Membership of the 116th Congress: A Profile

Summary: This report presents a profile of the membership of the 116th Congress (2019-2020) as of March 7, 2019. Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age, occupation, education, length of congressional service, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign birth, and military service.

Summary: In the House of Representatives, there are 239 Democrats (including 4 Delegates), 199 Republicans (including 1 Delegate and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico), and 3 vacant seats. The Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and 2 Independents, who both caucus with the Democrats. Additionally

Summary: The average age of Members of the House at the beginning of the 116th Congress was 57.6 years; of Senators, 62.9 years. The overwhelming majority, 96%, of Members of Congress have a college education. The dominant professions of Members are public service/politics, business, and law. Most Members identify as Christians, and the collective majority of these affiliate with a Protestant denomination. Roman Catholics account for the largest single religious denomination, and numerous other affiliations are represented, including Jewish, Mormon, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Greek Orthodox, Pentecostal Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and Adventist. The average length of service for Representatives at the beginning of the 116th Congress was 8.6 years (4.3 House terms); for Senators, 10.1 years (1.7 Senate terms). A record 131 women serve in the 116th Congress: 106 in the House, including 3 Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, and 25 in the Senate. There are 55 African American Members of the House and 3 in the Senate. This House number includes two Delegates. There are 50 Hispanic or Latino Members (a record number) serving: 45 in the House, including 2 Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, and 5 in the Senate. There are 20 Members (14 Representatives, 3 Delegates, and 3 Senators) who are Asian Americans, Indian Americans, or Pacific Islander Americans. This is also a record number. A record four American Indians (Native Americans) serve in the House.

Summary: The portions of this report covering political party affiliation, gender, ethnicity, and vacant seats may be updated as events warrant. The remainder of the report will not be updated.

Congress is composed of 541 individuals from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico. Since 1789, 12,343 individuals have served as either Representatives (11,037 individuals) or as Senators (1,983 individuals). Of these individuals, 677 have served in both chambers. An additional 178 individuals have served in the House in the roles of territorial Delegates or Resident Commissioners.

The following is a profile of the 116 th Congress (2019-2020).

In the 116 th Congress, the current party alignments as of March 7, 2019, are as follows:

House of Representatives: 239 Democrats (including 4 Delegates), 199 Republicans (including 1 Delegate and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico), and 3 vacant seats. Senate: 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and 2 Independents, who both caucus with the Democrats.

The average age at the beginning of the 116 th Congress was 57.6 years for Representatives and 62.9 years for Senators.

Table 1 shows the average ages at the beginning of the 116 th and three previous Congresses.

The U.S. Constitution requires Representatives to be at least 25 years old when they take office. The youngest Representative in the 116 th Congress, and the youngest woman ever to serve in Congress, is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), born October 13, 1989, who was 29 at the beginning of the 116 th Congress. The oldest Representative is Don Young (R-AK), born June 9, 1933, who was 85.

Senators must be at least 30 years old when they take office. The youngest Senator in the 116 th Congress is Josh Hawley (R-MO), born December 31, 1979, who was 39 at the beginning of the Congress. The oldest Senator in the 116 th Congress is Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), born June 22, 1933, who was 85.

According to data on occupations in the CQ New Members Guide , in the 116 th Congress law ties with public service/politics as the most commonly declared profession of Senators, followed by business; for Representatives, public service/politics is first, closely followed by business, then law.

Table 2 uses data from the CQ Member Profiles to present the occupational categories most frequently listed as prior careers of Members of the 116 th Congress.

A closer look at the range of prior occupations and previously held public offices of Members of the House and Senate at the beginning of the 116 th Congress, as listed in their CQ Member Profiles , also shows the following:

