Trade Related Agencies: FY2019 Appropriations, Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS)

Summary

On February 12, 2018, the Trump Administration submitted its FY2019 budget request to Congress. The proposal includes a total of $590.8 million for three trade-related agencies— the International Trade Administration (ITA), the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), and the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This is 8.9% less than the FY2018 total appropriated amounts for these agencies. The Administration requests reducing funding for all three trade-related agencies. For FY2019, the request includes $440.1 million in direct funding for ITA (an 8.7% decrease from the FY2018 appropriation), $87.6 million for USITC (a 6.5% decrease), and $63.0 million for USTR (a 13.2% decrease).

Congressional Actions

In the spring of 2018, the House and Senate reported FY2019 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bills, which include proposed funding for ITA, USITC, and USTR. The reported bills do not adopt many of the Administration’s budget reductions, and instead propose funding levels that are more similar to the FY2018-enacted amounts.

The House Committee on Appropriations reported H.R. 5952 on May 17, 2018. The House proposal recommends a total of $647.6 million for the three CJS trade-related agencies. This proposal is $56.8 million more (9.6%) than the Administration’s request, and $0.7 million less (-0.1%) than the FY2018 enacted legislation. The House committee proposes $480.0 million in direct funding for ITA, $95.0 million for USTIC, and a total of $72.6 million for USTR, comprised of $57.6 million for salaries and expenses and an additional $15 million from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations reported S. 3072 on June 14, 2018. The Senate committee-reported proposal recommends a total of $655.6 million for the three CJS trade-related agencies. This is $64.8 million (11.0%) more than the Administration’s request, and $7.3 million (1.1%) more than the FY2018 enacted appropriations. The Senate committee proposes $488.0 million in direct funding for ITA, $95 million for USITC, and a total of $72.6 million for USTR, comprised of $57.6 million for salaries and expenses and an additional $15 million from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund.

On September 28, 2018, the President signed into law the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019 (CR) (P.L. 115-245, Division C). The CR provisions continue funding for these agencies (among others) at a prorated 2018 funding level through December 7, 2018.