Summary:
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 - Title I: Department of Transportation - Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2015 - Makes appropriations for FY2015 to the Department of Transportation (DOT), including: (1) the Office of the Secretary, (2) the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), (3) the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), (4) the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), (5) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), (6) the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), (7) the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), (8) the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, (9) the Maritime Administration, (10) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), (11) the Office of Inspector General, and (12) the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

(Sec. 102) Authorizes the DOT's Working Capital fund to provide advanced payments to vendors to carry out the federal transit pass transportation fringe benefit program for federal employees.

(Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to: (1) post on the DOT website a schedule of all Credit Council meetings, including the agenda for each meeting; and (2) require the Council to record the decisions and actions of the meetings.

(Sec. 110) Prohibits the use of funds to compensate more than 600 technical staff-years under the federally funded research and development center contract between the FAA and the Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development during FY2015.

(Sec. 111) Prohibits the use of funds to pursue or adopt guidelines or regulations requiring airport sponsors to provide to the FAA without cost building construction, maintenance, utilities and expenses, or space in airport sponsor-owned buildings for services relating to air traffic control, air navigation, or weather reporting. Exempts from this prohibition any negotiations between the agency and airport sponsors to: (1) achieve agreement on "below-market" rates for these items, or (2) grant assurances that require airport sponsors to provide land without cost to the FAA for air traffic control facilities.

(Sec. 112) Authorizes the FAA Administrator to reimburse amounts made available from certain fees to carry out the Essential Air Service (EAS) program.

(Sec. 113) Requires that amounts collected for safety-related training and operational services to foreign aviation authorities be credited to the appropriation current at the time of collection, to be merged with and available for the same purposes of such appropriation.

(Sec. 114) Prohibits the availability of funds for paying premium pay (pay for Sunday and holiday work) to an FAA employee unless the employee actually performed worked during the time corresponding to such pay.

(Sec. 115) Prohibits the obligation of funds for an FAA employee to purchase a store gift card or gift certificate through use of a government-issued credit card.

(Sec. 116) Prohibits the obligation of funds for retention bonuses for an FAA employee without the prior written approval of the DOT Assistant Secretary for Administration.

(Sec. 117) Prohibits the use of funds to implement, or to continue to implement, any limitation on the ability of a private aircraft owner or operator, upon a request to the FAA Administrator, to block, with respect to its noncommercial flights, the display of the owner's or operator's registration number in the Aircraft Situational Display to Industry data provided by the FAA to the public, unless the data has been made available to a government agency.

(Sec. 118) Prohibits the availability of funds for salaries and expenses of more than nine FAA political and Presidential appointees.

(Sec. 119) Prohibits the use of funds to increase fees the FAA Administrator may assess for the costs of creating, printing and disseminating aeronautical products and services until the FAA provides Congress the aeronautical navigation products report referred to in the explanatory statement described in section 4 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014.

(Sec. 119A) Bars the use of funds to change weight restrictions or prior permission rules at Teterboro airport in Teterboro, New Jersey.

(Sec. 120) Prescribes requirements, including a formula, for certain FY2015 distributions from the obligation limitation for federal-aid highways.

(Sec. 121) Allows crediting to the federal-aid highways account of funds received by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics from the sale of data products to reimburse the Bureau for necessary expenses.

(Sec. 122) Requires the Secretary to make an informal public notice and comment opportunity on the intent of the waiver before waiving any Buy American requirement for federal-aid highway projects.

(Sec. 123) Prohibits the use of funds to approve or authorize the imposition of a toll on any segment of a federal highway in the state of Texas that is not already tolled, is constructed with federal assistance, and is in actual operation.

States that this prohibition does not apply to: (1) any federal-aid system highway segment that will have the same number of nontoll lanes as existed before a toll is imposed, or (2) any high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane converted to a toll lane if an HOV may use the toll lane without paying a toll or the HOV lane was constructed as a temporary lane to be replaced by a toll lane.

(Sec. 124) Prohibits the use of funds to DOT to provide credit assistance (secured or direct loans, loan guarantees, or lines of credit) for eligible infrastructure projects unless the Secretary notifies Congress at least three days before approval of any loan or credit application.

(Sec. 125) Permits the continued operation of trucks on any segment of the U.S. Route 41 corridor in Wisconsin designated as a route on the Interstate System that could operate legally on such segment before that designation without regard to federal weight limitation requirements.

Prohibits application of federal weight limitations to a longer combination vehicle operating on a segment of the Interstate System in Idaho if it: (1) has a gross vehicle weight of 129,000 pounds or less; (2) complies with certain single axle, tandem axle, and bridge formula weight limits; and (3) is authorized to operate on that segment under Idaho law.

Permits the continued operation of trucks on any segment of U.S. Route 78 in Mississippi from mile marker 0 to mile marker 113 that is designated as a route on the Interstate System. Prohibits federal weight limitation requirements from applying to those segments with respect to trucks that could operate legally on them before that designation.

(Sec. 130) Subjects funds appropriated or limited in this Act to certain safety examination and other requirements of the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 and the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 relating to Mexico-domiciled motor carriers involved in cross-border trucking between the United States and Mexico.

(Sec. 131) Requires the FMCSA to send a notice of commercial motor vehicle safety violations, subject to expedited action, by certified mail, registered mail, or another manner of delivery which records the receipt of the notice by the persons responsible for the violations.

(Sec. 140) Makes certain additional funds available to NHTSA, contingent upon reauthorization, to pay for: (1) travel and related expenses for state management reviews, and (2) core competency development training and related expenses for highway safety staff.

(Sec. 141) Declares that certain limitations on obligations for NHTSA programs shall not apply to any obligational authority made available in previous public laws, except to the extent that the obligational authority has not lapsed or been used.

 (Sec. 142) Prohibits the use of funds to implement establishment in the DOT of a National Highway Safety Advisory Committee.

(Sec. 150) Authorizes the Secretary to receive cash or spare parts from non-federal sources to repair damages to or replace federally-owned automated track inspection cars and equipment as a result of third party liability for such damages.

(Sec. 151) Authorizes the Secretary to allow the issuer of any preferred stock heretofore sold to DOT to redeem or repurchase it upon the payment to DOT of an amount the Secretary determines.

(Sec. 152) Bars the use of funds for Amtrak to pay overtime costs in excess of $35,000 for any Amtrak employee.

Authorizes the president of Amtrak to waive such cap in cases where it poses a risk to the safety and operational efficiency of the Amtrak system.

(Sec. 160) Declares that the limitations on obligations for FTA programs shall not apply to any grant authority previously made available for obligation, or to any other authority previously made available for obligation.

(Sec. 161) Declares that funds appropriated by this Act for specified FTA fixed guideway capital investment projects which are not obligated by September 30, 2019, and other recoveries, shall be directed to projects eligible to use the funds for the purposes for which they were originally provided.

(Sec. 162) Authorizes certain transfers of any public transportation funds appropriated before October 1, 2014, that remain available for expenditure.

(Sec. 163) Authorizes the Secretary, when applying project justification and local commitment criteria to a New Starts project, to consider the costs and ridership of any connected project where private parties are making significant financial contributions to the construction of the connected project. Authorizes the Secretary also to consider the significant financial contributions of such parties to the connected project when calculating the non-federal share of net capital project costs for the New Starts project.

(Sec. 164) Bars the use of funds to enter into a full funding grant agreement for a major transit capital project with a New Starts program share greater than 50%.

(Sec. 165) Bars the use of funds to advance in any way a new light or heavy rail project towards a full funding agreement for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, if the proposed capital project is constructed on (or planned to be constructed on) Richmond Avenue west of South Shepherd Drive or on Post Oak Boulevard north of Richmond Avenue in Houston, Texas.

(Sec. 166) Makes unobligated FY2010-FY2012 funds for capital projects for buses and bus-related equipment and facilities available for fixed guideway capital investment projects, subject to specified terms and conditions.

