Details on Spending Bills Released, as Congress Works to Avoid Shutdown
Lawmakers released details of the six appropriations bills that Congress needs to pass this week to avoid a partial government shutdown.
The six bills create a $436 billion funding package that keeps all the agencies that were due to shut down on the March 8 deadline funded until September 30.
Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the agencies that were due to shut down on March 1 running until March 8. The agencies that were due to shut on March 8 were extended until March 22.
The so-called “minibus” includes agencies covered under Agriculture-FDA; Commerce-Justice-Science; Energy and Water; Interior-Environment; Military Construction-VA; and Transportation-HUD appropriations bills.
Both Democrats and Republicans claimed a victory.
“House Republicans secured key conservative policy victories, rejected left-wing proposals, and imposed sharp cuts to agencies and programs critical to the President Biden’s agenda,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
“We are proud to be keeping the government open without cuts or poison pill riders,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), noting that the final legislation was largely free of conservative policy riders.
That said, more conservative members of the House Republican caucus have expressed dismay over the bill. Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas), for example, critiqued the package saying it is “littered with earmarks, fails to secure the border, & punts almost every GOP policy win – thus, will fund most of Biden’s lawlessness & tyranny.”
Commerce-Justice-Science
Commerce-Justice-Science nondefense spending is slated for $75.4 billion, a three percent decrease from the prior fiscal year.
Among the agencies that will see funding drops: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Lawmakers reduced funding for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities by 38 percent, while leaving salaries flat, despite mounting concerns about safety and staffing at BOP.
The Commerce Department is facing a slight drop from the prior year, while the National Science Foundation (NSF) would see a slight increase. Still, the numbers agreed to are significantly less than President Biden’s budget request.
Agriculture-FDA
The Agriculture Department, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and related agencies are on track to receive $26.2 billion in discretionary funding in fiscal 2024 under the measure, a $383 million increase from the prior fiscal year.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would see a funding decrease while child nutrition programs get a funding increase.
Energy and Water
The Energy Department gets a $1.8 billion increase, including more money for the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Interior-Environment
Interior Department funding is flat from the prior fiscal year, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service all facing slight drops. The bill also includes more money for fighting wildfires.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces a seven percent drop in funding. However, the agency is receiving billions of dollars as part of an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act tax that will pay for Superfund cleanup.
Transportation-HUD
Grant programs at Transportation and HUD are being cut by a collective $3.2 billion. However, like EPA, the agencies stand to benefit from inflows from the infrastructure law.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will receive an additional $1 billion to hire more air traffic controllers and aircraft certification officials.
Military Construction-VA
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in line for a funding boost, particularly for mental health care and homelessness programs.
Next Steps
Congress now must pass the package to avoid a shutdown on March 8. The legislation is expected to clear both Chambers. Then attention can turn to the remaining six bills which are seen as much more contentious. Those include the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, which Republicans have criticized over the migrant crisis at the southern border.
