Rescissions Proposals Pursuant to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, 22525-22532 [2018-10251]

Agencies

• Management and Budget Office

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22525-22532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10251]


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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET


Rescissions Proposals Pursuant to the Congressional Budget and 
Impoundment Control Act of 1974

AGENCY: Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and 
Budget.

ACTION: Notice of rescissions proposed pursuant to the Congressional 
Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 1014(d) of the Congressional Budget and 
Impoundment Control Act of 1974, enclosed for publication in the 
Federal Register is a special message from the President reflecting the 
proposals for rescission under section 1012 of that Act that were 
transmitted to the Congress for consideration on May 8, 2018. In total, 
these proposals would rescind $15.4 billion in budget authority. These 
proposed rescissions affect programs of the Departments of Agriculture, 
Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban 
Development, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, and the Treasury, 
as well as the Corporation for National and Community Service, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Railroad Retirement Board, Millennium 
Challenge Corporation, and the U.S. Agency for International 
Development. If enacted, these rescissions would decrease Federal 
outlays in the affected accounts by an estimated $3.0 billion; this 
would have a commensurate effect on the Federal budget deficit and the 
national economy, and would result in less borrowing from the Federal 
Treasury.

DATES: Release Date: May 8, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The rescissions proposal package is available on-line on the 
OMB home page at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget-rescissions-deferrals/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Andreasen, 6001 New Executive 
Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, email address: 
[email protected], telephone number: (202) 395-3645. Because of 
delays in the receipt of regular mail related to security screening, 
respondents are encouraged to use electronic communications.

John Mulvaney,
Director.

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

    In accordance with section 1012 of the Congressional Budget and 
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 683), I herewith report 38 
rescissions of budget authority, totaling $15.4 billion.
    The proposed rescissions affect programs of the Departments of 
Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing 
and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, and 
the Treasury, as well as of the Corporation for National and 
Community Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Railroad 
Retirement Board, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the U.S. 
Agency for International Development.
The details of these rescissions are set forth in the enclosed 
letter from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Donald J. Trump
The White House,
    May 8, 2018.

The President
The White House

Dear Mr. President:

    Submitted for your consideration are proposals for rescission 
under section 1012 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act of 1974 (ICA) (2 U.S.C. 683) for the Departments of 
Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing 
and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, and 
the Treasury, as well as for the Corporation for National and 
Community Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Railroad 
Retirement Board, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the U.S. 
Agency for International Development.
    As demonstrated in your first two Budgets, the Administration is 
committed to ensuring the Federal Government spends precious 
taxpayer dollars in the most efficient, effective manner possible. 
Given the long-term fiscal constraints facing our Nation, we must 
use all available means to put our fiscal house back in order.
    To that end, the Administration is utilizing the authorities 
granted to the President under the ICA to propose rescissions to 
enacted appropriations. The proposals included in this package would 
make it the largest single ICA rescissions package ever proposed.
    The attached rescission proposals include unobligated balances 
from prior-year appropriations and reductions to budget authority 
for mandatory programs. These proposals include rescissions of 
funding that is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was 
appropriated by the Congress; in many cases, these funds have been 
left unspent by agencies for years. These proposals also include 
rescissions of low priority and unnecessary Federal spending. We 
look forward to working with the Congress to identify additional 
opportunities to reduce

[[Page 22526]]

wasteful and unnecessary Federal spending and put our Nation on a 
sustainable fiscal path.
    This special message is transmitting your proposals to rescind 
$15.4 billion in budget authority. If enacted, these rescissions 
would decrease Federal outlays in the affected accounts by an 
estimated $3.0 billion; this would have a commensurate effect on the 
Federal budget deficit and the national economy, and would result in 
less borrowing from the Federal Treasury.

Recommendation

    I join the heads of the affected departments and agencies in 
recommending you transmit the proposals to the Congress.

Mick Mulvaney
Director, Office of Management and Budget

PROPOSED RESCISSIONS OF BUDGET AUTHORITY

Report Pursuant to Section 1012 of Public Law 93-344

Rescission proposal no. R18-1

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Account: Salaries and Expenses (012[dash]1600/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $148,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances identified by the Treasury 
Appropriation Fund Symbol 12X1600, $148,000,000 are permanently 
rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $148 million in no-year unobligated 
balances from prior years, of which there were $393 million 
available on October 1, 2017. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service carryover balances are from animal and plant health 
programs, including funds for disease outbreak response for 
incidents that are now resolved. These funds are in excess of 
amounts needed to carry out the programs in FY 2018. Enacting the 
rescission would have limited programmatic impact.

