HR 5342119th CongressIn Committee

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Introduced: Sep 12, 2025

Civil Rights & JusticeEconomy & TaxesTechnology & Innovation

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

H.R. 5342, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, would provide the annual funding for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Science Foundation–related activities through NIST, NOAA, the Census Bureau, the NTIA, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. The bill assembles detailed budget authorizations across a wide range of programs—trade promotion, export controls, science and technology programs, fisheries and coastal management, IP protection, law enforcement, immigration adjudication, and justice administration. It includes specific spending levels for each agency, along with accompanying policy provisions on transfers, offsetting collections (fees retained by agencies), reprogrammings, and various administrative rules. The measure is introduced and would require action by Congress to become law. Key policy and funding features include: targeted enforcement and compliance funding for China antidumping and countervailing duty activities; extensive use of offsetting collections to fund agency activities (notably for the USPTO); programmatic funding for salmon recovery and fisheries-related activities under NOAA; performance and monitoring requirements in immigration proceedings; and a broad set of general provisions governing transfers, life-cycle cost disclosures for space programs, and reprogramming controls. The bill outlines both funding levels and the administrative rules that would govern how those funds may be used, transferred, or reprogrammed during the year.

Key Points

1Department of Commerce funding and select policy provisions
2- Substantial funding across Commerce bureaus (IT’administration, BIS, Census, NOAA, NIST, NTIA, USPTO, EDA, MBDA, etc.) with specific allocations and multi-year availability for many accounts.
3- Policy emphasis on export enforcement (notably at least $16.4 million for China antidumping and countervailing duty enforcement), and adherence to MECEA 1961 provisions for activities abroad.
4- NOAA and fisheries programs receive large appropriations, including funding for Pacific Salmon recovery, Saltonstall-Kennedy fisheries programs, and related fisheries infrastructure and management efforts.
5- Major IP and science funding through USPTO and NIST, with detailed provisions on offsetting collections, fund availability, and required spending plans.
6- Section 104 requires disclosure of life-cycle cost estimates for major space programs (Joint Polar Satellite System, GOES-R, Space Weather Follow On, etc.), guiding budgetary planning for space programs.
7Department of Justice funding and policy provisions
8- Broad funding for Justice operations, including FBI, DEA, US Attorneys, US Trustees, and various divisions (including Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, and National Security divisions).
9- Immigration-related funding for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) with performance metrics tying judges’ evaluations to case performance.
10- Information technology and information sharing enhancements within the DOJ, with transfer authority to support enterprise-wide IT initiatives.
11- Interagency law enforcement funding (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces) and a provision allowing reimbursement-like use of funds by reimbursed agencies.
12- Special rules for offsetting collections (e.g., premerger notification fees under Hart-Scott-Rodino) and related general fund offsets to zero, as applicable.
13Transfers, reprogramming, and oversight
14- The bill contains standard “General Provisions” on transfers (up to a certain percentage between accounts), reprogramming requirements under section 505, and advance notice to committees on acquisitions/disposals of capital assets.
15- Several accounts include authority to transfer funds between related programs, with the understanding that such transfers are treated as reprogramming and must follow the Act’s procedures.
16- Inspector General funding and agency-specific safeguards to ensure accountability and oversight.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Federal agencies funded by the bill (Commerce and Justice departments, NOAA, USPTO, NIST, Census, FBI, DEA, US Attorneys, U.S. Trustee Program, EOIR, etc.) and the programs they administer (trade promotion, export controls, IP protection, national statistics, fisheries management, scientific research, and law enforcement).Secondary group/area affected- Businesses and industries relying on Trade Promotion Authority, export enforcement, IP rights protection (patents and trademarks), and fisheries/Coastal management programs; researchers and universities receiving NIST and NOAA-related grants and facilities funding; state and local governments participating in fisheries and salmon recovery programs; and foreign entities interfacing with USPTO and IT/security initiatives.Additional impacts- Policy and oversight implications: emphasis on performance metrics for immigration judges, stricter controls on fund transfers and reprogramming, and explicit life-cycle cost considerations for major space systems.- Financial structure: continued reliance on offsetting collections (fees) to offset general fund costs, particularly for the USPTO; some programs are multi-year and funds may be carried forward or pooled with recoveries, creating long-range budget considerations for agencies.- Economic and regional effects: large allocations for salmon recovery and coastal fisheries, as well as export promotion, may influence regional economies, tribal questions, and environmental considerations.- Administrative and compliance requirements: numerous reporting, planning, and compliance requirements (spending plans, reprogramming notifications, and project-specific restrictions) affect how agencies implement programs in real time during FY2026.

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