(Sec. 170) Authorizes the Maritime Administration to furnish utilities and services and make necessary repairs in connection with any lease, contract, or occupancy of property under its control.

(Sec. 171) Bars the use of funds by DOT or the Maritime Administration to negotiate or execute, enter into, facilitate or perform fee-for-service contracts for vessel disposal, scrapping, or recycling, unless there is no qualified domestic ship recycler that will pay to purchase and scrap or recycle a vessel owned or operated by the Maritime Administration or that is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet.

(Sec. 182) Prohibits the availability of the funds in this Act for salaries and expenses of more than 110 political and presidential appointees in DOT. Prohibits assignment of any of such appointees on temporary detail outside DOT.

(Sec. 183) Bars recipients of funds made available in this Act from disseminating personal information obtained by a state department of motor vehicles in connection with a motor vehicle record, except as permitted under specified federal criminal law. Prohibits the Secretary, however, from withholding funds for any grantee if a state fails to comply with this prohibition.

(Sec. 185) Requires the Secretary to notify the congressional appropriations committees at least three full business days before announcing any project competitively selected to receive a discretionary grant award, letter of intent, loan commitment, loan guarantee commitment, line of credit commitment, or full funding grant agreement from certain grant programs, including the federal highway emergency relief program, the FAA AIP, any FRA program, any FTA program other than the formula grants and fixed guideway modernization programs, any Maritime Administration program, or any funding for national infrastructure investments.

(Sec. 187) Makes available for reimbursement of recovery costs any recovered funds that the Secretary has determined represent improper DOT payments to a third party contractor under a financial assistance award.

(Sec. 189) Prohibits the use of funds by the STB to charge or collect any filing fee for rate complaints filed with it in an amount in excess of that authorized for district court civil suit filing fees under the federal judicial code.

(Sec. 190) Authorizes the obligation of funds appropriated to the modal administrations for the Office of the Secretary for costs related to assessments or reimbursable agreements only when such amounts are for the costs of goods or services purchased to provide a direct benefit to such administrations.

(Sec. 191) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a program to establish uniform standards for developing and supporting agency transit pass and transit benefits, including distribution of such benefits by various paper and electronic media.

(Sec. 192) Prohibits the STB from using funds under this Act to take any actions to construct a high-speed rail project in California unless it has jurisdiction over the entire project and the permit to construct the project in its entirety was issued by the STB.

(Sec. 193) Prohibits use of transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program funds made available under this Act to subsidize a credit instrument that would cause the credit subsidy obligated in FY2015 for transportation infrastructure projects in a single state to exceed 33% of the total credit subsidy made available by this Act on October 1, 2014.

(Sec. 194) Bars use of funds made available by this Act to deny an application to renew a Hazardous Materials Safety Program permit for a motor carrier based on that carrier's Hazardous Materials Out-of-Service rate, unless the Secretary determines the carrier's corrective actions or corrective action plan is insufficient to address the safety concerns that resulted in that rate.

(Sec. 195) Makes any unobligated FRA safety and operations funds under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 available for rail safety oversight activities for the transport of energy products.

Makes $10 million of unobligated FRA capital assistance to states for intercity passenger rail service for FY2008-FY2009 available for grade crossing safety improvements on rail routes that transport such products.

Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2015 - Makes appropriations for FY2015 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for: (1) administration, operations, and management; (2) the Office of Public and Indian Housing; (3) the Office of Community Planning and Development; (4) the Office of Housing and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA); (5) the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae); (6) Office of Policy Development and Research; (7) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity; (8) the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes; and (9) the Office of Inspector General.

Rescinds permanently any unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appropriated to HUD for brownfields redevelopment and the Community Development Loan Guarantees Program account.

(Sec. 201) Requires rescission of 50% of the amounts of budget authority (or, in the alternative, remittance to the Treasury of 50% of the associated cash amounts) that are recaptured from certain state-, local government-, or local housing agency-financed projects under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988. Requires such recaptured budget authority or funds, as well as any budget authority or cash recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to the Treasury, to be used by state housing finance agencies or local governments or local housing agencies with HUD-approved projects for which settlement occurred after January 1, 1992.

Authorizes the Secretary of HUD (Secretary in this title), all the same, to award up to 15% of the budget authority or cash recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to the Treasury to provide project owners with incentives to refinance their projects at a lower interest rate.

(Sec. 202) Prohibits the use of funds during FY2015 to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons, including the filing or maintaining of a non-frivolous legal action, that is engaged in solely to achieve or prevent action by a government official or entity, or a court of competent jurisdiction.

(Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to make a grant under certain authority of the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act for any state that received an allocation in a prior fiscal year, but is not otherwise eligible for an FY2015 allocation because the areas in the state outside of qualifying metropolitan statistical areas in FY2015 (modified to reflect revised delineations established by the Office of Management and Budget [OMB] and Executive Order No. 10253) do not have the number of cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) otherwise required.

Prescribes a formula for the allocation of such grants to Jersey City and Paterson, New Jersey.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) adjust the funds allocated for FY2015 under the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act to Wilmington, Delaware, on behalf of the Wilmington, Delaware-Maryland-New Jersey Metropolitan Division; and (2) allocate a portion to the state of New Jersey according to a specified formula.

Directs the Secretary to allocate to Wake County, North Carolina, certain funds that otherwise would be allocated for FY2015 under such Act to Raleigh, North Carolina, on behalf of the Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area (as modified).

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) adjust FY2015 allocations under such Act upon the written request of a grant applicant for a formula allocation on behalf of a metropolitan statistical area (as modified), and (2) designate the state or states in which the metropolitan statistical area is located as the eligible grantee(s) of the allocation.

(Sec. 204) Requires any grant, cooperative agreement, or other assistance made pursuant to this title to be made on a competitive basis and in accordance with the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989.

(Sec. 205) Makes certain funds available, without regard to limitations on administrative expenses, for: (1) legal services on a contract or fee basis; and (2) payment for services and facilities of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Ginnie Mae, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), the Federal Financing Bank, Federal Reserve banks, Federal Home Loan banks, and any bank insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Act.

(Sec. 207) Authorizes any HUD corporations and agencies subject to the Government Corporation Control Act to make expenditures, contracts, and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as necessary to carry out their FY2015 budgets.

(Sec. 208) Directs the Secretary to report quarterly to congressional appropriations committees regarding all uncommitted, unobligated, recaptured, and excess funds in each program and activity within HUD jurisdiction, along with additional, updated budget information upon request.

(Sec. 209) Requires the President's formal budget request for FY2016 and HUD's congressional budget justifications to use the identical account and subaccount structure provided under this Act.

(Sec. 210) Declares that a PHA (or other entity) that administers federal housing assistance for the Housing Authority of the county of Los Angeles, California, or the states of Alaska, Iowa, or Mississippi shall not be required to include a resident of public housing or a recipient of section 8 rental assistance (under the United States Housing Act of 1937) on the agency or entity governing board.

Requires each such PHA (or other entity) that chooses not to include such individuals on its governing board to establish an advisory board, which shall meet at least quarterly, consisting of at least six residents of public housing or section 8 rental assistance recipients.

(Sec. 211) Prohibits the use of funds provided under this title for an audit of Ginnie Mae that applies certain requirements of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.

(Sec. 212) Authorizes the Secretary for FY2015-FY2016, subject to specified conditions, to authorize the transfer of some or all project-based assistance, debt, and statutorily required low-income and very low-income use restrictions, associated with one or more multifamily housing project, to another multifamily housing project or projects.

(Sec. 213) Prohibits any section 8 rental assistance to any individual who: (1) is enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education; (2) is under age 24; (3) is not a veteran; (4) is unmarried; (5) does not have a dependent child; (6) is not a person with disabilities, and was not receiving section 8 assistance as of November 30, 2005; and (7) is not otherwise individually eligible, or has parents who, individually or jointly, are not eligible, to receive such assistance.

