The fiscal year (FY) 2015 appropriations process is currently under way in both U.S. legislative chambers, with the hope of passing all 12 annual spending bills before the start of the fiscal year on October 1, 2014. Congress will likely move spending bills forward in small packages, starting with the least controversial bills, such as Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) and the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

At the end of May 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, by a vote of 321-87, its FY 2015 CJS Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4660), which funds the U.S. Department of Justice at $27.8 billion. This represents an increase of $383 million above the FY 2014 enacted level. The House CJS bill was considered under open rule, which means there is no cap on the amount of amendments that can be offered. Highlights from the bill include the following: