Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Rogers (KY)
In Committee
Summary
This bill would set FY2026 spending levels and attach wide-ranging policy limits, directing federal support and restrictions across Commerce, Justice, science, and related agencies. It combines detailed dollar allocations with new bans and reporting rules on China contacts, firearms rules, DEI funding, immigration, and research programs.
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- Communities and public safety: Large DOJ grant programs would fund state, local, and tribal law enforcement and victim services, including about $2.2 billion for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and $420 million targeted to opioid-related programs. Juvenile justice and reentry grants would also receive targeted funding for prevention and mentoring.
- Businesses, trade, and technology: Commerce accounts would fund trade enforcement and export controls, including about $440 million for the International Trade Administration and $303 million for the Bureau of Industry and Security. The bill also directs CHIPS allocations and adds reporting and supply-chain restrictions for major procurements.
- Science, environment, and coastal communities: NOAA operations and construction get major support, roughly $4.2 billion for operations and $1.6 billion for procurement and construction, plus $65 million for Pacific salmon recovery. The bill also restricts certain offshore wind authorizations and sets new rules for coastal restoration projects.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
43 provisions identified: 24 benefits, 10 costs, 9 mixed.
Census could ask only twice
If enacted, the Census Bureau could not force survey responses using these funds. For voluntary surveys, it could contact a household no more than two times per survey. This would reduce follow-up calls or visits.
No federal label on your speech
If enacted, agencies could not use these funds to label a U.S. person’s speech as misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation. Agencies also could not fund or partner with groups that pressure companies to remove lawful speech. This would limit government-backed speech labeling and pressure.
DOJ would not block medical marijuana
If enacted, DOJ could not use this Act’s funds to stop listed states, D.C., and territories from running their medical marijuana laws. DOJ could still enforce certain federal drug laws under 21 U.S.C. 860.
Set total costs for weather satellites
If enacted for FY2026, the bill would set planned life‑cycle costs for major satellite programs: Joint Polar Satellite System $11.322 billion; Polar Follow On $6.838 billion; GOES‑R $11.700 billion; Space Weather Follow On $692.8 million. These programs support nationwide weather and space‑weather services used for safety and commerce.
No pay if you ignore Congress
If enacted, federal officers or employees who fail to comply with a valid congressional subpoena could not be paid salary, benefits, bonuses, or expenses with these funds. This includes failing to provide unredacted documents by the deadline in the subpoena.
No funds for gender transition care
This bill would bar money in this Act from paying for social, psychological, behavioral, or medical care meant to change a person’s body so it no longer matches their biological sex. People and providers who rely on these federal funds would be affected.
Take back unused Justice and Commerce funds
If enacted, the bill would rescind unused balances by September 30, 2026. It would take back: $15 million from the Census Working Capital Fund; $46.299 million from NOAA Operations, Research, and Facilities (prior‑year); and from DOJ prior‑year funds: $36 million (Office on Violence Against Women), $250 million (Office of Justice Programs), $25 million (COPS), $100 million (DOJ Working Capital Fund), $175 million (Assets Forfeiture Fund), and $50 million (ATF Salaries and Expenses). Agencies must report amounts by September 1, 2026. Emergency or disaster‑designated funds would be protected.
EEOC workplace rules put on hold
If enacted, money could not be used to finalize or enforce the EEOC’s 2024 harassment guidance. Funds also could not enforce parts of an EEOC rule that treat elective abortion as a condition requiring accommodation. Employers and workers would see a pause in these rules if this bill becomes law.
Wider path to Cuban property claims
If enacted, some people could bring claims as owners if they got the claim before March 12, 1996 or as a successor who did not pay for it. Certain cases could be refiled as if the change were in effect in 1996. This could help some claimants pursue recovery.
Pause snapper cuts until review
If enacted, money could not be used to reduce quotas, close areas, or limit access to the South Atlantic snapper fishery until a third-party review of the March 2021 SEDAR 73 report is finished and adopted. Fishers would keep current access while the review is pending.
Easier small firearm parts exports to Canada
If enacted, exporters could ship certain firearm parts in Category I to Canada without an export license when the wholesale value is $500 or less. You would still need to file any required export forms. The exemption would not cover fully automatic firearms or key parts like barrels, cylinders, receivers, or breech mechanisms.