Rescission proposal no. R18-2

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Account: Farm Security and Rural Investment Programs (012[dash]1004/
X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $499,507,921

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances identified by the Treasury 
Appropriation Fund Symbol 12X1004, the following amounts are 
permanently rescinded: (1) $143,854,264 of amounts made available in 
section 2601(a)(5) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-
79); (2) $146,650,991 of amounts made available in section 2701(d) 
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
246); (3) $33,261,788 of amounts made available in section 2701(e) 
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
246); (4) $12,960,988 of amounts made available in section 2701(g) 
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
246); (5) $7,447,193 of amounts made available in section 2510 of 
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246); 
and (6) $155,332,698 of amounts made available from the Commodity 
Credit Corporation to carry out the wetlands reserve program.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $356 million in unobligated balances 
of conservation programs that were not extended in the Agricultural 
Act of 2014, and $144 million in unobligated balances of the 
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) from FY 2014 through 
FY 2017. There were a total of $1.5 billion in balances available in 
these programs on October 1, 2017. EQIP provides farmers and 
ranchers with financial cost-share and technical assistance to 
implement conservation practices on working agricultural land. These 
funds are from unobligated balances of expired programs or from 
prior years and are in excess of amounts needed to carry out the 
programs in FY 2018. Enacting the rescission would have limited 
programmatic impact.

Rescission proposal no. R18-3

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Account: Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (012[dash]1072/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $157,482,457

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances identified in the Treasury 
Appropriation Fund Symbol 12X1072, the following amounts are 
rescinded: (1) $107,482,457 of amounts made available under the 
``Emergency Conservation Activities'' heading in title X of the 
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (Public Law 113-2) for 
activities under section 403 of the Agriculture Credit Act of 1978 
(Emergency Watershed Protection Program; 16 U.S.C. 2203); and (2) 
$50,000,000 of amounts made available under the ``Watershed and 
Flood Prevention Operations'' heading in the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31).

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind a total $157 million in prior year 
balances, of which $378 million were available on October 1, 2017.

    Of these amounts, $50 million would be rescinded from the 
Department of Agriculture's Watershed and Flood Prevention 
Operations program. This program conducts surveys and 
investigations, engineering operations, works of improvement, and 
changes in use of land. These funds are in excess of amounts needed 
to carry out the program in FY 2018. Enacting the rescission would 
have a minimal impact on the program as it is fully funded through 
the 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Enacting the rescission 
would have limited programmatic impact.
    In addition, this proposal would rescind $107 million in 
unobligated balances appropriated in FY 2013 for the Emergency 
Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. The EWP Program is an emergency 
recovery program that helps local communities recover after a 
natural disaster. The program offers technical and financial 
assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to 
life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other 
natural disasters that impair a watershed. These funds were 
initially provided as part of the Federal Government's response to 
aid in recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy; however, a large 
balance of emergency funding remains unobligated in part due to the 
inability of project sponsors to generate the funding necessary for 
their portion of the project expenses. Enacting the proposal would 
rescind the balance of funding provided in response to Hurricane 
Sandy that has yet to be obligated.

Rescission proposal no. R18-4

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Rural Housing Service
Account: Rental Assistance Program (012[dash]0137 2017/2018)

Amount proposed for rescission: $40,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    From amounts made available under this heading in the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) that 
remain available until September 30, 2018, $40,000,000 are 
rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $40 million in carryover balances 
from the rental assistance program, of which there were $40 million 
available on October 1, 2017. The rental assistance program provides 
project-based rent on behalf of low and very-low income rural 
residents in Department of Agriculture financed multifamily housing 
projects. The FY 2018 appropriations fully funded the program, and 
these balances are not needed to fully renew all the rental 
assistance contracts in FY 2018.

Rescission proposal no. R18-5

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Rural Housing Service
Account: Rural Community Facilities Program Account (012[dash]1951/
X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $2,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) and 
prior Acts, $2,000,000 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $3 million in carryover balances 
from the community facilities program account, of which $10 million 
were available on October 1, 2017. The community facilities grants 
provide assistance to low income rural communities for essential 
community facilities such as police stations and medical clinics. 
The FY 2018 appropriations fully funded the

[[Page 22527]]

program, and these balances are not needed to carry out the program 
in FY 2018.