Declares that, for section 8 rental assistance eligibility purposes, any financial assistance (in excess of amounts received for tuition) that an individual receives under the Higher Education Act of 1965, from private sources, or an institution of higher education shall be considered income to that individual, except for a person over age 23 with dependent children.

(Sec. 214) Requires that the funds made available for Native American Housing Block Grants in title II of this Act be allocated to the same recipients that received funds in FY2005.

(Sec. 215) Authorizes the Secretary through FY2015 to insure, and enter into commitments to insure, home equity conversion mortgages (HECMs, or reverse mortgages) for elderly homeowners.

(Sec. 216) Requires the Secretary during FY2015, in managing and disposing of any multifamily property that is owned or has a mortgage held by HUD, and during the process of foreclosure on any property with a contract for section 8 rental assistance payments or other federal programs, to maintain any rental assistance payments attached to any dwelling units in the property. Authorizes the Secretary, however, to the extent that such a multifamily property is not feasible for continued payments, based on specified cost, operation, or environmental considerations, to: (1) contract, in consultation with the property's tenants, for project-based rental assistance payments with an owner or owners of other existing housing properties; or (2) provide other rental assistance.

(Sec. 217) Authorizes the use of Community Development Loan Guarantee funds in FY2015 to guarantee, or make commitments to guarantee, notes or other obligations issued by any state on behalf of its non-entitlement communities.

(Sec. 218) Authorizes PHAs that own and operate 400 or fewer public housing units to elect to be exempt from any asset management requirements imposed by the Secretary in connection with the operating fund rule.

Prohibits exemption from such requirements, however, for an agency seeking a discontinuance of a reduction of subsidy under the operating fund formula.

(Sec. 219) Prohibits the Secretary, with respect to the use of funds for the operation, capital improvement, and management of public housing authorized by the United States Housing Act of 1937, from imposing any asset management requirement or guideline that restricts or limits in any way the use of capital funds for central office costs.

Prohibits a PHA, however, from using capital funds authorized for eligible operation and management activities with operating funds in excess of specified permitted amounts.

(Sec. 220) Prohibits designation of a HUD official or employee as an allotment holder unless he or she has: (1) implemented an adequate system of funds control, and (2) received training in funds control procedures and directives.

(Sec. 221) Requires the Secretary to report annually to congressional appropriations committees on the status of all section 8 project-based housing, including the number of all project-based units by region, as well as an analysis of all federally subsidized housing being refinanced under the Mark-to-Market program.

(Sec. 222) Requires the Secretary for FY2015 to notify the public through the Federal Register and other appropriate means of the issuance of a notice of the availability of assistance or notice of funding availability (NOFA) for any program or discretionary fund that is to be awarded competitively.

Authorizes the Secretary for such period to make the NOFA available only on the Internet at the appropriate government website or through other electronic media.

(Sec. 223) Requires payment of attorney fees in program-related litigation from individual program office personnel benefits and compensation funding.

(Sec. 225) Considers the HUD-administered Disaster Housing Assistance Programs as a HUD program under the McKinney Act for income verification and matching purposes.

(Sec. 226) Requires the Secretary to take specified actions when a multifamily housing project with a section 8 contract or contract for similar project-based assistance: (1) receives a Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) score of 30 or less; or (2) receives a REAC score between 31 and 59 and fails to certify in writing to HUD, within 60 days, that all deficiencies have been corrected, or receives consecutive scores of less than 60 on REAC inspections.

Applies such requirements to insured and noninsured projects with section 8 rental assistance attached to the units; but not to units receiving PHA project-based assistance under the voucher program, or to public housing units assisted with capital or operating funds.

(Sec. 227) Prohibits during any PHA FY2015 the use of funds, made available for specified purposes of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (including the Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance program), by any PHA for any amount of salary for its chief executive officer, or any other official or employee that exceeds the annual rate of basic pay for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule.

(Sec. 228) Bars the use of funds made available by this Act for the HUD doctoral dissertation research grant program.

(Sec. 229) Bars the use of funds in this Act provided to HUD to make a grant award unless the Secretary notifies congressional appropriations committees at least three full business days before any project, state, locality, housing authority, tribe, nonprofit organization, or other entity selected to receive a grant award is announced by HUD or its offices.

(Sec. 230) Amends the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 to extend through October 1, 2016, the FHA-Insured Multifamily Housing Mortgage and Housing Assistance Program and the Office of Multifamily Housing Assistance Restructuring.

(Sec. 231) Bars the use of funds in this Act to require or enforce the Physical Needs Assessment (PNA).

(Sec. 232) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act or any receipts or amounts collected under any FHA program to implement the Homeowners Armed with Knowledge (HAWK) program.

(Sec. 233) Bars the use of funds made available in this Act by FHA, Ginnie Mae, or HUD to insure, securitize, or establish a federal guarantee of any mortgage or mortgage-backed security that refinances or otherwise replaces a mortgage that has been subject to eminent domain condemnation or seizure, by a state, municipality, or any other local government.

Title III: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY2014 to: (1) the Access Board, (2) the Federal Maritime Commission, (3) the Offices of Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency and for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), (4) the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), (5) the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, and (6) the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Title IV: General Provisions (This Act) - Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act.

(Sec. 401) Prohibits the use of funds for the planning or execution of any program to pay the expenses of, or otherwise compensate, nonfederal parties intervening in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this Act.

(Sec. 404) Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds made available in this Act for any employee training that meets specified negative criteria. Declares that nothing in this prohibition shall prohibit, restrict, or otherwise preclude an agency from conducting training bearing directly upon the performance of official duties.

(Sec. 407) Prohibits the use of funds to support any federal, state, or local projects that seek to use the power of eminent domain, unless eminent domain is employed only for a public use.

(Sec. 408) Requires all federal agencies and departments funded by this Act to report by July 30, 2015, to the congressional appropriations committees on all sole source contracts.

(Sec. 409) Prohibits the transfer of duns made available in this Act to any federal department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this Act or any other appropriations Act.

(Sec. 410) Prohibits payment of the salary from any appropriation under this Act for any person filling a position (other than temporary) formerly held by an employee who has: (1) left to enter the U.S. Armed Forces; (2) satisfactorily completed his or her period of active military or naval service; (3) within 90 days after release from such service, or from hospitalization continuing after discharge for up to one year, applied for restoration to his former position; and (4) been certified by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as still qualified to perform the duties of his or her former position, but not been restored to it.

(Sec. 411) Prohibits the expenditure of funds appropriated under this Act by an entity unless the entity agrees to comply with the Buy American Act.

(Sec. 412) Prohibits the availability of funds to any person or entity that has been convicted of violating the Buy American Act.

(Sec. 413) Prohibits the use of funds under this Act for first-class airline accommodations in contravention of specified federal regulations.

(Sec. 414) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to any corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless the agency has: (1) considered suspension or debarment of the corporation, and (2) made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect government interests.

(Sec. 415) Makes the same prohibition as in Sec. 414 with respect to any corporation with any unpaid federal tax liability that is not being paid in a timely manner, where the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax liability, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and determined that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the government.

(Sec. 416) Declares that the amount by which the applicable allocation of new budget authority made by the House Committee on Appropriations exceeds the amount of proposed new budget authority is $0.

(Sec. 417) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to require or carry out the relocation of any asset management positions of the HUD Office of Multifamily Housing in existence as of enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 418) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act in contravention of the 5th or 14th Amendment to the Constitution or title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

(Sec. 419) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to approve a new foreign air carrier permit, or an application for exemption from a permit, for an air carrier already holding an air operators certificate issued by a country that is party to the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport Agreement, where approval would contravene U.S. law or the Agreement.