No new ATF rules or fees
If enacted, funds could not be used to enforce ATF rules issued after January 21, 2021. Money could not create or run a federal gun registry or fund ATF’s OBRIS database. ATF would not be able to add new user or processing fees for activities that were not charged as of October 1, 2025. These changes would start upon enactment and ease costs and risk for licensed dealers and manufacturers.
Tech grants steered to high-poverty counties
If enacted, at least 10% of each Stevenson‑Wydler section 27 grant amount would go to projects in persistent poverty counties, including U.S. Territories. A county qualifies if 20% or more of people were in poverty over the past 30 years using federal measures.
More protections for gun owners
If enacted, agencies using these funds would have to give notice and a hearing before taking a firearm. Money could not support red flag laws or gun buyback programs. States that punish valid nonresident concealed-carry permit holders could lose funds. Federal money could not enforce the National Firearms Act for firearms whose NFA tax is set to $0 by another law. These rules would start upon enactment.
Block COVID vaccine mandate enforcement
If enacted, funds could not be used to enforce COVID-19 vaccine mandates or passports. Agencies could not enforce the listed Executive Orders on federal employees or covered federal contractors. This would start upon enactment.
Faster CHIPS allocations and quarterly reports
If enacted, Commerce and NSF would have 45 days after enactment to allocate FY2026 CHIPS funds as listed in the report. Some allocations would be barred during a continuing resolution. The bill would allow limited reallocations with consultation and require quarterly reports on uncommitted, committed, and unobligated balances.
Limits on college STEM ties to China
This bill would block money in this Act from going to any college that makes a formal STEM partnership with an entity controlled by the Chinese government or Communist Party. It would apply upon enactment. Students, researchers, and those programs could lose eligible funding.
No funding to reclassify marijuana
If enacted, money in this bill could not be used to reschedule marijuana or remove it from the federal drug schedules. This would keep current federal scheduling rules in place.
New rules for big federal awards
If enacted, Commerce could make advance payments in FY2026 when officials certify it is in the public interest. Also, firms seeking a federal contract or grant over $5 million would need to certify they filed all required federal tax returns for the past three years, have no criminal tax convictions, and have no unpaid tax assessments older than 90 days unless on an approved plan or under a valid dispute.
DOJ grants shifted to research and audits
For FY2026, up to 1% of funds under certain DOJ grant headings could move to the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. At least 0.4% must go to the DOJ Inspector General for oversight and audits. This would slightly reduce money for local grantees while boosting research and auditing. Some specified sub‑programs would be excluded.
Limits on NOAA climate and whale rules
If enacted, NOAA could not write climate rules that directly respond to data cited by the “Billions Project,” and could not implement the Rice’s whale critical habitat rule. NOAA and Commerce could not enforce vessel speed limits for the North Atlantic right whale that were not in place before January 20, 2021. NOAA would also be paused from issuing incidental take permits for certain offshore wind leases until the Comptroller General delivers the requested study. Coastal Zone Management grants could not be used to block wildfire/timber, energy, housing, or military activities under the Endangered Species Act.
Prisoner placement and transport limits
If enacted, the Bureau of Prisons could not use these funds to assign a person to a facility that does not match their biological sex. The Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Marshals could not transport maximum or high security prisoners to facilities that are not certified as appropriately secure. These rules would apply upon enactment.
Tighter DOJ IT and budget controls
If enacted, DOJ could not spend on new or upgraded IT projects over $100 million without high-level certification of controls and architecture fit. DOJ could shift up to 5% between appropriations in FY2026, but no appropriation could rise by more than 10% from transfers unless specified, and transfers must follow section 505. DOJ Working Capital Fund obligations in FY2026 would be capped to $12 million for a unified financial system, up to $30 million from transferred unobligated balances, and up to $10 million of excess unobligated balances, with the latter treated as reprogrammings.
Free online access to Congress reports
If enacted, NTIS would have to tell you how to download a free electronic copy of any Legislative Branch report before it can charge you. If you still want a printed or delivered copy, any fee could only cover processing, reproduction, and delivery costs.
NOAA can set new relocation pay
If enacted, NOAA could create a new fixed or alternative rate for relocation allowances, including permanent change of station. This could change how much NOAA and National Weather Service employees get for moving expenses.