50 Senators with previous House service; 95 Members have worked in education, including teachers, professors, instructors, school fundraisers, counselors, administrators, or coaches (75 in the House, including 2 delegates, 20 in the Senate); 3 physicians in the Senate, 13 physicians in the House, plus 5 dentists and 3 veterinarians; 2 psychologists (all in the House), an optometrist (in the Senate), a pharmacist (in the House), and 2 nurses and 1 physician assistant (in the House); 7 ordained ministers, all in the House; 41 former mayors (34 in the House, 7 in the Senate); 13 former state governors (12 in the Senate, 1 in the House) and 7 lieutenant governors (4 in the Senate, 3 in the House); 16 former judges (all but 1 in the House) and 42 prosecutors (10 in the Senate, 32 in the House) who have served in city, county, state, federal, or military capacities; 2 former Cabinet Secretaries (1 in each chamber), and 3 Ambassadors (all in the House); 246 former state or territorial legislators (43 in the Senate, 203 in the House, including 2 Delegates and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico); at least 89 former congressional staffers (19 in the Senate, 70 in the House, including 3 Delegates), as well as 6 congressional pages (3 in the House and 3 in the Senate); 3 sheriffs, 1 police chief and 3 other police officers, 1 firefighter, 3 CIA employees, and 1 FBI agent (all in the House); 3 Peace Corps volunteers, all in the House; 1 physicist and 1 chemist, both in the House; 11 engineers (10 in the House and 1 in the Senate); 20 public relations or communications professionals (4 in the Senate, 16 in the House), and 10 accountants (2 in the Senate and 8 in the House); 6 software company executives in the House and 2 in the Senate; 19 management consultants (5 in the Senate, 14 in the House), 5 car dealership owners (all in the House), and 4 venture capitalists (2 in the House, 2 in the Senate); 12 bankers or bank executives (3 in the Senate, 9 in the House), 29 veterans of the real estate industry (4 in the Senate, 25 in the House), and 10 Members who have worked in the construction industry (1 in the Senate, 9 in the House); 6 social workers (2 in the Senate, 4 in the House) and 3 union representatives (all in the House); 13 nonprofit executives in the House; 3 radio talk show hosts (1 in the Senate, 2 in the House); 4 radio or television broadcasters, managers, or owners (all in the House); 6 reporters or journalists (1 in the Senate, 5 in the House), a public television producer in the House, and a newspaper publisher in each chamber; 21 insurance agents or executives (4 in the Senate, 17 in the House) and 4 Members who have worked with stocks or bonds (all in the House); 1 artist, 1 book publisher, and 2 speechwriters (all in the House), and 1 documentary filmmaker in the Senate; 6 restaurateurs (5 in the House, 1 in the Senate), as well as 2 coffee shop owners, 1 wine store owner, and 1 whiskey distiller (all in the House); 27 farmers, ranchers, or cattle farm owners (5 in the Senate, 22 in the House); 1 almond orchard owner and vintner, as well as a forester and a fruit orchard worker (all in the House); 1 flight attendant and 1 pilot, both in the House; 3 professional football players, 1 hockey player, 1 baseball player, and 1 mixed martial arts fighter (all in the House); and 9 current members of the military reserves (8 in the House, 1 in the Senate) and 7 current members of the National Guard (all in the House).

Other occupations listed in the CQ Member Profiles include emergency dispatcher, letter carrier, animal nutrition specialist, cake decorator, waiter, electrician, rodeo announcer, carpenter, computer systems analyst, software engineer, R&D lab executive, and explosives expert.

As has been true in recent Congresses, the vast majority of Members (94.8% of House Members and 100% of Senators) at the beginning of the 116 th Congress hold bachelor's degrees. Sixty-eight percent of House Members and 77% of Senators hold educational degrees beyond a bachelor's. The CQ Member Profiles at the beginning of the 116 th Congress indicate the following:

17 Members of the House have no educational degree beyond a high school diploma; 6 Members of the House have associate's degrees as their highest degrees; 99 Members of the House and 18 Senators earned a master's degree as their highest attained degrees; 161 Members of the House (36.6% of the House) and 53 Senators (53% of the Senate) hold law degrees; 21 Representatives and 4 Senators have doctoral (Ph.D., D.Phil., Ed.D., or D. Min) degrees; and 21 Members of the House and 4 Senators have medical degrees.

By comparison, approximately 35 years ago in the 99 th Congress (1985-1986), 85% of House Members and 88% of Senators held bachelor's degrees. Approximately 45 years ago, in the 94 th Congress (1975-1976), 82% of House Members and 88% of Senators held bachelor's degrees. About 60 years ago, in the 87 th Congress (1961-1962), 76% of House Members and 76% of Senators held bachelor's degrees.

Five Representatives and one Senator are graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, two Representatives and one Senator graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, and one Senator graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Five Representatives and one Senator were Rhodes Scholars, two Representatives were Fulbright Scholars, two Representatives were Marshall Scholars, and two Representatives and one Senator were Truman Scholars.

The average length of service for Representatives at the beginning of the 116 th Congress was 8.6 years (4.3 House terms); for Senators, 10.1 years (1.7 Senate terms).

At the beginning of the 116 th Congress, 90 of the House Members, including the Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico (20.4% of the total House Membership), had first been elected to the House in November 2018, and 9 of the Senators (9% of the total Senate membership) had first been elected to the Senate in November 2018. These numbers are higher than at the beginning of the 115 th Congress, when 11.8% of the House and 7% of the Senate were newly elected "freshmen."

At the beginning of the 116 th Congress, 144 House Members, including 1 Delegate and the Resident Commissioner (32.7% of House Members), had no more than two years of House experience, and 19 Senators (19% of Senators) had no more than two years of Senate experience.

For more historical information on the tenure of Members of Congress, see CRS Report R41545, Congressional Careers: Service Tenure and Patterns of Member Service, 1789-2019 , by William T. Egar and Amber Hope Wilhelm.

Ninety-seven percent of the Members of the 116 th Congress report an affiliation with a specific religion.

Statistics gathered by the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, which studies the religious affiliation of Representatives and Senators, and CQ at the beginning of the 116 th Congress showed the following:

54.9% of Members (233 in the House, 60 in the Senate) are Protestant, with Baptist as the most represented denomination, followed by Methodist; 30.5% of Members (141 in the House, 22 in the Senate) are Catholic; 6.4% of Members (26 in the House, 8 in the Senate) are Jewish; 1.9% of Members (6 in the House, 4 in the Senate) are Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints); 2 Members (1 in the House, 1 in the Senate) are Buddhist, 3 Representatives are Muslim, and 3 Representatives are Hindu; and other religious affiliations represented include Greek Orthodox, Pentecostal Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and Adventist.

A record 131 women Members (24.2% of the total membership) serve in the 116 th Congress, 22 more than at the beginning of the 115 th Congress. One hundred six women, including 3 Delegates as well as the Resident Commissioner, serve in the House and 25 in the Senate. Of the 106 women in the House, 91 are Democrats, including 2 of the Delegates, and 15 are Republicans, including 1 Delegate as well as the Resident Commissioner. Of the 25 women in the Senate, 17 are Democrats and 8 are Republicans.

By comparison, approximately 35 years ago in the 99 th Congress (1985-1986), 23 women served in the House, and 2 in the Senate. Approximately 45 years ago, in the 94 th Congress (1975-1976), there were 19 women in the House, and none in the Senate.

There are a record 58 African American Members (10.7% of the total membership) in the 116 th Congress, 6 more than at the beginning of the 115 th Congress. Fifty-five serve in the House, including two Delegates, and three serve in the Senate. This number includes one Representative, as well as one Senator, who are of African American and Asian ancestry, and two Representatives who are of African American and Hispanic ancestry. In this report, each of these four Members is counted as belonging to two ethnic groups. Fifty-four of the African American House Members, including two Delegates, are Democrats, and one is a Republican. Two of the Senators are Democrats and one is Republican. Twenty-four African American women, including two Delegates, serve in the House, and one serves in the Senate.

By comparison, approximately 35 years ago in the 99 th Congress (1985-1986), 21 African American Members served in the House, and none in the Senate. About 60 years ago, in the 87 th Congress (1961-1962), there were 4 African American Members of Congress, all serving in the House.

There are 50 Hispanic or Latino Members in the 116 th Congress, 9.2% of the total membership and a record number. Forty-five serve in the House, including two delegates and the Resident Commissioner, and 5 in the Senate. These numbers include two House Members who are also of Asian descent, and two House Members also of African ancestry; these Members are counted in both ethnic categories in this report. Of the Members of the House, 37 are Democrats (including 2 Delegates) and 8 are Republicans (including the Resident Commissioner). Fourteen are women, including the Resident Commissioner. Of the five Hispanic Senators (three Republicans, two Democrats), one is a woman. By comparison, approximately 35 years ago in the 99 th Congress (1985-1986), 14 Hispanic or Latino Members served in Congress. All 14 were male Members of the House.

A record 20 Members of the 116 th Congress (3.8% of the total membership) are of Asian, South Asian, or Pacific Islander ancestry. Seventeen of them (16 Democrats, 1 Republican) serve in the House, and 3 (all Democrats) serve in the Senate. These numbers include one House Member and one Senator who are also of African American ancestry, and another House Member of Hispanic ancestry; these Members are counted in both ethnic categories in this report. Of those serving in the House, three are Delegates. Ten of the Asian, Pacific Islander, or South Asian American Members are female: seven in the House, and all three in the Senate. By comparison, approximately 35 years ago in the 99 th Congress (1985-1986), there were five Asian/Pacific Islander Americans in the House, and two in the Senate.

There are four American Indian (Native American) Members of the 116 th Congress; two of each party, all in the House. This is two more than in the 115 th Congress, and a record number.

Twenty-four Representatives and five Senators (5.3% of the 116 th Congress) were born outside the United States. Their places of birth include Canada, Cuba, Ecuador, Germany, Japan, Peru, and India. Some of these Members were born to American citizens working or serving abroad. The U.S. Constitution requires that Representatives be citizens for seven years and Senators be citizens for nine years before they take office.