(Sec. 420) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act for FTA Transit Formula Grants in contravention of fixed guideway capital investment grant requirements.

(Sec. 421) Prohibits the use of funds made available by title II of this Act to repay any loan made, guaranteed, or insured by HUD.

(Sec. 422) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to contract with any offeror, or any of its principals, if the offeror certifies that within the three years preceding the offer the offeror or any of its principals:

 has been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against it for fraud or a criminal offense in connection with a federal, state, or local government contract or subcontract, violation of federal or state antitrust statutes relating to the submission of offers, or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, tax evasion, violating federal criminal tax laws, or receiving stolen property; are presently indicted for, or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity with, commission of any of these offenses; or has been notified of any delinquent federal taxes exceeding $3,000 for which the liability remains unsatisfied. (Sec. 423) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to develop or implement any rule to modify the citizenship criteria applied to determine whether a person is eligible to be an operator (including a ship manager or agent) of a vessel in the National Defense Reserve Fleet.

Sec. 424. Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to administer the NHTSA National Roadside Survey.

(Sec. 425) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to develop, issue, or implement regulations that increase levels of minimum financial responsibility for transporting passengers or property as in effect on January 1, 2014, under specified federal regulations.

(Sec. 426) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to implement, administer, or enforce the proposed HUD rule entitled "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing."

(Sec. 427) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to acquire a camera for the purpose of collecting or storing vehicle license plate numbers.

(Sec. 428) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act for the Housing Trust Fund.

(Sec. 429) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to contract with any person whose disclosures of a criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding, with a disposition listed in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, refer to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

(Sec. 430) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to terminate the status of a unit of general local government as a metropolitan city with respect to community development grants under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

(Sec. 431) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to make incentive payments to contractors for contracts that are behind schedule or over a specified contract amount.

(Sec. 432) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to promulgate, implement, or enforce any regulations that would require Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking or event data recorders in light-duty noncommercial passenger motor vehicles.

(Sec. 433) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to provide mortgage insurance for any mortgage on a 1- to 4-family dwelling to be used as the principal residence of a mortgagor who provides only an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) for identification.

(Sec. 434) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to contract with any incorporated entity whose sealed bid or competitive proposal shows that the entity is incorporated or chartered in Bermuda or the Cayman Islands, if the sealed bid or competitive proposal also shows that the entity was previously incorporated in the United States.

(Sec. 435) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act in contravention of Amtrak's general authority.

(Sec. 436) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to support Amtrak's route with the highest loss, measured by contributions/(Loss) per Rider, as based on the National Railroad Passenger Corporation Fiscal Years 2013-2017 Five Year Plan from May 2013.

(Sec. 437) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act by the Secretary or the FTA to implement, administer, or enforce, for construction hiring purposes, the federal regulation requiring grantees and subgrantees to conduct procurements in a manner that prohibits the use of statutorily or administratively imposed in-state or local geographical preferences in the evaluation of bids or proposals, except where applicable federal statutes expressly mandate or encourage geographic preference.

(Sec. 438) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to lease or purchase new light duty vehicles for any executive fleet, or for an agency's fleet inventory, except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum: Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011.

Sec. 439. Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act for high-speed rail in California or for the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

(Sec. 440) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to implement, administer, or enforce a certain regulation authorizing the Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Public and Indian Housing to approve the request of a local Public Housing Agency (PHA) to raise the payment standard of "section 8" rental assistance Housing Choice Vouchers, for the total area of a county, PHA jurisdiction, or place, above 120% of the published fair market rental amount.

transportation housing_and_urban_development related agencies appropriations act title department_of_transportation department_of_transportation appropriations act makes appropriations fy2015 department_of_transportation dot including office_of_the_secretary federal_aviation_administration faa federal_highway_administration fhwa federal_motor_carrier_safety_administration fmcsa national_highway_traffic_safety_administration nhtsa federal_railroad_administration fra federal_transit_administration fta saint lawrence seaway development corporation maritime_administration pipeline_and_hazardous_materials_safety_administration phmsa office_of_inspector_general surface_transportation_board stb sec authorizes dot working capital_fund provide advanced payments vendors carry federal transit pass transportation fringe benefit program federal employees sec directs secretary post dot website schedule credit council meetings including agenda meeting require council record decisions actions meetings sec prohibits use funds compensate technical staff years federally funded research development center contract faa center advanced aviation systems development fy2015 sec prohibits use funds pursue adopt guidelines regulations requiring airport sponsors provide faa cost building construction maintenance utilities expenses space airport sponsor owned buildings services relating air traffic control air navigation weather reporting exempts prohibition negotiations agency airport sponsors achieve agreement market rates items grant assurances require airport sponsors provide land cost faa air traffic control facilities sec authorizes faa_administrator reimburse amounts available certain fees carry essential_air_service eas program sec requires amounts collected safety related training operational services foreign aviation authorities credited appropriation current time collection merged available purposes appropriation sec prohibits availability funds paying premium pay pay sunday holiday work faa employee employee actually performed worked time corresponding pay sec prohibits obligation funds faa employee purchase store gift card gift certificate use government issued credit card sec prohibits obligation funds retention bonuses faa employee prior written approval dot assistant secretary administration sec prohibits use funds implement continue implement limitation ability private aircraft owner operator request faa_administrator block respect noncommercial flights display owner operator registration number aircraft situational display industry data provided faa public data available government agency sec prohibits availability funds salaries expenses faa political presidential appointees sec prohibits use funds increase fees faa_administrator assess costs creating printing disseminating aeronautical products services faa provides congress aeronautical navigation products report referred explanatory statement described section consolidated_appropriations_act sec bars use funds change weight restrictions prior permission rules airport new_jersey sec prescribes requirements including formula certain fy2015 distributions obligation limitation federal aid highways sec allows crediting federal aid highways account funds received bureau transportation statistics sale data products reimburse bureau necessary expenses sec requires secretary informal public notice comment opportunity intent waiver waiving buy american requirement federal aid highway projects sec prohibits use funds approve authorize imposition toll segment federal highway state texas tolled constructed federal assistance actual operation states prohibition apply federal aid system highway segment number lanes existed toll imposed high occupancy vehicle hov lane converted toll lane hov use toll lane paying toll hov lane constructed temporary lane replaced toll lane sec prohibits use funds dot provide credit assistance secured direct_loans loan guarantees lines credit eligible infrastructure projects secretary notifies congress days approval loan credit application sec permits continued operation trucks segment route corridor wisconsin designated route interstate system operate legally segment designation regard federal weight limitation requirements prohibits application federal weight limitations longer combination vehicle operating segment interstate system idaho gross vehicle weight pounds complies certain single bridge formula weight limits authorized operate segment idaho law permits continued operation trucks segment route mississippi mile marker mile marker designated route interstate system prohibits federal weight limitation requirements applying segments respect trucks operate legally designation sec subjects funds appropriated limited act certain safety examination requirements department_of_transportation related agencies appropriations act troop readiness veterans care katrina_recovery iraq_accountability_appropriations_act relating mexico domiciled motor carriers involved cross border united_states mexico sec requires fmcsa send notice commercial motor vehicle safety violations subject expedited action certified mail registered mail manner delivery records receipt notice persons responsible violations sec makes certain additional funds available nhtsa contingent reauthorization pay travel related expenses state management reviews core competency development training related expenses highway safety staff sec declares certain limitations obligations nhtsa programs shall apply obligational authority available previous public laws extent obligational authority lapsed sec prohibits use funds implement establishment dot national highway safety advisory_committee sec authorizes secretary receive cash spare parts non federal sources repair damages replace federally owned automated track inspection cars equipment result party liability damages sec authorizes secretary allow issuer preferred stock sold dot redeem repurchase payment dot secretary determines sec bars use funds amtrak pay overtime costs excess amtrak employee authorizes president amtrak waive cap cases poses risk safety operational efficiency amtrak system sec declares limitations obligations fta programs shall apply grant authority previously available obligation authority previously available obligation sec declares funds appropriated act specified fta fixed guideway capital investment projects obligated september recoveries shall directed projects eligible use funds purposes originally provided sec authorizes certain transfers public transportation funds appropriated october remain available expenditure sec authorizes secretary applying project justification local commitment criteria new starts project consider costs ridership connected project private parties making significant financial contributions construction connected project authorizes secretary consider significant financial contributions parties connected project calculating non federal share net capital project costs new starts project sec bars use funds enter funding grant agreement major transit capital project new starts program share greater sec bars use funds advance way new light heavy rail project funding agreement metropolitan transit authority county texas proposed capital project constructed planned constructed avenue west south drive post oak boulevard north avenue houston texas sec makes unobligated fy2010 fy2012 funds capital projects buses bus related equipment facilities available fixed guideway capital investment projects subject specified terms conditions sec authorizes maritime_administration furnish utilities services necessary repairs connection lease contract occupancy property control sec bars use funds dot maritime_administration negotiate execute enter facilitate perform fee service contracts vessel disposal recycling qualified domestic ship pay purchase recycle vessel owned operated maritime_administration national_defense_reserve_fleet sec prohibits availability funds act salaries expenses political presidential appointees dot prohibits assignment appointees temporary detail outside dot sec bars recipients funds available act disseminating personal information obtained state_department motor vehicles connection motor vehicle record permitted specified federal criminal law prohibits secretary withholding funds grantee state fails comply prohibition sec requires secretary notify congressional appropriations committees business days announcing project competitively selected receive discretionary grant award letter intent loan commitment loan guarantee commitment line credit commitment funding grant agreement certain grant programs including federal highway emergency relief program faa aip fra program fta program formula_grants fixed guideway modernization programs maritime_administration program funding national infrastructure investments sec makes available reimbursement recovery costs recovered funds secretary determined represent improper dot payments party contractor financial assistance award sec prohibits use funds stb charge collect filing fee rate complaints filed excess authorized district_court civil suit filing fees federal judicial code sec authorizes obligation funds appropriated modal administrations office_of_the_secretary costs related assessments reimbursable agreements amounts costs goods services purchased provide direct benefit administrations sec authorizes secretary carry program establish uniform standards developing supporting agency transit pass transit benefits including distribution benefits paper electronic media sec prohibits stb funds act actions construct high speed rail project california jurisdiction entire project permit construct project entirety issued stb sec prohibits use transportation infrastructure finance innovation tifia program funds available act subsidize credit instrument cause credit subsidy obligated fy2015 transportation infrastructure projects single state exceed total credit subsidy available act october sec bars use funds available act deny application renew hazardous materials safety program permit motor carrier based carrier hazardous materials service rate secretary determines carrier corrective actions corrective action plan insufficient address safety concerns resulted rate sec makes unobligated fra safety operations funds consolidated_appropriations_act available rail safety oversight activities transport energy products makes million unobligated fra capital assistance states intercity passenger rail service fy2008 fy2009 available grade crossing safety improvements rail routes transport products title department_of_housing_and_urban_development department_of_housing_and_urban_development appropriations act makes appropriations fy2015 department_of_housing_and_urban_development hud administration operations management office public indian housing office community planning development office housing federal_housing_administration fha government_national_mortgage_association ginnie_mae office policy development research office fair housing equal opportunity office lead hazard control healthy homes office_of_inspector_general rescinds permanently unobligated balances including carryover remaining funds appropriated hud brownfields redevelopment community development loan guarantees program account sec requires rescission amounts budget authority alternative remittance treasury associated cash amounts certain state- local local housing agency financed projects mckinney homeless assistance amendments act requires budget authority funds budget authority cash rescinded remitted treasury state housing finance agencies local governments local housing agencies hud approved projects settlement occurred january authorizes secretary hud secretary title award budget authority cash rescinded remitted treasury provide project owners incentives refinance projects lower interest rate sec prohibits use funds fy2015 investigate prosecute fair housing act lawful activity engaged persons including filing maintaining non frivolous legal action engaged solely achieve prevent action government official entity court competent jurisdiction sec directs secretary grant certain authority aids housing opportunity act state received allocation prior fiscal year eligible fy2015 allocation areas state outside qualifying metropolitan statistical areas fy2015 modified reflect revised established office_of_management_and_budget omb executive order number cases acquired immunodeficiency syndrome aids required prescribes formula allocation grants city new_jersey requires secretary adjust funds allocated fy2015 aids housing opportunity act wilmington delaware behalf wilmington delaware maryland new_jersey metropolitan division allocate portion state new_jersey according specified formula directs secretary allocate wake county north_carolina certain funds allocated fy2015 act north_carolina behalf north_carolina metropolitan_statistical_area modified authorizes secretary adjust fy2015 allocations act written request grant applicant formula allocation behalf metropolitan_statistical_area modified designate state states metropolitan_statistical_area located eligible allocation sec requires grant cooperative agreement assistance pursuant title competitive basis accordance department_of_housing_and_urban_development reform_act sec makes certain funds available regard limitations administrative