Rescission proposal no. R18-6

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Account: Rural Cooperative Development Grants (012-1900/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $14,705,229

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) and 
prior Acts, $14,705,229 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $15 million in FY 2018 carryover 
balances from the value-added agricultural product market 
development grants, of which $24 million were available on October 
1, 2017. The Value-Added Product Grant program provides grants to 
companies to market their agricultural products. These funds have 
been used for marketing things like chocolate-covered peanuts, which 
is wasteful given other Federal subsidies through the Farm Bill. 
Enacting the rescission would eliminate carryover funding for these 
unnecessary grants.

Rescission proposal no. R18-7

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Account: Biorefinery Assistance Program Account (012-3106/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $36,410,174

Proposed rescission appropriations language

    Of the amounts made available in section 9003 of the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79), $36,410,174 are 
rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $36 million in unobligated balances 
of which $92 million were available on October 1, 2017. The 
Biorefinery Assistance Program, operated by the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service, encourages the production of biofuels, 
renewable chemicals, and bioproducts. These funds are in excess of 
amounts needed to carry out the program in FY 2018.

Rescission proposal no. R18-8

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Rural Utilities Service
Account: High Energy Cost Grants (012-2042/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $13,275,855

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) and 
prior Acts, $13,275,855 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $13 million in carryover balances 
for the High Cost Energy Grants, of which $13 million were available 
on October 1, 2017. These grants are for communities to improve 
energy generation, transmission, or distribution at facilities in 
communities where the average residential cost for home energy 
exceeds 275 percent of the national average. The FY 2018 
appropriations fully funded the program, and these balances are not 
needed to carry out the program in FY 2018.

Rescission proposal no. R18-9

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Rural Utilities Service
Account: Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account (012-1980/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $37,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) and 
prior Acts, $37,000,000 are rescinded: Provided, That no amounts may 
be rescinded from amounts that were designated by the Congress as an 
emergency or disaster relief requirement pursuant to the concurrent 
resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $40 million in carryover balances 
from the Water and Wastewater program account, of which there were 
$40 million available on October 1, 2017. The Water and Wastewater 
program provides a grant/loan combination to low income communities 
of 10,000 or less for clean drinking water and wastewater facilities 
in rural America. The FY 2018 appropriations fully funded the 
program, and these balances are not needed to carry out the program 
in FY 2018.

Rescission proposal no. R18-10

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau: Forest Service
Account: Land Acquisition (012-5004/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $16,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) and 
prior Acts that were derived from the Land and Water Conservation 
Fund, $16,000,000 are permanently rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $17 million in prior year balances 
for the Forest Service for acquisition of additional land, of which 
there were $19 million available on October 1, 2017. The Forest 
Service Land Acquisition program funds the acquisition of lands, 
waters, and related interests within the National Forest System to 
further Agency land management objectives for landscape restoration, 
outdoor recreation and public access, conservation of wildlife 
habitat, and protection of water quality. The proposed rescission 
would reduce unobligated budget authority that is inconsistent with 
the President's policies. Enacting the rescission would eliminate 
land purchase projects in national forests, while projects to 
increase open public access for hunting, fishing, and other 
recreational uses would continue to be funded from the amounts 
available.

Rescission proposal no. R18-11

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau: Economic Development Administration
Account: Economic Development Assistance Programs (013-2050/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $30,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
prior year appropriations, $30,000,000 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $30 million in prior year balances 
of which there were nearly $44 million available on October 1, 2017. 
The Economic Development Administration (EDA)'s Economic Development 
Assistance Programs (EDAP) provide competitive economic development 
grants to economically distressed communities. The authorization for 
this program expired in 2008 and the Government Accountability 
Office has identified EDA programs as duplicative of several other 
economic development programs. Since 2015, the Congress has enacted 
rescissions of EDAP balances from prior year appropriations. The 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141) rescinded 
$10 million of unobligated balances from prior year appropriations. 
This proposal increases that rescission by an additional $30 
million, consistent with the larger rescission proposed in the FY 
2018 Budget. Enacting the rescission would not impact EDA's ability 
to obligate funds appropriated in FY 2018, but would reduce the 
total funds available for award by the amount of the enacted 
rescission.

