Continuing to press forward on FY2001 appropriations bills, the House Appropriations Committee on June 14 approved, by voice vote, the FY2001 Commerce, Justice, State, and Related Agencies spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered).
The bill would level-fund both the Violence Against Women Act programs at $284 million and juvenile justice programs at $287 million. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission would receive a $10 million increase over last year to $291 million.
While the Small Business Administration (SBA) would receive a $9.2 million increase to $856.2 million, the Legal Services Corporation would receive a $164 million cut to $141 million in FY2001. Women’s Business Centers, administered by SBA, would receive $8.9 million, a slight decrease from the $9 million appropriated last year. The National Women’s Business Council also would receive a reduction in funding from $600,000 in FY2000 to $595,000 in FY2001.
The bill also would maintain current law, which prohibits the use of funds for abortions at federal prisons. Current law includes an exception if the pregnancy is the result of rape or if the pregnancy endangers the life of the woman. The Bureau of Prisons is required to provide transportation for female inmates to obtain abortion services outside the prison.