expenses legal services contract fee basis payment services facilities federal_national_mortgage_association fannie_mae ginnie_mae federal_home_loan_mortgage_corporation freddie_mac federal financing bank federal_reserve_banks federal_home_loan_banks bank insured federal_deposit_insurance_corporation act sec authorizes hud corporations agencies subject government corporation control act expenditures contracts commitments regard fiscal year limitations necessary carry fy2015 budgets sec directs secretary report quarterly congressional appropriations committees unobligated excess funds program activity hud jurisdiction additional updated budget information request sec requires president formal budget request fy2016 hud congressional_budget justifications use identical account subaccount structure provided act sec declares pha entity administers federal_housing assistance housing authority county los_angeles california states alaska iowa mississippi shall required include resident public housing recipient section rental assistance united_states_housing_act agency entity governing_board requires pha entity chooses include individuals governing_board establish advisory_board shall meet quarterly consisting residents public housing section rental assistance recipients sec prohibits use funds provided title audit ginnie_mae applies certain requirements federal credit reform_act sec authorizes secretary fy2015 fy2016 subject specified conditions authorize transfer project based assistance debt statutorily required low income low income use restrictions associated multifamily housing project multifamily housing project projects sec prohibits section rental assistance individual enrolled student institution higher education age veteran unmarried dependent child person disabilities receiving section assistance november individually eligible parents individually jointly eligible receive assistance declares section rental assistance eligibility purposes financial assistance excess amounts received tuition individual receives higher education act private sources institution higher education shall considered income individual person age dependent children sec requires funds available native american housing block grants title act allocated recipients received funds sec authorizes secretary fy2015 insure enter commitments insure home equity conversion mortgages reverse mortgages elderly homeowners sec requires secretary fy2015 managing disposing multifamily property owned mortgage held hud process foreclosure property contract section rental assistance payments federal programs maintain rental assistance payments attached dwelling units property authorizes secretary extent multifamily property feasible continued payments based specified cost operation environmental considerations contract consultation property tenants project based rental assistance payments owner owners existing housing properties provide rental assistance sec authorizes use community development loan guarantee funds fy2015 guarantee commitments guarantee notes obligations issued state behalf non entitlement communities sec authorizes phas operate fewer public housing units elect exempt asset management requirements imposed secretary connection operating fund rule prohibits exemption requirements agency seeking discontinuance reduction subsidy operating fund formula sec prohibits secretary respect use funds operation capital improvement management public housing authorized united_states_housing_act imposing asset management requirement guideline restricts limits way use capital funds central office costs prohibits pha capital funds authorized eligible operation management activities operating funds excess specified permitted amounts sec prohibits designation hud official employee allotment holder implemented adequate system funds control received training funds control procedures directives sec requires secretary report annually congressional appropriations committees status section project based housing including number project based units region analysis federally subsidized housing refinanced mark market program sec requires secretary fy2015 notify public federal_register appropriate means issuance notice availability assistance notice funding availability program discretionary fund awarded competitively authorizes secretary period available internet appropriate government website electronic media sec requires payment attorney fees program related litigation individual program_office personnel benefits compensation funding sec considers hud administered disaster housing assistance programs hud program mckinney act income verification matching purposes sec requires secretary specified actions multifamily housing project section contract contract similar project based assistance receives real estate assessment center score receives score fails certify writing hud days deficiencies corrected receives consecutive scores inspections applies requirements insured noninsured projects section rental assistance attached units units receiving pha project based assistance voucher program public housing units assisted capital operating funds sec prohibits pha fy2015 use funds available specified purposes united_states_housing_act including section tenant based rental assistance program pha salary chief executive officer official employee exceeds annual rate basic pay position level executive schedule sec bars use funds available act hud doctoral research grant program sec bars use funds act provided hud grant award secretary notifies congressional appropriations committees business days project state locality housing authority tribe nonprofit organization entity selected receive grant award announced hud offices sec amends multifamily assisted housing reform affordability act extend october fha insured multifamily housing mortgage housing assistance program office multifamily housing assistance restructuring sec bars use funds act require enforce physical needs assessment sec prohibits use funds available act receipts amounts collected fha program implement homeowners armed knowledge program sec bars use funds available act fha ginnie_mae hud insure securitize establish federal guarantee mortgage mortgage backed security refinances replaces mortgage subject eminent domain condemnation seizure state municipality local government title iii related agencies makes appropriations fy2014 access board federal_maritime_commission offices inspector_general federal_housing_finance_agency national_railroad_passenger_corporation amtrak national_transportation_safety_board ntsb neighborhood_reinvestment_corporation interagency council homelessness title general_provisions act specifies certain uses limits prohibitions use funds appropriated act sec prohibits use funds planning execution program pay expenses compensate nonfederal parties intervening regulatory adjudicatory proceedings funded act sec prohibits obligation expenditure funds available act employee training meets specified negative criteria declares prohibition shall prohibit restrict preclude agency conducting training bearing directly performance official duties sec prohibits use funds support federal state local projects seek use power eminent domain eminent domain employed public use sec requires federal agencies departments funded act report july congressional appropriations committees sole source contracts sec prohibits transfer available act federal department agency instrumentality united_states_government pursuant transfer transfer authority provided act appropriations act sec prohibits payment salary appropriation act person filling position temporary held employee left enter armed_forces satisfactorily completed period active military naval service days release service hospitalization continuing discharge year applied restoration position certified office_of_personnel_management opm qualified perform duties position restored sec prohibits expenditure funds appropriated act entity entity agrees comply buy_american_act sec prohibits availability funds person entity convicted violating buy_american_act sec prohibits use funds act class airline accommodations contravention specified federal regulations sec prohibits use funds available act enter contract memorandum understanding cooperative agreement grant provide loan loan guarantee corporation convicted felony criminal violation federal law preceding months awarding agency aware conviction agency considered suspension debarment corporation determination action necessary protect government interests sec makes prohibition sec respect corporation unpaid federal tax liability paid timely manner awarding agency aware unpaid tax liability agency considered suspension debarment corporation determined action necessary protect interests government sec declares applicable allocation new budget authority house_committee appropriations exceeds proposed new budget authority sec prohibits use funds available act require carry relocation asset management positions hud office multifamily housing existence enactment act sec prohibits use funds available act contravention amendment constitution title civil rights act sec prohibits use funds available act approve new foreign air carrier permit application exemption permit air carrier holding air operators certificate issued country party norway air transport agreement approval law agreement sec prohibits use funds available act fta transit formula_grants contravention fixed guideway capital investment grant requirements sec prohibits use funds available title act repay loan guaranteed insured hud sec prohibits use funds available act contract offeror principals offeror certifies years preceding offer offeror principals convicted civil judgment rendered fraud criminal offense connection federal state local government contract subcontract violation federal state antitrust statutes relating submission offers commission embezzlement theft bribery falsification destruction records making false statements tax evasion violating federal criminal tax laws receiving stolen property presently indicted criminally civilly charged governmental entity commission offenses notified delinquent federal taxes exceeding liability remains sec prohibits use funds available act develop implement rule modify citizenship criteria applied determine person eligible operator including ship manager agent vessel national_defense_reserve_fleet sec prohibits use funds available act administer nhtsa national survey sec prohibits use funds available act develop issue implement regulations increase levels minimum financial responsibility transporting passengers property effect january specified federal regulations sec prohibits use funds available act implement administer enforce proposed hud rule entitled affirmatively furthering fair housing sec prohibits use funds available act acquire camera purpose collecting storing vehicle license numbers sec prohibits use funds available act housing_trust_fund sec prohibits use funds available act contract person disclosures criminal civil administrative proceeding disposition listed federal awardee performance integrity information system refer fair labor standards act sec prohibits use funds available act terminate status unit general local government metropolitan city respect community development grants housing_and_community_development_act sec prohibits use funds available act incentive payments contractors contracts schedule specified contract sec prohibits use funds available act promulgate implement enforce regulations require global_positioning_system gps tracking event data recorders light duty noncommercial passenger motor vehicles sec prohibits use funds available act provide mortgage insurance mortgage family dwelling principal residence mortgagor provides individual taxpayer identification number itin identification sec prohibits use funds available act contract incorporated entity sealed bid competitive proposal shows entity incorporated chartered bermuda islands sealed bid competitive proposal shows entity previously incorporated united_states sec prohibits use funds available act contravention amtrak general authority sec prohibits use funds available act support amtrak route highest loss measured rider based national_railroad_passenger_corporation fiscal years year plan sec prohibits use funds available act secretary fta implement administer enforce construction hiring purposes federal regulation requiring grantees subgrantees conduct procurements manner prohibits use statutorily administratively imposed state local geographical preferences evaluation bids proposals applicable federal statutes expressly mandate encourage geographic preference sec prohibits use funds available act lease purchase new light duty vehicles executive fleet agency fleet inventory accordance presidential memorandum federal fleet performance dated sec prohibits use funds available act high speed rail california california high speed rail authority sec prohibits use funds available act implement administer enforce certain regulation authorizing assistant secretary housing_and_urban_development public indian housing approve request local public housing agency pha raise payment standard section rental assistance housing choice vouchers total area county pha jurisdiction place published fair market rental


