This week, the committee reports for the FY2007 Department of Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, HUD, and Related Agencies spending bills were printed. The Senate is expected to vote on the Department of Defense spending bill next week; consideration of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies spending bill also is possible prior to the August recess.
Department of Defense
The bill (H.R. 5631) would allocate $453.484 billion in discretionary spending, including $50 billion to support the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The funding level is $57.458 billion less than FY2006 (including emergency and supplemental appropriations) and $9.125 billion less than the administration’s request. The House version of the bill would allocate $458.541 billion in funding for FY2007, $5.058 billion less than the Senate version.
As requested by the administration, overseas humanitarian, disaster and civic aid would receive $63.204 million in FY2007, $2.272 million more than FY2006.
The measure would provide $21.375 billion for Department of Defense health programs, including $210 million for cancer research. Included within the $210 million is $115 million for the breast cancer research program, $80 million for the prostate cancer research program, and $15 million for the ovarian cancer research program.
The bill would allocate $978.212 million to combat drugs, $69.738 more than FY2006 and $51.322 million above the administration’s request
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
The bill (S. 3708) would allocate $142.8 billion in discretionary funds for FY2007, $1.267 billion above FY2006 and $5.01 billion more than the administration’s request. The House version of the bill would allocate $141.93 billion, $870 million less than the Senate version.
Report Language
The Senate Appropriations Committee report accompanying the bill includes language detailing a number of programs affecting women and their families. Although report language is not binding, federal agencies give careful consideration to such language as it indicates programs or initiatives that are particularly important for appropriators.
Department of Labor
Dislocated workers assistance would receive $1.476 billion in FY2007, $4.161 million more than FY2006 and $361.482 million above the administration’s request.
Job Corps would receive $1.63 billion, $37.03 million above FY2006 and $128 million more than the administration’s request. The committee “commends the Job Corps for developing programs to help address the nation’s shortfall of staff in health professions, including nursing, pharmacy, and lab technician trades. The committee supports an initiative to establish a minimum of two existing Job Corps centers as ‘health care magnet’ centers. Each health care magnet center will be dedicated to training Job Corps students in the health sciences, including CNAs [certified nursing assistants], LPNs [licensed professional nurses], 33 health records technicians, dieticians, pharmacy technicians, healthcare facilities maintenance, and medical billing.”
The Community College Initiative would be level-funded at $125 million, $25 million less than President Bush’s request.
The bill “does not include separate funding for the prisoner re-entry initiative, instead expanding funding under the Responsible Reintegration of Youthful Offenders Program. The House did not include funding for this initiative for which the budget requested the current level of $19.642 million.”
The committee recommendation includes $10 million for the Women’s Bureau, an increase of $334,000 over FY 2006 level. The committee is “pleased with the effectiveness of Women Work! in advancing women in the workplace. The organization’s work is strategically aligned with the goals of the Women’s Bureau, and has continued each year to exceed its performance measures. The committee strongly supports continued funding for this important program and believes that Women Work!’s outstanding performance merits increased support from the Women’s Bureau.”
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs would receive $72.516 million, which includes $37.62 million for “the U.S. contribution to sustain the successful efforts of the ILO’s [International Labor Organization] International Program for the Elimination of Child Labor. Also included is $22.77 million to help ensure access to basic education for the growing number of children removed from the worst forms of child labor in impoverished nations where abusive and exploitative child labor is most acute.”
The committee is “disappointed that the Department of Labor has once again put forward a budget for the coming year that drastically reduces funding for the International Labor Affairs Bureau [ILAB], in particular, those initiatives working with the International Labor Organization [ILO] to combat abusive and exploitative child labor.”
The committee is “pleased by findings contained in the ILO report entitled, The End of Child Labor: Within Reach, which was released in May 2006. The report stated that child labor is in decline worldwide, in large part because of the programs advanced by this committee. Between 2000 and 2004, the number of child laborers worldwide fell by 11 percent, from 246 million to 218 million. Moreover, the number of children and youth aged 5-17 trapped in hazardous work decreased by 26 percent, and for the age group of 5-14 years, the decline in hazardous work was even steeper, at 33 percent. It is a testament to the importance of the programs administered by the International Labor Affairs Bureau, which this Committee has consistently supported. Clearly, these programs are having a positive impact and the committee feels strongly that reducing United States efforts to eradicate child labor or substantially changing the structure and leadership of those efforts would, at best, endanger the progress being made. At worst, withdrawing from these efforts could damage the credibility and reputation of the United States in the countries whose governments are real partners to the United States in this effort.”
Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA):HRSA programs would receive $6.993 billion in FY2007, $405 million over FY2006 and $660 million more than the administration’s request. HRSA supports “programs to provide health care services for mothers and infants; the underserved, elderly, and homeless; migrant farm workers; and disadvantaged minorities. This appropriation supports cooperative programs in community health, AIDS care, health care provider training, and health care delivery systems and facilities.”