Rescission proposal no. R18-12

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bureau: Energy Programs
Account: Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program 
(089-0322/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $4,333,499,814

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Any unobligated balances of amounts provided by section 129 of 
the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing 
Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 110-329) for the cost of direct 
loans as authorized by section 136(d) of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-140) are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $4 billion in unobligated balances, 
of which there were $4 billion available on October 1, 2017, from 
amounts appropriated in FY 2009 for the cost of direct loans under 
the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. The 
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program provides 
loans to automobile and automobile part manufacturers for the cost 
of re-equipping,

[[Page 22528]]

expanding, or establishing manufacturing facilities in the United 
States to produce advanced technology vehicles or qualified 
components and for associated engineering integration costs. This 
proposed rescission would eliminate budget authority that is 
inconsistent with the President's policies. Enacting the rescission 
would support the elimination of the program. Since its inception in 
2007 only five loans have been closed under this authority, and 
since 2011 no new loans have closed. The proposed rescission would 
have no effect on outlays.

Rescission proposal no. R18-13

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bureau: Energy Programs
Account: Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program (089-
0208/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $160,682,760

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances made available by section 1425 of 
the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations 
Act, 2011 (Public Law 112-10) for the cost of loan guarantees for 
renewable energy or efficient end-use energy technologies under 
section 1703 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15513) 
$160,682,760 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $161 million in unobligated subsidy 
amounts appropriated in FY 2011 for the Title 17 Innovative 
Technology Loan Guarantee Program, of which there were $161 million 
available on October 1, 2017. The Title 17 Innovative Technology 
Loan Guarantee Program encourages early commercial use of new or 
significantly improved technologies in energy projects. This 
proposed rescission would eliminate subsidy amounts that are 
inconsistent with the President's policies. Enacting the rescission 
would support the elimination of the program. Only three loan 
guarantees have been closed through this program since its 
inception, all related to a single project. The proposed rescission 
would have no effect on outlays.

Rescission proposal no. R18-14

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bureau: Energy Programs
Account: Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program, 
Recovery (089-0209/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $523,212,221

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Any unobligated balances of amounts made available under this 
heading in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
(Public Law 111-5) for the cost of guaranteed loans authorized by 
section 1705 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $523 million in unobligated credit 
subsidy amounts appropriated in FY 2009 for the Title 17 Innovative 
Technology Loan Guarantee Program, of which there were $523 million 
available on May 1, 2018. Appropriated by the Obama stimulus 
package, the program encourages early commercial use of new or 
significantly improved technologies in energy projects. This 
proposed rescission would eliminate subsidy amounts that are 
inconsistent with the President's policies. Enacting the rescission 
would support the elimination of the program. The proposed 
rescission would have no effect on outlays.

Rescission proposal no. R18-15

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Bureau: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Account: Children's Health Insurance Fund (075-0515/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $5,149,512,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available from section 301(b)(3) of 
Public Law 114-10 and pursuant to section 2104(m)(2)(B)(iv) of the 
Social Security Act, $5,149,512,000 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $5.1 billion in amounts made 
available by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 
2015 to supplement the 2017 national allotments to States, including 
$3.1 billion in unobligated balances available on October 1, 2017, 
and $2 billion in recoveries as of May 7, 2018. The 2017 one-time 
appropriation was made available in addition to the annual 
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) appropriation to 
reimburse states for eligible CHIP expenses. Authority to obligate 
these funds to States expired on September 30, 2017, and the 
remaining funding is no longer needed. Enacting the rescission would 
have no programmatic impact. The proposed rescission would have no 
effect on outlays.

Rescission proposal no. R18-16

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Bureau: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Account: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (075-0522/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $800,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the amounts made available in section 1115A(f)(1)(B) of the 
Social Security Act, $800,000,000 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $800 million in amounts made 
available under Public Law 111-148 for FYs 2011 to 2019 for the 
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (the Innovation Center) 
of which there were $3.5 billion available on October 1, 2017. The 
Innovation Center was created to test innovative payment and service 
delivery models to reduce program expenditures under Medicare, 
Medicaid, and CHIP while preserving or enhancing quality of care. 
These funds are in excess of amounts needed to carry out the 
Innovation Center's planned activities in FYs 2018 and 2019, and the 
Innovation Center will receive a new mandatory appropriation in FY 
2020. Enacting the rescission would allow the Innovation Center to 
continue its current activity, initiate new activity, and continue 
to pay for its administrative costs.

