The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday resumed consideration of the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bill and agreed to a motion by Chairman Moran to strike an amendment earlier adopted by Senator Van Hollen concerning funds set aside for a new FBI headquarters site. The committee's vote to strike the Van Hollen amendment was close: the clerk announced 15 ayes and 14 nays, and the Moran amendment was agreed to. The committee later reported the CJS bill as amended to the Senate floor; after accounting for vote changes reported during the markup, the committee announced the motion to report the CJS bill as amended carried with either 19 ayes to 10 nays (final accounting announced by the chair).

What the Van Hollen amendment addressed: Senator Van Hollen argued the amendment defended a longstanding, bipartisan site-selection process that had left funds identified in prior prospectuses and committee actions for a site chosen from three options that met ISC (security) level 5 requirements. He cited prior prospectus language and inspector-general reviews that, in his view, supported defending the previously selected site and funds from ad-hoc reprogramming; he said the amendment sought to preserve congressional intent and the competitive process used earlier.

What Moran and others said: Chairman Moran argued the Van Hollen language was prescriptive and improperly inserted the appropriations committee into what he described as GSA's site-selection responsibilities; he offered the motion to strike to return the bill to the bipartisan posture it was in before the prior amendment. Senator Murkowski said she supported striking the provision so the CJS measure could move to the floor and so senators could debate the issue in the full Senate; she said she had discussed questions with FBI leadership and GSA and that further security reviews were planned.

Inspector-general and process findings referenced in debate: Members cited GSA and Justice Department inspector-general reports from earlier site-selection reviews when arguing both for and against the Van Hollen language. Senator Van Hollen noted inspector-general findings that earlier proposals to keep the FBI in its existing headquarters failed to meet required security standards; other senators emphasized the inspector-general of GSA had reviewed aspects of the site selection and did not recommend changing the final decision.

Process and broader context: The exchange on the FBI headquarters issue occurred amid wider debate across the markup about the health of the appropriations process after a partisan rescissions package was filed outside the committee. Several senators, including Vice Chair Murray and Senator Merkley, framed the earlier rescissions action as an unprecedented challenge to bipartisan appropriations, while other senators argued the committee must keep advancing bills to the floor and continue oversight of agency spending.

Votes at a glance: Moran's amendment to strike the Van Hollen language was agreed to on division/roll call, announced as 15 ayes and 14 nays. The committee subsequently carried the motion to report the CJS bill as amended; after accounting for vote changes announced during the session the chair announced the bill was reported with 19 ayes and 10 nays.

What's next: The committee reported the CJS bill to the Senate floor. Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray urged colleagues to continue working in bipartisan fashion to move appropriations through the Senate and called for further oversight where needed; senators who dissented said they would pursue floor debate and amendment.