Higher threshold for ATF “Demand 2”
If enacted, ATF could only trigger “Demand 2” reporting when the count is the greater of 25 traces or 2.5% of a dealer’s average annual firearm sales. Each counted trace would have to be tied to an open criminal case and have a time-to-crime of three years or less. This would start upon enactment and reduce reporting for some FFLs.
AG could waive some grant rules
If enacted, the Attorney General could waive certain rules for FY2022–FY2025 reentry and PREA grants when a grantee asks and faces fiscal hardship. This would give some grantees flexibility to keep projects going.
Keep Marshals enforcing picketing law
If enacted, funds could not be used to discourage U.S. Marshals from fully enforcing 18 U.S.C. 1507. This aims to keep enforcement of that law in place.
More protections in interviews and prisons
If enacted, federal agencies would have to audio‑record criminal‑investigation interviews, including when helping state, local, or Tribal police. It would also keep the rule that the Bureau of Prisons must provide escorts so a female inmate can get services outside a federal prison.
No DOJ settlements forcing donations
If enacted, DOJ staff paid with these funds could not negotiate settlements that require defendants to donate money to any organization or individual. This would apply upon enactment.
No DOJ suits blocking state border steps
If enacted, DOJ could not use these funds to sue a State under the Rivers and Harbors Act for border security measures. This would lower that lawsuit risk for states.
Veterans with fiduciaries not auto-listed
If enacted, DOJ could not add a veteran’s personal information to the gun‑check system (NICS) just because the VA pays benefits to a fiduciary. This would protect veterans with VA‑appointed fiduciaries from automatic listing.
NOAA can accept support and permitting fees
If enacted, NOAA could accept grants, equipment, and services from other governments and keep funds it receives for permitting and related regulatory work. Those permitting funds would stay available through September 30, 2027. This could help move permits faster and support operations.
Pause on enforcing a Commerce trade rule
If enacted, funds could not be used to enforce Commerce’s rule on suspending liquidation, duties, and estimated duties under Proclamation 10414. Importers would face lower enforcement risk tied to that rule.
Use U.S. ships for Antarctic research
If enacted, the National Science Foundation could not use these funds to lease or charter a foreign-flagged vessel for U.S. Antarctic research if a suitable U.S.-built vessel is available. This would favor U.S. shipbuilders and contractors.
No DOJ-paid fees for some immigrants
If enacted, DOJ could not use these funds to pay court costs or agency adjudication fees for individuals who entered in violation of 8 U.S.C. 1325(a) or 1326(a). Affected people would need other funding for those costs.
DOJ funds cannot pay for abortions
If enacted, DOJ money from this bill could not pay for abortions except to save the mother’s life or in cases of rape or incest. The rule would be void if a court finds it unconstitutional.
No federal money for union operations
If enacted, money in this bill could not pay for federal employee union operations or expenses. Unions representing federal workers would lose federal support from these funds.
No funds for Environmental Justice office
If enacted, federal money could not create or run an Office of Environmental Justice. This would block funding for that office.
No help for exports to Cuban military
If enacted, money in this bill could not be used to license, promote, or support exports to the Cuban military or intelligence services, their officers, or immediate family. Exports allowed under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act would not be affected.
Oyster funds tied to harvest and plans
If enacted, federal money for oyster work in the Chesapeake Bay would be allowed only if oysters planted are open to managed commercial harvest after three years. Sites that have underperformed for five or more years would also need a new, peer‑reviewed plan certified by Commerce that is likely to meet major outcomes within two years of enactment.
Service charges for Hoover Building occupants
If enacted for FY2026, Commerce could provide utilities, telecom, and security services to people or organizations using space in the Herbert C. Hoover Building or other delegated buildings. It could charge for these services and credit up to $200,000 back to the fund that paid the costs.
Commerce funding shifts and research deals
If enacted, Commerce could move up to 5% between its FY2026 appropriations, but no account could rise by more than 10% from transfers, and all transfers must follow section 505. Commerce would have to notify Congress 15 days before using unobligated expired funds in the Nonrecurring Expenses Fund. Remaining Economics and Statistics Administration funds could be used for cooperative agreements with governments or colleges to support statistical and research work.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rogers (KY)
KY • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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