Rescission proposal no. R18-17

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Bureau: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Account: Child Enrollment Contingency Fund (075-5551/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $1,865,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the amounts deposited in the Child Enrollment Contingency 
Fund for fiscal year 2018 under section 2104(n)(2) of the Social 
Security Act, $1,865,000,000 are permanently rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $1.9 billion in amounts available 
for the Children's Health Insurance Program Contingency Fund, of 
which there were $2.4 billion available as of March 23, 2018. The 
Contingency Fund provides payments to States that experience funding 
shortfalls due to higher than expected enrollment. At this time, the 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services does not expect that any 
State would require a Contingency Fund payment in FY 2018; 
therefore, this funding is not needed. Enacting this rescission 
would have no programmatic impact. The proposed rescission would 
have no effect on outlays.

Rescission proposal no. R18-18

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Bureau: Departmental Management
Account: Nonrecurring Expenses Fund (075-0125/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $220,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available in the Nonrecurring 
Expenses Fund established in section 223 of division G of Public Law 
110-161, $220,000,000 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $220 million in unobligated balances 
made available under Public Law 110-161, of which there were $510 
million available on October 1, 2017. The Nonrecurring Expenses Fund 
(NEF) is a no-year account that receives transfers of expired 
unobligated balances from discretionary accounts prior to 
cancellation. The NEF is used for capital acquisition, including 
facilities infrastructure and information technology. This proposal 
would rescind available unobligated balances. The Department of 
Health and Human Services could continue to fund high

[[Page 22529]]

priority projects with other sources of funding.

Rescission proposal no. R18-19

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Bureau: Public and Indian Housing Programs
Account: Public Housing Capital Fund (086-0304 2015/2018)

Amount proposed for rescission: $1,192,287

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 
(Public Law 113-235), $1,192,287 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $1 million in prior year balances of 
which there were $2 million available on October 1, 2017. The 
Capital Fund largely provides formula modernization grants to public 
housing authorities to address the capital repair needs in about one 
million units of public housing, in addition to set-asides for 
resident self-sufficiency programs and other programmatic needs. The 
proposed rescission would reduce budget authority that is 
inconsistent with the President's policies. Enacting the rescission 
would reduce prior year balances available for capital repair needs, 
emergency repairs including safety and security measures, physical 
inspections, administrative and judicial receiverships, and Resident 
Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) grants. Amounts appropriated 
in FY 2018 for the Public Housing Capital Fund could be used for 
some of these activities.

Rescission proposal no. R18-20

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Bureau: Public and Indian Housing Programs
Account: Public Housing Capital Fund (086-0304 2016/2019)

Amount proposed for rescission: $5,243,222

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113), 
$5,243,222 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $5 million in prior year balances of 
which there were $6 million available on October 1, 2017. The 
Capital Fund largely provides formula modernization grants to public 
housing authorities to address the capital repair needs in about one 
million units of public housing, in addition to set-asides for 
resident self-sufficiency programs and other programmatic needs. The 
proposed rescission would reduce budget authority that is 
inconsistent with the President's policies. Enacting the rescission 
would reduce prior year balances available for capital repair needs, 
emergency repairs including safety and security measures, physical 
inspections, administrative and judicial receiverships, and 
competitive Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) and 
Jobs-Plus grants. Amounts appropriated in FY 2018 for the Public 
Housing Capital Fund could be used for some of these activities.

Rescission proposal no. R18-21

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Bureau: Public and Indian Housing Programs
Account: Public Housing Capital Fund (086-0304 2017/2020)

Amount proposed for rescission: $34,051,236

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31), 
$34,051,236 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $34 million in prior year balances 
of which there were $118 million available on October 1, 2017. The 
Capital Fund largely provides formula modernization grants to public 
housing authorities to address the capital repair needs in about one 
million units of public housing, in addition to set-asides for 
resident self-sufficiency programs and other programmatic needs. The 
proposed rescission would reduce budget authority that is 
inconsistent with the President's policies. Enacting the rescission 
would reduce prior year balances available for capital repair needs, 
emergency repairs including safety and security measures, physical 
inspections, administrative and judicial receiverships, Resident 
Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) grants, and eliminate the FY 
2017 competitive Jobs-Plus grants. Competitive grants to reduce 
lead-based paint hazards in public housing would continue to be 
funded from amounts available. Amounts appropriated in FY 2018 for 
the Public Housing Capital Fund could be used for some of these 
activities.

Rescission proposal no. R18-22

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Bureau: Public and Indian Housing Programs
Account: Public Housing Capital Fund (086-0304/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $518,885

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available until expended under this 
heading, including from prior year appropriations, $518,885 are 
permanently rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $1 million in prior year balances of 
which there were $8 million available on October 1, 2017. The 
Capital Fund largely provides formula modernization grants to public 
housing authorities to address the capital repair needs in about one 
million units of public housing, in addition to set-asides for 
resident self-sufficiency programs and other programmatic needs. The 
proposed rescission would reduce budget authority that is 
inconsistent with the President's policies. Enacting the rescission 
would reduce prior year balances available for capital repair needs, 
and technical assistance. Amounts appropriated in FY 2018 for the 
Public Housing Capital Fund could be used for some of these 
activities.