At the beginning of the 116 th Congress, there were 96 individuals (17.8% of the total membership) who had served or were serving in the military, 6 fewer than at the beginning of the 115 th Congress (102 Members). According to lists compiled by CQ , the House as of January 2019 had 78 veterans (including 4 female Members, as well as 1 Delegate); the Senate had 18 veterans, including 3 women. These Members served in the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and combat or peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, as well as during times of peace. Eight House Members and one Senator are still serving in the reserves, and seven House Members are still serving in the National Guard. Four of the seven female veterans are combat veterans.

The number of veterans in the 116 th Congress reflects the trend of steady decline in recent decades in the number of Members who have served in the military. For example, 64% of the Members of the 97 th Congress (1981-1982) were veterans, and in the 92 nd Congress (1971-1972), 73% of the Members were veterans.

For summary information on the demographics of Members in selected past Congresses, including age trends, occupational backgrounds, military veteran status, and educational attainment, see CRS Report R42365, Representatives and Senators: Trends in Member Characteristics Since 1945 , coordinated by R. Eric Petersen.


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

Summary: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6), was signed into law on February 15, 2019. The act included a total of $647.0 million in funding for three trade-related agencies under the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) account—the International Trade Administration (ITA), the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), and the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This represents a 0.2% decrease from FY2018 appropriations. For FY2019, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, included $484.0 million in direct appropriations for ITA (a 0.4% increase from the FY2018 appropriation), $95.0 million in funding for USITC (a 1.4% increase), and a total of $68.0 million for USTR (a 0.2% decrease).

Summary: The Administration's Request

Summary: On February 12, 2018, the Trump Administration submitted its FY2019 budget request to Congress. The FY2019 proposal included a total of $590.8 million for the three CJS trade-related agencies, an 8.9% decrease from FY2018 total appropriated amounts for these agencies. The Administration requested reducing funding for all three trade-related agencies. For FY2019, the request included $440.1 million in direct funding for ITA (an 8.7% decrease from the FY2018 appropriation), $87.6 million for USITC (a 6.5% decrease), and $63.0 million for USTR (a 13.2% decrease).

Summary: Congressional Actions

Summary: In the spring of 2018, the House and Senate reported FY2019 CJS appropriations bills, which included proposed funding for ITA, USITC, and USTR. The reported bills did not adopt many of the Administration's budget reductions, and instead proposed funding levels that were more similar to the FY2018-enacted amounts.

Summary: The House Committee on Appropriations reported H.R. 5952 on May 17, 2018. The House proposal recommended a total of $647.6 million for the three CJS trade-related agencies. This proposal was $56.8 million more (9.6%) than the Administration's request, and $0.7 million less (-0.1%) than the FY2018-enacted legislation. The House committee proposed $480.0 million in direct funding for ITA, $95.0 million for USTIC, and a total of $72.6 million for USTR, comprised of $57.6 million for salaries and expenses and an additional $15.0 million from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund for trade enforcement activities as authorized by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-125).

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations reported S. 3072 on June 14, 2018. The Senate committee-reported proposal recommended a total of $655.6 million for the three CJS trade-related agencies. This is $64.8 million (11.0%) more than the Administration's request and $7.3 million (1.1%) more than the FY2018-enacted appropriations. The Senate committee proposed $488.0 million in direct funding for ITA, $95 million for USITC, and a total of $72.6 million for USTR, comprised of $57.6 million for salaries and expenses and an additional $15.0 million from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund for trade enforcement activities.

Summary: After three continuing resolutions and a three-week lapse in funding, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act. 2019 (P.L. 116-6), which was signed into law on February 15, 2019. The act included a total of $647.0 million in funding for the three trade-related agencies, which represented a 0.2% decrease from FY2018 funding levels.

This report provides an overview of the FY2019 budget request and appropriations for the International Trade Administration (ITA), the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). These three trade-related agencies are funded through the annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations. This report also provides a review of these trade agencies' programs.

When comparing the Administration's FY2019 request with FY2018 funding, one may want to consider that the Administration formulated its FY2019 budget request before full-year appropriations for FY2018 were enacted. In this report, FY2018 funding levels reflect the amounts appropriated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( P.L. 115-141 ), enacted on March 23, 2018.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, provided $482.0 million in direct funding for ITA, $93.7 million for USTIC, and a total of $72.6 million for USTR for FY2018. The FY2018 appropriation for the three CJS trade-related agencies totaled $648.3 million.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, provided $484.0 million in direct appropriations for ITA, $95.0 million in funding for USITC, and a total of $68.0 million for USTR. The FY2019 appropriations for three CJS trade-related agencies totaled $647.0 million, a 0.2% decrease from FY2018 appropriations.

See the Appendix for enacted budget authority for the trade-related agencies for FY2009-FY2019.

