aliens.

• Drug Enforcement Administration: $2.6 billion support efforts to disrupt and dismantle the Mexican cartels that are flooding the U.S. with fentanyl.

• U.S. Attorneys' Offices: $2.6 billion to support efforts to bring, indict, convict, and incarcerate violent criminals and drug trafficking organizations.

State and Local Law Enforcement:

• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): $720 million VAWA programs, including increased support for transitional housing, the rural program, civil legal assistance, the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP), and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program.

• Office of Justice Programs: $3.1 billion for programs that support police and sheriff departments such as Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act programs, and DNA and forensics-related activities.

• Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office: $800 million for programs such as the COPS Hiring Program, Regional Information Sharing Services, and Anti-Methamphetamine and Anti-Heroin Task Forces.

• Crime Victims Fund: $1.95 billion to provide victim restitution and victim services. Of the total amount, 5 percent is for Tribal communities.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): $24.4 billion for NASA. This funding includes $7.8 billion for exploration activities, including to return U.S. astronauts to the lunar surface and eventually Mars. The agreement also includes $7.25 billion for NASA science to study the Earth from satellites while also investigating the deepest parts of space from Earth launched telescopes and probes.

National Science Foundation (NSF): $8.75 billion for the NSF to maintain U.S. leadership in scientific research and discovery. Within the funding, the bill continues support for key research in quantum information science and artificial intelligence; support for Regional Innovation Engines; and support for critical research facilities.

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