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 - Title I: Agricultural Programs - Appropriates FY2015 funds for the following Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and services: (1) Office of the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary); (2) Office of the Chief Economist; (3) National Appeals Division; (4) Office of Budget and Program Analysis; (5) Office of the Chief Information Officer; (6) Office of the Chief Financial Officer; (7) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; (8) Office of Civil Rights; (9) agriculture buildings and facilities; (10) hazardous materials management; (11) Office of Inspector General; (12) Office of the General Counsel; (13) Office of Ethics; (14) Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; (15) Economic Research Service; (16) National Agricultural Statistics Service; (17) Agricultural Research Service; (18) National Institute of Food and Agriculture; (19) Native American Institutions Endowment Fund; (20) extension and integrated activities; (21) Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; (22) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (23) Agricultural Marketing Service; (24) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; (25) Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety; (26) Food Safety and Inspection Service; (27) Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; (28) Farm Service Agency; (29) Risk Management Agency; (30) Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund; and (31) Commodity Credit Corporation Fund.

Title II: Conservation Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and (2) Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Title III: Rural Development Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development, (2) Rural Housing Service, (3) Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and (4) Rural Utilities Service.

Title IV: Domestic Food Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; and (2) Food and Nutrition Service.

Title V: Foreign Assistance and Related Programs - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) the Foreign Agricultural Service, (2) Food for Peace Act (P.L. 480) program title I and title II grants, (3) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) export loan credit guarantee program, and (4) the McGovern-Dole international food for education and child nutrition program.

Title VI: Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration - Appropriates funds for the following: (1) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and (2) Farm Credit Administration (FCA).

Title VII: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act.

(Sec. 702) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer unobligated balances to the Working Capital Fund for plant and capital equipment acquisition, which shall remain available until expended.

(Sec. 703) Prohibits appropriations under this Act from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly provided for.

(Sec. 704) Limits negotiated indirect costs on cooperative agreements between USDA and nonprofit organizations to 10%.

(Sec. 705) Makes USDA appropriations for direct and guaranteed loans available for: (1) the Rural Development Loan Fund program account, (2) the Rural Electrification and Telecommunication Loans program account, and (3) the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account.

(Sec. 706) Prohibits funds made available to USDA under this Act from being used to acquire new information technology systems or significant upgrades without the approval of the Chief Information Officer and the concurrence of the Executive Information Technology Investment Review Board.

(Sec. 707) Makes funds available in the current fiscal year for agricultural management assistance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act and for specified conservation programs under the Food Security Act of 1985 until expended for current fiscal year obligations.

(Sec. 708) Makes eligible for economic development and job creation assistance under the Rural Electrification Act in the same manner as a borrower under such Act any former Rural Utilities Service borrower that has repaid or prepaid an insured, direct, or guaranteed loan under such Act, or any not-for-profit utility that is eligible to receive an insured or direct loan under such Act.

(Sec. 709) Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances for the tree assistance program.

(Sec. 710) Makes unobligated balances for salaries and expenses for the Farm Service Agency and the Rural Development mission area under this Act available for information technology expenses through September 30, 2016.

(Sec. 711) Authorizes the Secretary to permit a state agency to use funds provided in this Act to exceed a specified maximum amount of liquid infant formula when issuing liquid infant formula to participants.

(Sec. 712) Prohibits first-class travel by employees of agencies funded under this Act.

(Sec. 713) States that with regard to certain programs established or amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014 to be carried out using CCC funds: (1) such funds shall be available for salaries and administrative expenses without regard to certain allotment and fund transfer limits, and (2) the use of such funds shall not be considered to be a fund transfer or allotment for purposes of applying such limits.

(Sec. 714) Limits funds made available in FY2015 or preceding fiscal years under P.L. 480 to reimburse the CCC for the release of certain commodities under the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act.

(Sec. 715) Limits funds available for USDA advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces.

(Sec. 716) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to pay indirect costs charged against any agricultural research, education, or extension grant awards issued by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture that exceed 30% of total federal funds provided under each award.

(Sec. 717) Limits the use of funds for the:

 watershed rehabilitation program; environmental quality incentives program; agricultural conservation easement program; conservation stewardship program; biomass crop assistance program; rural energy for America program; and biorefinery, renewable chemical and biobased product manufacturing assistance program. (Sec. 718) Limits FY2015 funds for the following domestic food assistance categories: (1) child nutrition program entitlement commodities, (2) state option contracts, and (3) defective commodity removal.

Limits funds for the fresh fruit and vegetable program until October 1, 2015.

Rescinds specified unobligated balances available in FY2015 for domestic food assistance.

(Sec. 719) Prohibits the use of funds for user fee proposals that fail to provide certain budget impact information.

(Sec. 720) Prohibits, without congressional notification, funds available under this Act or under previous appropriations Acts from being used through a reprogramming of funds to: (1) eliminate or create a new program, (2) relocate or reorganize an office or employees, (3) privatize federal employee functions, or (4) increase funds or personnel for any project for which funds have been denied or restricted.

Prohibits, without congressional notification, funds available under this Act or under previous appropriations Acts from being used through a reprogramming of funds in excess of $500,000 or 10%, whichever is less: (1) to augment an existing program, (2) to reduce by 10% funding or personnel for any existing program, or (3) that results from a reduction in personnel which would result in a change in existing programs.

(Sec. 721) Authorizes the Secretary to assess a one-time fee for any guaranteed business and industry loan that does not exceed 3% of the guaranteed principal portion of the loan.

(Sec. 722) Prohibits USDA or FDA funds from being used to transmit to any non-USDA or non-Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee questions or responses to questions that are a result of information requested for the appropriations hearing process.

(Sec. 723) Prohibits the use of funds under this Act by any executive branch entity to produce a prepackaged news story for U.S. broadcast or distribution unless it contains audio or text notice that it was produced or funded by such executive entity.

(Sec. 724) Requires USDA agencies to reimburse each other for employees detailed for longer than 30 days.

(Sec. 725) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to provide nonrecourse marketing assistance loans for mohair.

(Sec. 726) Directs the Secretary, the FDA Commissioner, and the FCA Chairman to submit to Congress a spending plan by program, project, and activity for the funds made available under this Act.

(Sec. 727) Makes specified funds available for assistance to recipient nations only if adequate controls are in place to ensure that emergency food aid is received by the intended beneficiaries and not otherwise diverted.

(Sec. 728) Directs the Secretary to: (1) continue the pilot program in effect for FY2013 for packaging direct loans for single family rural housing, and (2) enter into additional agreements that increase the number of participating intermediary organizations to at least 10.

(Sec. 729) Authorizes the Secretary to increase by up to 25% the program level for certain loans and loan guarantees that do not require budget authority.

(Sec. 730) Prohibits the use of funds to write, prepare, or publish a final or interim rule in furtherance of the proposed USDA rule "Implementation of Regulations Required Under Title XI, of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008; Conduct in Violation of the Act" unless the combined annual cost to the economy of such rule does not exceed $100 million.

(Sec. 731) Declares that certain credit card refunds or rebates transferred to the Working Capital Fund: (1) shall not be made available for obligation without congressional notification and approval; but (2) shall be available for obligation only for the acquisition of plant and capital equipment necessary for the delivery of financial, administrative, and information technology services of primary benefit to USDA agencies.

(Sec. 732) Prohibits funds under this Act from from being used for a project or program named for an individual serving as a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the U.S. House of Representatives.

(Sec. 733) Provides that beginning with FY2014, losses under the supplemental agricultural disaster assistance program shall not be considered the "same loss" for purposes of the noninsured crop assistance program and the crop insurance program. (Thus making a loss eligible for benefits under the supplemental agricultural assistance program and the other programs.)

(Sec. 734) Provides that: (1) certain funds for the FDA shall not be available for obligation until the FDA finalizes a specified draft guidance; and (2) if the FDA fails to finalize such guidance by June 30, 2015, the funds shall be made available to assist federal, state, and local agencies combat the diversion and illegal sales of controlled substances.

(Sec. 735) Prohibits the use of funds under this Act to enter into specified transactions with, or provide a grant, loan or loan guarantee to, a corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and determined that such action is not necessary to protect the government's interests.

(Sec. 736) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to enter into specified transactions with, or provide a grant, loan, or loan guarantee to, any corporation with any unpaid federal tax liability, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner, where the awarding agency is aware of this unpaid tax liability.

Waives this prohibition if the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and determined that such an action is not necessary to protect the government's interests.

(Sec. 737) Limits funds available for repair or replacement of bulk fuel storage tanks in Alaska that are not in compliance with applicable federal or state law.

(Sec. 738) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to exclude or restrict the eligibility of any variety of fresh, whole, or cut vegetables, except for vegetables with added sugars, fats, or oils, from being provided as supplemental foods under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC).

(Sec. 739) Directs the Secretary to establish a process by which a state shall grant a compliance waiver for certain USDA regulations regarding nutrition standards in the national school lunch and school breakfast programs for the 2014-2015 school year to any school food authority located in a state that verifies a food service program net loss for a period of at least six months beginning on or after July 1, 2013.