The Administration's FY2019 Budget Request

The President submitted his FY2019 budget request to Congress on February 12, 2018. In it, the Administration requested a total of $590.8 million for the three CJS trade-related agencies (see Table 1 ). This request represented an 8.9% decrease in funding from the FY2018 appropriated amount. The request included reduced funding for all three trade agencies: $440.1 million in direct funding for ITA (an 8.7% decrease from the FY2018 appropriation), $87.6 million for USITC (a 6.5% decrease), and $63.0 million for USTR (a 13.2% decrease).

Despite the proposed overall decrease in funding for CJS trade-related agencies, the Administration proposed increasing some trade enforcement activities within ITA and USTR. For ITA, the Administration proposed increasing trade enforcement activities while reducing funding for certain export promotion activities. For USTR, the Administration requested funds to increase staffing; however, the request did not include a request for funding to be drawn from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund. (For a description of the " Trade Enforcement Trust Fund ," see section below.) The President's budget did not provide a rationale for requesting a decrease in funding for USITC. A more detailed overview of these agencies' FY2019 budget requests is provided below.

The House and Senate Appropriations Committees reported their CJS appropriation bills in the spring of 2018. Both committees largely declined the budget cuts requested by the Administration for these three trade agencies. (See Table 1 .)

The House Committee on Appropriations reported H.R. 5952 on May 17, 2018. The House committee bill included a total of $647.6 million for the three trade-related agencies, which was $56.8 million more (9.6%) than the Administration's request and $0.7 million less (-0.1%) than the FY2018-enacted amount. The House committee recommended $480.0 million in direct funding for ITA, $95.0 million for USTIC, and a total of $72.6 million for USTR.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations reported S. 3072 on June 14, 2018. The Senate bill included a total of $655.6 million for the three agencies, which was $64.8 million (11.0%) more than the Administration's request and $7.3 million (1.1%) more than the FY2018-enacted appropriation. The Senate committee recommended $488.0 million in direct funding for ITA, $95.0 million for USITC, and a total of $72.6 million for USTR.

Through February 15, 2019, the CJS trade-related agencies operated under continuing resolutions (CR)—with the exception of a three-week lapse in funding when agencies halted most operations.

Congress passed final FY2019 appropriations in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), which was signed into law on February 15, 2019. The act included a total of $647.0 million in funding for the three trade-related agencies—a 0.2% decrease from FY2018 appropriations. For FY2019, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, included $484.0 million in direct appropriations for ITA (a 0.4% increase from the FY2018 appropriation), $95.0 million in funding for USITC (a 1.4% increase), and a total of $68.0 million for USTR (a 0.2% decrease).

International Trade Administration (ITA)

Within the Department of Commerce, ITA's mission is to improve U.S. prosperity by strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and ensuring compliance with trade laws and agreements. ITA provides export promotion services; works to enforce and ensure compliance with trade laws and agreements; administers trade remedies such as antidumping and countervailing duties; and provides analytical support for ongoing trade negotiations.

ITA went through a major organizational change in October 2013 in which it consolidated four organizational units into three more functionally aligned units: (1) Global Markets; (2) Industry and Analysis; and (3) Enforcement and Compliance. ITA also has a fourth organizational unit, the Executive and Administrative Directorate, which is responsible for providing policy leadership, information technology support, and administration services for all of ITA. ( Table A-1 shows budget amounts for ITA by unit between FY2009 and FY2019.)

For FY2019, the Administration requested $440.1 million for ITA in direct funding, with an additional $11.0 million to be collected in user fees, for a total of $451.1 million in authorized spending. The request for direct funding represents a $41.9 million decrease (-8.7%) from the FY2018-enacted amount ($482.0 million).

According to ITA's budget justification, the Administration proposed increasing ITA's enforcement and compliance efforts in FY2019, while deemphasizing other initiatives, such as export promotion. The Administration specifically proposed closing some domestic and international offices of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS).

The House committee-reported H.R. 5952 proposed $480.0 million for ITA in direct funding, with an additional $11.0 million to be collected from user fees, for a total of $491.0 million in authorized spending. The amount in direct funding proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations was $39.9 million (9.1%) more than the Administration's request and $2.0 million less (-0.4%) than the FY2018-enacted amount.

The Senate committee-reported S. 3072 included $488.0 million in direct funding for ITA, with an additional $11.0 million in user fees, for a total of $499.0 million in authorized spending. The amount in direct funding proposed by the Senate Committee on Appropriations was $47.9 million (10.9%) more than the Administration's request and $6.0 million (1.2%) more than the FY2018-enacted amount.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ) provided $484.0 million in direct appropriations for ITA, with an additional $11.0 million to be collected in user fees, for a total of $495.0 in authorized spending. The act provided $2 million more (0.4%) in direct appropriations for ITA than the FY2018-enacted amount and $43.9 million more (10.0%) than the Administration's request.

ITA's Global Markets (GM) unit is a combination of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) unit, a program that provides export promotion services to U.S. businesses, and SelectUSA, a program that works to attract foreign investment into the United States. Through US&FCS, GM promotes U.S. exports by helping U.S. exporters research foreign markets and identify opportunities abroad. GM's country and regional experts―in domestic and overseas offices—help to advise U.S. companies on market access, local standards, and regulations. The unit also helps to make connections through business-to-business trade shows, fairs, and missions. GM is designed to advance U.S. commercial interests by engaging with foreign governments and U.S. businesses, identifying and resolving market barriers, and leading efforts that advocate for U.S. firms with foreign governments. Through its SelectUSA program, the GM unit also promotes the United States as a destination for foreign investment. (For more on SelectUSA, see section below, " SelectUSA Program .")

For FY2019, the Administration proposed reducing funding for the Global Markets unit. The Administration requested $276.5 million for Global Markets in direct funding, a 13.4% decrease from the FY2018-enacted appropriation. In its FY2019 budget submission, ITA proposed "rescaling export promotion" activities in the GM unit by reducing staff and its domestic and overseas offices, with a total reduction of 133 positions. The budget submission did not indicate how many or which domestic and overseas offices it was proposing to close.

The House and Senate Appropriation Committees did not adopt the proposed cuts.

The House Appropriations Committee recommended $319.0 million for the Global Markets unit for FY2019. This was $42.5 million (15.4%) more than the Administration's request. According to the committee report, "the recommendation does not adopt the proposal to reduce U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service staff or close overseas offices or U.S. Export Assistance Centers."

The Senate Appropriations Committee report did not provide an exact funding amount, but recommended that ITA "fund US&FCS, and its core mission of export promotion, at the highest possible level in fiscal year 2019, and at no less than the amount provided in fiscal year 2018." Like the House committee, the Senate committee did not adopt the Administration's proposal to close offices. The Senate committee report specifically noted, "No offices shall be closed in fiscal year 2019 unless the Committee approves a reprogramming request to close such office or offices. Additionally, the Committee will not approve requests to close any domestic offices, called U.S. Export Assistance Centers, if such Center is the only one located in a given State."

According to the conference report accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), the final agreement for FY2019 appropriations included "no less than $320 million" in funding for Global Markets and required ITA to report quarterly to the Committees on staffing levels within the US&FCS.

ITA's Industry and Analysis unit brings together ITA's industry, trade, and economic experts to advance the competitiveness of U.S. industries through the development and execution of international trade and investment policies, export promotion strategies, and investment promotion. It develops economic and international policy analysis to improve market access for U.S. businesses, and designs and implements trade and investment promotion programs. The unit serves as the primary liaison between U.S. industries and the federal government on trade and investment promotion. It administers programs that support small and medium-sized enterprises, such as the Market Development Cooperator Program.

For FY2019, the Administration requested $52.3 million for Industry and Analysis. The request is $3.4 million less than the FY2018 funding level. The Administration proposed refocusing some of the unit's priorities away from export promotion and toward trade enforcement. Specifically, the Administration proposed reducing activities related to trade missions, the International Buyer Program, and certified trade fairs, and eliminating Market Development Cooperator Program grants.

The House committee proposed $52.0 million for Industry and Analysis. This represented $0.3 million less (-0.5%) than the Administration's request.

The Senate committee-reported bill did not include a specific recommendation for Industry and Analysis.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), did not provide an exact funding guidance for Industry and Analysis.

The mission of ITA's Enforcement and Compliance unit is to enforce U.S. trade laws and ensure compliance with negotiated international trade agreements. It is responsible for enforcing U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) laws; overseeing a variety of programs and policies regarding the enforcement and administration of U.S. trade remedy laws; assisting U.S. industry and businesses with unfair trade matters; and administering the Foreign Trade Zone program and other U.S. import programs.

For FY2019, the Administration requested $90.6 million for the Enforcement and Compliance unit, an increase of $3.1 million (3.6%) from the FY2018-enacted amount. For the requested increase in funding, ITA cited the unit's increasing number of AD/CVD investigations, its new focus on self-initiating AD/CVD cases, and the increased workload due to the tariffs and investigations initiated through Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

The House Appropriations Committee proposed $85.5 million for Enforcement and Compliance. The House committee proposal represented $2.1 million less (-2.3%) than the Administration's request, and $1.0 million (1.1%) more than the FY2018-enacted amount .

The Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended $91.5 million for Enforcement and Compliance. The Senate recommendation represented $0.9 million more than the Administration's request and $4.0 million more than the 2018-enacted amount. The Senate committee report noted that the committee was supportive of the Administration's request to self-initiate AD/CVD cases.

For FY2019 appropriations, the conference report accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), included $88.5 million for Enforcement and Compliance. This amount was $1.0 million more (1.1%) than the FY2018 funding, and $2.1 million less (-2.1%) than the Administration's request.

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)

USITC is an independent, quasi-judicial agency responsible for conducting trade-related investigations and providing independent technical advice related to U.S. international trade policy to Congress, the President, and the USTR. The commission (1) investigates and determines whether imports injure a domestic industry or violate U.S. intellectual property rights; (2) provides independent tariff, trade, and competitiveness-related analysis to the President and Congress; and (3) maintains the U.S. tariff schedule. USITC also serves as a federal resource for trade data and other trade policy information. It makes most of its information and analyses available to the public to promote understanding of competitiveness, international trade issues, and the role that international trade plays in the U.S. economy.

In addition to the President's budget request for the commission, USITC also has bypass authority to submit its budget directly to Congress without revision by the President, pursuant to Section 175 of the Trade Act of 1975.

For FY2019, the President requested $87.6 million for USITC, which represented a $6.1 million decrease (-6.5%) from the FY2018-enacted amount ($93.7 million). While the President requested a decrease in funding for USITC, the commission's independent budget submission—sent directly to Congress without revision by the President—requested $97.5 million for FY2019, an increase of $3.8 million (4.0%) from the FY2018-enacted amount. USITC cited the increasing number of import injury cases in the previous five years and projected that the caseload would increase further in FY2019.

Both the House and Senate committee-reported bills recommended $95.0 million for USITC. This amount was $7.4 million (8.4%) more than the President's request and $1.3 million (1.4%) more than the FY2018-enacted amount.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), provided $95.0 million for USITC, which was $7.4 million (8.4%) more than the President's request and $1.3 million (1.4%) more than the FY2018-enacted amount.

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

USTR, located in the Executive Office of the President, is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade and direct investment policies. USTR is the President's chief negotiator for international trade agreements, including commodity and direct investment negotiations. It negotiates directly with foreign governments to create trade agreements, resolve disputes, and participate in global trade policy organizations such as the World Trade Organization. It also meets with business groups, policymakers, and public interest groups on trade policy issues. In 2018, USTR led the negotiations for the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the investigations into Chinese intellectual property practices.

In addition to direct appropriations for USTR, supplementary funding for the agency is available through the congressionally established Trade Enforcement Trust Fund. For more detail on the trust fund, see section " Trade Enforcement Trust Fund ," below.

For FY2019, the Administration requested $63.0 million for USTR's salaries and expenses, and no additional funding from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund. The request represents a $9.6 million decrease (-13.2%) from the FY2018-enacted amounts ($72.6 million).

In the Administration's budget request, USTR outlined the Trump Administration's "aggressive trade agenda," and its goals of "(1) defending U.S. national sovereignty over trade policy; (2) strictly enforcing U.S. trade laws; (3) using all possible sources of leverage to encourage other countries to open their markets to U.S. exports of goods and services, and protecting U.S. intellectual property rights; and (4) negotiating better trade deals with countries in key markets around the world."

Both the House and Senate committee-reported bills recommended a total of $72.6 million for USTR for FY2019. These proposals included $57.6 million for USTR's salaries and expenses and $15.0 million from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund for enforcement activities authorized in Section 611 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 ( P.L. 114-125 ). The total proposals were $9.6 million (15.2%) more than the Administration's request, and were equal to the FY2018-enacted amount.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), provided a total of $63.0 million for USTR, which included $53.0 million in salaries and expenses for USTR and an additional $15.0 million to be derived from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund. The total funding was $4.6 million less (-6.3%) than the FY2018 appropriated amount.

Selected Trade-Related Programs and Activities

Over the past decade, Congress has provided funding for specific trade-related programs, including (1) China trade enforcement and compliance activities; (2) trade promotion and attracting foreign direct investment to the United States through ITA's SelectUSA program; and (3) trade enforcement activities through the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund and the Interagency Center on Trade Implementation, Monitoring, and Enforcement (ICTIME, formerly the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC)).

China Trade Enforcement and Compliance Activities

Since 2004, Congress has dedicated some of ITA's funding to AD/CVD enforcement and compliance activities with respect to China and other nonmarket economies. ITA's Office of China Compliance was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004 ( P.L. 108-199 ). Its primary role has been to enforce U.S. AD/CVD laws and to develop and implement other policies and programs aimed at countering unfair foreign trade practices in China. ITA's China Countervailing Duty Group was established in FY2009 to accommodate the workload that resulted from the application of countervailing duty law to imports from nonmarket economy countries.