Rescission proposal no. R18-23

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Bureau: Legal Activities and U.S. Marshals
Account: Assets Forfeiture Fund (015[dash]5042/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $106,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading, 
including from prior year appropriations, $106,000,000 are 
permanently rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $106 million in prior year balances 
of which there were $1.3 billion available on October 1, 2017. The 
Assets Forfeiture Fund receives the proceeds of forfeitures pursuant 
to any law enforced or administered by the Department of Justice. 
These resources are used to cover the costs associated with such 
forfeitures, including equitable sharing payments to participating 
State and local law enforcement, payments to victims and other 
innocent third party claimants, forfeiture-related investigative and 
litigation expenses, and asset management and disposition expenses. 
The funds proposed for rescission are in excess of amounts needed to 
carry out the program in FY 2018. Enacting the rescission would not 
impact program operations.

Rescission proposal no. R18-24

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau: Employment and Training Administration
Account: Training and Employment Services (016[dash]0174/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $22,913,265

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Any unobligated balances of amounts made available in section 
1899K(b) of division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $23 million in remaining balances 
for National Emergency Grants (NEGs) authorized under the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These NEGs were authorized to help 
States implement the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) for Trade 
Adjustment Assistance recipients, both helping States establish the 
systems and procedures needed to make healthcare benefits available 
and providing assistance and support services to eligible 
individuals waiting to receive payments through the HCTC. The 
initial HCTC authorization expired on January 1, 2014, but was 
reinstated in 2015. Since the HCTC program was reinstated, the 
Department of Labor has only distributed $1.4 million in Health 
NEGs. Enacting this rescission would be unlikely to have a 
programmatic impact since the Department does not have plans for the 
remaining funds. This funding is currently allocated to a child

[[Page 22530]]

account; the proposed rescission would be executed from the parent 
account, which has been identified above. The proposed rescission 
would have no effect on outlays.

Rescission proposal no. R18-25

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau: Other
Account: Complex Crises Fund (072[dash]1015/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $30,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) and 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (114-113), $30,000,000 are 
rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $30 million in prior year balances 
from the Complex Crises Fund (CCF), of which $53 million were 
available on October 1, 2017. The CCF was designed to support rapid 
response programs to address emerging and unforeseen crises in order 
to de-escalate them. To date, the account has largely been used to 
support activities that are similar to longer-term development work 
and could be carried out within the resources and authorities of the 
Economic Support Fund. Since other resources and authorities are 
available to carry out these activities, funding in this account is 
unnecessary and is not a priority for the Administration. Enacting 
the rescission would eliminate all remaining unobligated and 
unplanned balances for the account.

Rescission proposal no. R18-26

Agency: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Bureau: Millennium Challenge Corporation
Account: Millennium Challenge Corporation (524[dash]2750/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $52,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    From amounts made available under this heading in the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) and prior 
Acts, $52,000,000 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $52 million in unobligated balances, 
of which there were at least $52 million available on October 1, 
2017. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an independent 
agency with no year funds authority that provides grants to 
developing countries to reduce poverty through economic growth. 
These unobligated balances proposed for rescission are not needed to 
carry out the program in FY 2018. The Indonesia compact has reached 
the grant closeout period and funding is anticipated to be returned 
to MCC. In addition, funding provided for the MCC in the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 was more than requested in the 
FY 2018 Budget. As such, enacting the rescission would have limited 
impact on MCC's planned programs.

Rescission proposal no. R18-27

Agency: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Bureau: Agency for International Development
Account: International Disaster Assistance (072[dash]1035/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $252,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 
(Public Law 113-235), $252,000,000 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $252 million in prior year balances 
of emergency funding appropriated in FY 2015 for the Ebola response, 
of which there were $470 million in emergency balances available for 
the Ebola response on October 1, 2017. The Congress provided these 
for countries affected by, or at risk of being affected by, the 
Ebola virus disease outbreak in 2015. These funds remain from the 
initial outbreak in 2015 and are no longer needed because the Ebola 
response has largely concluded. Enacting the rescission would 
therefore not impact the Ebola response.

Rescission proposal no. R18-28
Agency: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bureau: Federal Highway Administration
Account: Miscellaneous Appropriations (069[dash]0538/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $85,938,251

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available in the ``Surface 
Transportation Priorities'' account under Treasury Account Fund 
Symbol 69X0538 from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 
(Public Law 111-117) or any other Act, $85,938,251 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $86 million in prior year balances, 
of which there were $90 million available on October 1, 2017. The 
2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act and prior Acts provided funding 
to carry out earmarked highway projects, many of which are less than 
$1 million, and are not regionally or nationally significant 
projects justifying direct appropriations. Many of these earmarks 
would be eligible for regular Federal Aid Highway formula funding, 
and if these balances are rescinded, States could direct their 
Federal Aid formula grant funds towards these projects, if they so 
choose.

Rescission proposal no. R18-29

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bureau: Federal Highway Administration
Account: Appalachian Development Highway System (069[dash]0640/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $45,240,246

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act, 1998 (Public Law 105-66) or any other Act, $45,240,246 are 
rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $45 million in prior year balances, 
of which there were $46 million available on October 1, 2017. The 
Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) program was authorized 
to provide grant funding for projects involving construction of, and 
improvements to, ADHS highway corridors. The Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21, Public Law 112-141) 
eliminated the standalone ADHS program, as the vast majority of the 
system had been built out. However, States can continue to use their 
other Federal Aid Highway funds to support continued improvement of 
these corridors. The broader Federal Aid Highway eligibility, 
combined with the fact that the ADHS system is largely built-out, 
results in limited impact from rescinding these legacy balances.

Rescission proposal no. R18-30

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bureau: Federal Highway Administration
Account: Miscellaneous Highway Trust Funds (069[dash]8058/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $48,019,600

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under the heading 
``Miscellaneous Highway Projects'' from the Department of 
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public 
Law 106-346) or any other Act, $48,019,600 are permanently 
rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $48 million in prior year balances, 
of which there were $53 million available on October 1, 2017. These 
balances are derived from the Department of Transportation and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, related to miscellaneous 
highway projects. Given the age of the balances, there will be 
little to no programmatic impact in rescinding these funds.

Rescission proposal no. R18-31

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bureau: Federal Railroad Administration
Account: Capital Assistance for High Speed Rail Corridors and 
Intercity Passenger Rail Service (069[dash]0719/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $53,404,128

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-117) 
$53,404,128 are rescinded.

[[Page 22531]]

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $53 million in prior year balances, 
of which there were nearly $56 million available on October 1, 2017. 
The High Speed Rail program provided capital grants to States to 
invest and improve intercity passenger rail service, including the 
development of new high-speed capacity. Approximately $47 million of 
these funds were awarded in 2011, but not obligated, for the Chicago 
to Iowa City rail corridor project. The obligation of these funds is 
contingent upon work done to construct improvements necessary to 
restart passenger rail service between the two regions, which is 
long stalled and still in the design phase. No new funding has been 
provided to the High Speed Rail program since FY 2010, when these 
balances were appropriated. Rescinding these funds will not have a 
significant impact on high speed passenger rail projects.

Rescission proposal no. R18-32

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Bureau: Federal Transit Administration
Account: Formula Grants (069[dash]1129/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $46,560,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available for Transit Formula Grants 
from fiscal year 2005 and prior fiscal years, $46,560,000 are 
permanently rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $47 million in prior year balances, 
of which there were nearly $48 million available on October 1, 2017. 
This General Fund program provided formula grant funding to transit 
agencies in FY 2005 and earlier. Formula funding for transit 
agencies is now carried out exclusively by the Mass Transit Account 
of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), and these balances are the residual 
balances remaining from funds provided in FY 2005 and earlier. 
Enacting this rescission would have a negligible impact on overall 
transit investments, as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, 
provided $9.7 billion for Transit Formula Grants within the HTF.

Rescission proposal no. R18-33

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Bureau: Departmental Offices
Account: Treasury Forfeiture Fund (020[dash]5697/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $53,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available in the Treasury Forfeiture 
Fund established by the Treasury Forfeiture Fund Act of 1992 (31 
U.S.C. 9705), $53,000,000 are permanently rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $53 million in prior year balances, 
of which there were $669 million available on October 1, 2017. The 
Treasury Forfeiture Fund receives the proceeds of non-tax 
forfeitures made pursuant to laws enforced or administered by 
participating bureaus of the Departments of the Treasury and 
Homeland Security. These resources are used to cover the costs 
associated with such forfeitures, including equitable sharing 
payments to participating State and local law enforcement; payments 
to victims and other innocent third party claimants; forfeiture-
related investigative and litigation expenses; and asset management 
and disposition expenses. The funds proposed for rescission are in 
excess of amounts needed to carry out the program in FY 2018. 
Enacting the rescission would not impact core program operations.