(Sec. 740) Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress:

 celebrates May 8, 2014, as the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act and recognizes the significance of the establishment of a nationwide Cooperative Extension System; honors the university faculty and local educators who help people, families, youth, businesses, and communities solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future; thanks the volunteers who promote excellence for 4-H clubs, the master gardeners program, the family and consumer sciences program, and other Cooperative Extension System programs; and encourages collaboration among federal, state, and local governments to assure Cooperative Extension System sustainability. (Sec. 741) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to inspect horses for slaughter purposes.

(Sec. 742) Prohibits funds under this Act from being used to procure processed poultry products from China for the school lunch program, the child and adult food care program, the summer food service program for children, or the school breakfast program.

(Sec. 743) States that the amount by which the applicable allocation of new budget authority made by the House Committee on Appropriations (under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974) exceeds the amount of proposed new budget authority is $0.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure agriculture rural_development food_and_drug_administration related agencies appropriations act title agricultural programs appropriates fy2015 funds following department_of_agriculture usda programs services office_of_the_secretary agriculture secretary office chief economist national appeals division office budget program analysis office chief information officer office chief financial officer office assistant secretary civil rights office civil rights agriculture buildings facilities hazardous materials management office_of_inspector_general office general counsel office ethics office secretary research education economics economic research service national agricultural statistics service agricultural_research_service national_institute_of_food_and_agriculture native american institutions endowment fund extension integrated activities office secretary marketing regulatory programs animal plant_health_inspection_service agricultural marketing service grain inspection packers administration office secretary food safety food_safety_and_inspection_service office secretary farm foreign agricultural services farm_service_agency risk_management_agency federal_crop_insurance_corporation fund commodity_credit_corporation fund title conservation programs appropriates funds following office secretary natural resources environment natural_resources_conservation_service title iii rural_development programs appropriates funds following office secretary rural_development rural housing service rural business cooperative service rural_utilities_service title domestic food programs appropriates funds following office secretary food nutrition consumer services food nutrition service title foreign assistance related programs appropriates funds following foreign agricultural service food_for_peace_act program title title grants commodity_credit_corporation ccc export loan credit guarantee program mcgovern dole international food education child nutrition program title related agencies food_and_drug_administration appropriates funds following food_and_drug_administration fda farm credit administration title vii general_provisions specifies certain uses limits prohibitions use funds appropriated act sec authorizes secretary transfer unobligated balances working capital_fund plant capital equipment acquisition shall remain available expended sec prohibits appropriations act remaining available obligation current fiscal year expressly provided sec limits negotiated indirect costs cooperative agreements usda nonprofit organizations sec makes usda appropriations direct guaranteed loans available rural_development loan fund program account rural electrification telecommunication loans program account rural housing insurance fund program account sec prohibits funds available usda act acquire new information technology systems significant upgrades approval chief information officer concurrence executive information technology investment review board sec makes funds available current fiscal year agricultural management assistance federal_crop_insurance_act specified conservation programs food security act expended current fiscal year obligations sec makes eligible economic development job creation assistance rural electrification act manner borrower act rural_utilities_service borrower repaid prepaid insured direct guaranteed loan act profit utility eligible receive insured direct_loan act sec rescinds specified funds unobligated balances tree assistance program sec makes unobligated balances salaries expenses farm_service_agency rural_development mission area act available information technology expenses september sec authorizes secretary permit state agency use funds provided act exceed specified maximum liquid infant formula issuing liquid infant formula participants sec prohibits class travel employees agencies funded act sec states regard certain programs established amended agricultural act carried ccc funds funds shall available salaries administrative expenses regard certain allotment fund transfer limits use funds shall considered fund transfer allotment purposes applying limits sec limits funds available fy2015 preceding fiscal years reimburse ccc release certain commodities bill emerson humanitarian trust act sec limits funds available usda advisory committees panels commissions task forces sec prohibits funds act pay indirect costs charged agricultural research education extension grant awards issued national_institute_of_food_and_agriculture exceed total federal funds provided award sec limits use funds watershed rehabilitation program environmental quality incentives program agricultural conservation easement program conservation stewardship program biomass crop assistance program rural energy america program biorefinery renewable chemical biobased product manufacturing assistance program sec limits fy2015 funds following domestic food assistance categories child nutrition program entitlement commodities state option contracts defective commodity removal limits funds fresh fruit vegetable program october rescinds specified unobligated balances available fy2015 domestic food assistance sec prohibits use funds user fee proposals fail provide certain budget impact information sec prohibits congressional notification funds available act previous appropriations acts reprogramming funds eliminate create new program relocate reorganize office employees federal employee functions increase funds personnel project funds denied restricted prohibits congressional notification funds available act previous appropriations acts reprogramming funds excess whichever augment existing program reduce funding personnel existing program results reduction personnel result change existing programs sec authorizes secretary assess time fee guaranteed business industry loan exceed guaranteed principal portion loan sec prohibits usda fda funds transmit non usda non department_of_health_and_human_services hhs employee questions responses questions result information requested appropriations hearing process sec prohibits use funds act executive branch entity produce news story broadcast distribution contains audio text notice produced funded executive entity sec requires usda agencies reimburse employees detailed longer days sec prohibits funds act provide nonrecourse marketing assistance loans sec directs secretary fda commissioner chairman submit congress spending plan program project activity funds available act sec makes specified funds available assistance recipient nations adequate controls place ensure emergency food aid received intended beneficiaries diverted sec directs secretary continue pilot program effect fy2013 packaging direct_loans single family rural housing enter additional agreements increase number participating intermediary organizations sec authorizes secretary increase program level certain loans loan guarantees require budget authority sec prohibits use funds write prepare publish final interim rule furtherance proposed usda rule implementation regulations required title food conservation energy act conduct violation act combined annual cost economy rule exceed million sec declares certain credit card refunds rebates transferred working capital_fund shall available obligation congressional notification approval shall available obligation acquisition plant capital equipment necessary delivery financial administrative information technology services primary benefit usda agencies sec prohibits funds act project program named individual serving member delegate resident commissioner house_of_representatives sec provides beginning fy2014 losses supplemental agricultural disaster assistance program shall considered loss purposes noninsured crop assistance program crop insurance program making loss eligible benefits supplemental agricultural assistance program programs sec provides certain funds fda shall available obligation fda specified draft guidance fda fails finalize guidance june funds shall available assist federal state local agencies combat diversion illegal sales controlled substances sec prohibits use funds act enter specified transactions provide grant loan loan guarantee corporation convicted felony criminal violation federal law preceding months awarding agency aware conviction agency considered suspension debarment corporation determined action necessary protect government interests sec prohibits use funds available act enter specified transactions provide grant loan loan guarantee corporation unpaid federal tax liability judicial administrative remedies exhausted lapsed paid timely manner awarding agency aware unpaid tax liability waives prohibition agency considered suspension debarment corporation determined action necessary protect government interests sec limits funds available repair replacement bulk fuel storage tanks alaska compliance applicable federal state law sec prohibits funds act exclude restrict eligibility variety fresh cut vegetables vegetables added sugars fats oils provided supplemental foods special supplemental nutrition program women infants children wic sec directs secretary establish process state shall grant compliance waiver certain usda regulations nutrition standards national school lunch school breakfast programs school year school food authority located state verifies food service program net loss period months beginning july sec expresses sense congress congress anniversary smith act recognizes significance establishment nationwide cooperative extension system honors university faculty local educators help people families youth businesses communities solve problems develop skills build better future volunteers promote excellence clubs master program family consumer sciences program cooperative extension system programs encourages collaboration federal state local governments assure cooperative extension system sustainability sec prohibits funds act inspect horses slaughter purposes sec prohibits funds act procure processed poultry products china school lunch program child adult food care program summer food service program children school breakfast program sec states applicable allocation new budget authority house_committee appropriations congressional_budget_act exceeds proposed new budget authority