OTHER AGENCIES COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) protects the integrity and effectiveness of the U.S. futures and options markets. It protects investors by preventing fraud and abuse and ensuring adequate disclosure of information. Major activities of the agency include: promulgating regulations governing commodities futures markets; detecting and prosecuting investor fraud; and monitoring the markets in order to prevent illegal price manipulation efforts. 2004, CFTC filed 83 enforcement actions against suspected violators of commodity trading laws. 2006 Budget provides $99 million to fund CFTC's activities. In The Price Manipulation in Energy Markets Since December 2002, CFTC filed charges against a total of 30 companies and individuals and assessed over $267 million in civil monetary penalties for illegal activity in the energy markets. In 2004, CFTC actions resulted in a $35 million civil monetary penalty against Enron. Among other claims, the CFTC alleged that Enron and a natural gas trader engaged in a manipulative scheme to buy an extraordinarily large amount of natural gas in a short period of time. The complaint alleged Enron's actions had a direct and adverse effect on the New York Mercantile Exchange natural gas futures contract, including causing prices to become artificial. In announcing the penalty, Gregory G. Mocek, the Director of Enforcement for the CFTC stated, "This settlement demonstrates the CFTC's exhaustive efforts to identify and root out manipulation of the natural gas and energy markets." CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the Federal agency responsible for protecting families from hazards related to consumer products under its jurisdiction. CPSC collects data to monitor injuries and deaths resulting from consumer products, works with industry to develop voluntary standards to make products safer, and educates consumers on potentially dangerous products. Where these steps are insufficient to protect Americans from unnecessary risks, CPSC develops mandatory rules and conducts product recalls. The President's Budget includes $62 million for CPSC to sustain existing safety efforts and continue providing national consumer product safety leadership. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE Each year, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) engages more than 2.5 million Americans in service opportunities. Through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America, CNCS helps Americans answer the President's Call to Service. The 2006 Budget proposes $921 million for CNCS to support 75,000 AmeriCorps members, provide service opportunities for some 500,000 Senior Corps members, and engage over one million youth in service learning through Learn and Serve America. The Corporation's programs work with community- and faith-based organizations to meet local needs. Its programs support activities ranging from tutoring and mentoring children, assisting the elderly, preserving the environment, building homes for low-income families, and mobilizing volunteers to respond to disasters. Strengthening AmeriCorps for the Future Helping the Hurricane-weary Reeling from one of the worst hurricane seasons in its history, Florida needed a rapid, flexible response. In 2004, more than 700 AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America members were deployed to help Floridians survive the storms and repair the damage. For example, teams of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps members from all five campuses were deployed to cover approximately 1,500 roofs with plastic sheeting to protect storm-damaged homes in Tallahassee from the weather until permanent repairs could be made. Senior Corps volunteers worked with Orlando's Emergency Operations Center and the Red Cross to create a volunteer reception center to help special needs residents who did not evacuate during the storms. long-term financial sustainability. The final rule will be published in 2005 and will promote long-term growth as well as sustainability of national service programs by local communities and the private sector. The 2006 Budget requests $421 million to support the President's goal of 75,000 AmeriCorps members, including $146 million in the National Service Trust to support member education awards. Fostering a Culture of Service In conjunction with the USA Freedom Corps, a White House office created by President Bush following the attacks of September 11th, CNCS is helping Americans of all ages and backgrounds answer the President's Call to Service to dedicate at least 4,000 hours, or two years, of their lives in service. The 2006 Budget will enable an estimated 500,000 older Americans to volunteer through the Senior Corps program. The Budget proposes $220 million for the Senior Corps program, which meets a wide range of community needs such as helping seniors live independently in their homes, mentoring children of prisoners, and tutoring children. The Budget also proposes $40 million for Learn and Serve America to engage more than 1 million American youth in service learning education. In The 2006 President's Budget provides $103 million for the District of Columbia (D.C.). This includes $75 million for D.C. school children, as well as $28 million in funding for other D.C. programs. The 2006 Budget continues the 2004 and 2005 investment in the D.C. School Choice program, with $15 million. This program helps increase the capacity of the District to provide parents-particularly low-income parents-more options for obtaining a quality education for their children who are trapped in low-performing schools. As part of the Administration's commitment to improving education in D.C., the Budget continues funding for D.C. public schools and D.C. charter schools, with $27 million. The Budget also continues to support the D.C. Resident Tuition Assistance program, with $33 million. This program was started in 1999 and allows District residents to attend public colleges nationwide at in-State tuition rates. The President's Budget continues support to help improve the Anacostia River for D.C.'s residents and visitors. The 2006 Budget proposes $5 million to continue design and construction work on the Anacostia trailwalk. The trailwalk will create pedestrian and bicycle trail systems from the Potomac River to the District's border with Maryland. The 2006 Budget continues to support D.C.'s public safety response to events directly related to the Federal Government's presence in the District, with $15 million to defray the cost of events such as protection for the annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings. The 2006 Budget supports funding for a bioterrorism and forensics laboratory in the District, with $7 million. The present situation, in which the District relies on the laboratory facilities of Federal agencies, does not allow the District to keep up with the demand of its current workload. Initial planning and design work on the lab began in 2005. The 2006 funds will allow the District to move forward with early construction phases, and will be matched by $1.5 million in local capital funds from the District. The 2006 Budget also proposes an increase in the amount of Federal funding the District receives for child welfare services, specifically foster care and adoption assistance. The 2006 Budget would increase the District's reimbursement rate under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act from 50 to 70 percent. Title IV-E is the primary Federal funding source that provides foster care and adoption subsidy payments, which enable families to adopt special needs children from foster care. This adjustment will bring the Title IV-E Federal match rate in line with the District's Medicaid match rate, as it is in other States. In 2006, the Administration will also work with the District to review the current portfolio of Federal lands in the District of Columbia to determine whether any of these parcels would be better utilized by the District. In addition, the Administration continues to support enactment by the Congress of a law to allow the D.C. government's proposed local budget to take effect without a separate annual appropriations bill, subject to limitations imposed by the Congress by law. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS The District of Columbia (D.C.) Courts continue to work on capital improvements necessary for the Family Court Division of the D.C. Superior Court. The President's Budget provides $267 million to the Courts, which includes $83 million for significant capital improvements in the Judiciary Square area. Judiciary Square is the center of many criminal justice functions in the District and is the home of the D.C. Superior Court, as well as a variety of other city and Federal criminal justice agencies. Improvements planned for the area include a full restoration of the city's Old Courthouse. The Old Courthouse was originally built between 1821 and 1881 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Restoration work on the Old Courthouse began in early 2005. In addition, the Courts completed renovation work on Building B in December 2003. This allowed the Small Claims and Landlord courts to move from the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse to Building B. As a result of this move, an interim Family Court facility opened in the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse in the Fall of 2004. The D.C. Courts will continue to undertake significant design and renovation work on the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse in preparation for opening a permanent Family Court. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION The Election Assistance Commission provides funding to States to improve election equipment and the administration of Federal elections. Since enactment of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the Federal Government has provided approximately $3.1 billion to upgrade voting systems. develop electronic voter registration lists, assure access for individuals with disabilities, and train election officials for all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and four territories (Puerto Rico, Guam. American Samoa, American Virgin Islands). The 2006 President's Budget proposes $17.6 million for the Commission to develop voluntary standards and initiate an accreditation program for electronic voting machines. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces Federal laws that prohibi: employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, and disability EEOC also seeks to prevent discrimination through outreach, education, and technical assistance that promote employers' voluntary compliance with the law. One of EEOC's responsibilities is to hold hearings and resolve appeals related to Federal employees. During 2004, EEOC reduced the inventory of pending hearings and appeals requests from about 12,300 at the end of 2003 to 9,600 at the end of 2004. The 2006 Budget provides $331 million for EEOC, which is $4 million, or one percent, more thar the level in the 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The Budget would allow EEOC to continue its outreach to workers and employers, and to reposition the agency for improved service. To suppor the President's New Freedom Initiative-a strategy to integrate people with disabilities fully inte the Nation's life-EEOC will continue its project to identify States' best practices for removing em ployment barriers faced by people with disabilities. The agency will publish a final report in 2006. Teaching Teens about Equal Opportunity EEOC's Youth@Work Initiative promotes equal employment opportunity for the next generation of workers. The Youth@Work website (www.youth.eeoc.gov) explains job discrimination that young workers may encounter and suggests strategies to respond to it. In addition, the New York District Office's T.E.A.C.H. (Teen Education, Assistance, Compliance and Help) program has taught students of several local universities and high schools about their rights and responsibilities as potential employees and employers. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT The Executive Office of the President (EOP) includes a number of organizations dedicated to serving the President. As part of the 2006 Budget, the Administration requests a three-part financial restructuring initiative, which would: • Consolidate the annual appropriations in the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, Independent Agencies, and General Government appropriations bill for EOP components that most immediately serve the presidency-the White House Office, the Office of Policy Development, Executive Residence, the Office of Administration, White House Repair and Restoration, Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, National Security Council, and the Council of Economic Advisers-into a single appropriation called The White House. • Extend the general provision for limited transfer authority in section 533 of the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, Independent Agencies, and General Government Appropriations Act, 2005 (Division H of Public Law 108-447), to provide for a 10-percent transfer authority among all of the following accounts: The White House, Special Assistance to the President and Official Residence of the Vice President, Office of Management and Budget, United States Trade Representative, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Council on Environmental Quality, and Office of Science and Technology Policy. Transfers from the Special Assistance to the President and the Official Residence of the Vice President account are subject to the approval of the Vice President. • Continue centralization of rent, after-hours utilities, and health unit funding for the EOP into the Office of Administration program. This initiative provides enhanced flexibility in allocating resources and staff in support of the President and the Vice President, and permits more rapid response to changing national needs and priorities. Resources requested for the EOP, and for executive functions and official residence of the Vice President (see 3 U.S.C. 106 and Public Law 93-346), in 2006 total $329 million, or 1.7 percent, below the 2005 appropriated level. These resources will support approximately 1,840 personnel, as well as information technology and other infrastructure needs to serve the President and the Vice President. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION The President's 2006 Budget proposes $304 million for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), of which $299 million would be offset directly by regulatory fees. This funding provides inflationary increases and supports the Commission's ongoing work to ensure that Americans have rapid and efficient communications services. |