Rescission proposal no. R18-34

Agency: DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Bureau: Departmental Offices
Account: Community Development Financial Institution Fund Program 
Account (020[dash]1881 2017/2018)

Amount proposed for rescission: $22,787,358

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading for the 
Bank Enterprise Award Program from the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) $22,787,358 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $23 million in funds appropriated in 
FY 2017 for the Department of the Treasury's Community Development 
Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) Bank Enterprise Award (BEA) 
Program of which $23 million were available on October 1, 2017. 
These funds, which have yet to be disbursed, would be used for 
awards to FDIC-insured depository institutions that support 
Community Development Financial Institutions. This proposed 
rescission would reduce budget authority that is inconsistent with 
the President's policies.

Rescission proposal no. R18-35
Agency: DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Bureau: Departmental Offices
Account: Capital Magnet Fund, Community Development Financial 
Institutions (020[dash]8524/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $151,281,335

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    From amounts made available to the Capital Magnet Fund for 
fiscal year 2018 pursuant to sections 1337 and 1339 of the Housing 
and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 4567 and 4569) 
$151,281,335 are permanently rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $151 million in amounts made 
available under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 
(Public Law 110-289) for FY 2018, of which $151 million was 
available on May 1, 2018. The Capital Magnet Fund (CMF) is a 
competitive grant program that funds housing nonprofits and 
Community Development Financial Institutions to finance affordable 
housing activities, as well as related economic development 
activities and community service facilities. This proposed 
rescission of CMF balances, which were derived from assessments on 
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under permanent law, would reduce budget 
authority that is inconsistent with the President's policies, 
recognizing that State and local governments and the private sector 
have a greater role to play in addressing affordable housing needs. 
Enacting the rescission would reduce the funds available for grants 
under this program.

Rescission proposal no. R18-36

Agency: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Bureau: Environmental Protection Agency
Account: Environmental Programs and Management (068[dash]0108 2017/
2018)

Amount proposed for rescission: $10,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available under this heading from 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) 
$10,000,000 are rescinded, including from amounts described in the 
first proviso.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $10 million in prior year balances, 
of which there were $208 million available on October 1, 2017. This 
is EPA's primary account that funds salaries, travel, contracts, 
grants, and cooperative agreements for pollution abatement, 
compliance, and administrative activities of the operating programs. 
The funds proposed for rescission are targeted for competitive water 
quality research and support grants, which are duplicative with 
other Federal programs. Enacting the rescission would reduce funding 
for water quality research and support grants.

Rescission proposal no. R18-37

Agency: CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Bureau: Corporation for National and Community Service
Account: Gifts and Contributions (485[dash]8981/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $150,000,000

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the unobligated balances available in the ``National Service 
Trust'' established in section 102 of the National and Community 
Service Trust Act of 1993, $150,000,000 are permanently rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $150 million in prior year balances 
from the National Service Trust, of which there were $205 million 
available on October 1, 2017. The National Service Trust provides 
funds for educational awards to eligible AmeriCorps volunteers who 
have completed their terms of service. The available balances in the 
Trust are in excess of amounts needed to cover educational awards in 
FY 2018. This rescission would not impact the agency's operations. 
This rescission would have no effect on outlays.

Rescission proposal no. R18-38


[[Page 22532]]


Agency: RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Bureau: Railroad Retirement Board
Account: Railroad Unemployment Insurance Extended Benefits Payments 
(060[dash]0117/X)

Amount proposed for rescission: $132,612,397

Proposed rescission appropriations language:

    Of the amounts made available in section 9 of the Worker, 
Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-
92), $132,612,397 are rescinded.

Justification:

    This proposal would rescind $133 million in prior year balances 
of which there were slightly more than $133 million available on 
October 1, 2017. These funds were enacted to pay extended 
unemployment insurance benefits to railroad workers. The program 
expired on December 31, 2012 and the remaining funding is no longer 
needed. Enacting the rescission would not have any programmatic 
impact on the program. The proposed rescission would have no effect 
on outlays.

[FR Doc. 2018-10251 Filed 5-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3110-01-P