The Office of China Compliance is within the Enforcement and Compliance unit at ITA. ITA's FY2019 budget justification did not provide a breakdown of funding for its China AD/CVD activities.

Both the House and Senate committee-reported bills included $16.4 million from ITA's funding for China AD/CVD enforcement and compliance activities for FY2019.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), provided $16.4 million from ITA's funding for China AD/CVD enforcement and compliance activities for FY2019. This amount was equal to the FY2018-enacted amount.

SelectUSA was created in 2011 and is now part of ITA's Global Markets unit. It coordinates investment-related resources across more than 20 federal agencies to (1) promote the United States as an investment market and (2) address investor climate concerns that may impede investment in the United States. The program serves as an information resource for international investors and advocates for U.S. cities, states, and regions as investment destinations.

ITA's budget justification did not provide a breakdown for requested funding for SelectUSA.

The House committee-reported bill did not propose a specific funding amount for SelectUSA.

The Senate committee report recommended $10.0 million in funding for SelectUSA, an amount equal to the FY2018-enacted amount. The Senate Committee on Appropriation proposed making funding contingent on (1) SelectUSA updating its protocol to ensure that its programs did not encourage foreign investments by state-owned entities into the United States and (2) SelectUSA reporting its updated protocol to the committee within 30 days of enactment of the bill.

According to the conference report accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), the final agreement adopted the Senate committee report language regarding SelectUSA.

Survey of International Air Travelers (SIAT)

ITA's Survey of International Air Travelers (SIAT) gathers statistics about air passenger travelers in the United States. These statistics are used across federal agencies, for a variety of purposes, such as to estimate the contribution of international travel to the economy, develop public policy on the travel industry, and forecast staffing needs at consulates and ports of entry.

The Administration requested $5.0 million for FY2019 for SIAT to expand the survey and data collection. The Administration proposed that "$5 million in fee revenues collected from the surcharge on international travelers utilizing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) be redirected to fully fund the SIAT."

The House committee-reported bill did not include a specific recommendation for SIAT.

According to the Senate committee report, the Senate Committee on Appropriations did not adopt the Administration's proposal to seek alternative funding sources for SIAT and "direct[ed] ITA to continue funding SIAT out of its base budget. Within funds provided, ITA [was] encouraged to increase the sample size for SIAT."

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), and the accompanying conference report did not provide specific language regarding SIAT.

In order to provide additional funding for USTR's trade enforcement activities, Congress established the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund (TETF) in 2016. In Section 611 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 ( P.L. 114-125 ), Congress set up the trust fund and outlined authorized uses of the funds. According to Section 611(d), USTR can use funds from the TETF to monitor and enforce trade agreements and WTO commitments and to support trade capacity-building assistance to help partner countries meet their free-trade agreement obligations and commitments. USTR can also transfer funds to select federal agencies for trade enforcement activities authorized in Section 611(d) of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.

For FY2019, the Administration requested no funding to be derived from the TETF; the FY2018-enacted amount was $15.0 million.

Both the House and Senate committee bills proposed $15.0 million from the TETF for enforcement activities authorized in Section 611 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. These proposals were equal to the FY2018-enacted amount.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ), provided $15.0 million to be derived from the TETF for USTR, for enforcement activities authorized in Section 611 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. This amount is equal to the FY2018-enacted amount.

Implementation, Monitoring, and Enforcement (ICTIME, formerly the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center [ITEC])

ITEC was established by executive order in 2012 to take a "whole-of-government" approach to monitoring and enforcing U.S. trade rights by using expertise from across the federal government. In 2016, the ITEC was succeeded by ICTIME, which Congress established through the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 ( P.L. 114-125 ). The executive-established ITEC received its funding through ITA; funding for ICTIME is now appropriated through USTR.

ICTIME's purpose is to advance U.S. trade policy through strengthened and coordinated enforcement of U.S. trade rights. ICTIME investigates potential disputes under the auspices of the World Trade Organization; inspects potential disputes pursuant to bilateral and regional trade agreements to which the United States is a party; and carries out the functions of USTR with respect to the monitoring and enforcement of trade agreements to which the United States is a party. USTR and ITA work closely within the ICTIME to identify issues and develop information in areas of economic importance to U.S. industries.

The USTR's budget justification did not provide a breakdown for requested funding for ICTIME.

The House and Senate committee-reported bills did not include a specific funding amount for ICTIME. The Senate committee report did note that the Senate committee supports ICTIME within the funds provided for USTR.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( P.L. 116-6 ) and the accompanying conference report also did not provide specific language regarding ICTIME.