Community health centers would receive $1.926 billion in FY2007, $145 million more than FY2006 and $36 million less than President Bush’s request. The committee “commends the efforts of health centers to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate care and urges the Secretary [of Health and Human Services] to work with health centers to further enable these efforts. The committee also urges the Department [of Health and Human Services] to establish centers in unserved and underserved communities and to implement strategies to increase the numbers and diversity of health professionals at community health centers.”
The bill would provide $693 million for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, $1.479 million more than FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request. The committee has included bill language identifying $116.052 million set aside for special projects of regional and national significance (SPRANS). Within that total, the committee “intends that $1.536 million be used for a first-time motherhood education program…$990,000 be used for a fetal alcohol syndrome demonstration program; $3.841 million be used to continue the sickle cell newborn screening program and its locally based outreach and counseling efforts; and $1.921 million be used for newborn and child screening for heritable disorders.”
Funding for the first-time motherhood demonstration project would be “equally divided between urban and rural settings. Funding for urban settings should be focused on community-based doula activities. These funds may be used to improve infant health, strengthen families and provide supports to ensure family success through a community-based doula program. This approach identifies and trains indigenous community leaders to mentor pregnant women during the months of pregnancy, birth and the immediate post-partum period. Doulas provide pregnancy and childbirth education, early linkage to health care and social services, labor coaching, breastfeeding education and counseling and parenting skills while fostering parental attachment. Rural areas represent a unique challenge in supporting first-time mothers, particularly around the area of lactation support and services. Funding for the rural portion of the demonstration should be focused on the best ways of delivering supportive services, including delivery outside the hospital setting both before and after the birth of the child. Priority should be given to applications which emphasize breastfeeding initiation and retention.”
The measure would provide $101.518 million for the Healthy Start Infant Mortality Initiative, $70,000 less than FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
Universal newborn hearing screening and early intervention activities would receive $10 million, $216,000 more than FY2006. Under the administration’s request, this program would not have been funded.
The National Cord Blood Inventory program would receive $3.96 million, $3,000 less than FY2006. Under the administration’s request, this program would not have received funding.
Ryan White: The Ryan White CARE Act would receive $2.139 billion for HIV/AIDS-related programs, $78 million more than FY2006 and $19 million less than the administration’s request.
Title IV of the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides funding for programs for children, youth, women, and families, would receive $73.294 million, $1.55 million more than FY2006 and $1.5 million above President Bush’s request.
Family Planning: Title X, the nation’s largest family planning program, would be level-funded at $283.103 million, as requested by President Bush. According to the committee report, “Title X of the Public Health Service Act, which established the family planning program, authorizes the provision of a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and preventive health services to individuals, regardless of age or marital status. This includes FDA-approved methods of contraception. The committee remains concerned that programs receiving Title X funds ought to have access to these resources as quickly as possible.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The measure would allocate $6.196 billion for the CDC in FY2007, $184 million less than the FY2006 and $97 million more than the administration’s request.
The committee “commends CDC for developing a comprehensive CFS [chronic fatigue syndrome] program that now leads CFS research efforts worldwide. The committee is encouraged by the commitment of the CFS research team and the exciting progress it is making in understanding the pathophysiology of CFS…The committee is also concerned that the CDC restructuring not undermine this momentum. The committee requests a report by May 1, 2007, that outlines how the restored funding was used and how the CDC restructuring will affect CFS research.”
The committee “notes that there are multiple causes for infertility, including ovulatory and hormonal disorders, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis and cervical problems among women and poor sperm quality, motility, and count among men. There are also recognized risk factors that contribute to these causes in addition to sexually transmitted diseases, which has been the primary focus of CDC’s education on infertility risks. These factors include delayed child bearing, smoking, low or excessive body weight and other chronic conditions, exposures to hazardous environmental toxins and contaminants, drug and alcohol abuse, diabetes, cancer and, particularly for men, exposure to high temperatures. The committee encourages CDC to consider expanding the scope of this program and provide greater support to public education on the risks to fertility.”
According to the committee report, “up to 1.4 million people in the U.S. may suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In FY2006, the committee “provided funds for CDC to expand a national IBD epidemiology program in partnership with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. For FY2007, the committee has included funding to continue this important initiative.”
The committee is “pleased by the establishment of a cooperative agreement between the CDC and the Interstitial Cystitis Association and has included funds to continue the public and professional education initiative regarding interstitial cystitis.”
The committee “recognizes that lupus is a serious, complex, debilitating chronic autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation and tissue damage to virtually any organ system in the body and impacts between 1.5 and 2 million individuals. The committee is concerned by the lack of reliable epidemiological data on the incidence and prevalence of all forms of lupus among various ethnic and racial groups.”
The report states, “The committee continues to be interested in pulmonary hypertension [PH], a rare, progressive, and fatal disease that predominantly affects women, regardless of age or race. PH causes deadly deterioration of the heart and lungs and is a secondary condition in many other serious disorders, such as scleroderma and lupus. Because early detection of PH is critical to a patient’s survival and quality of life, the committee continues to encourage CDC to consider partnering with the pulmonary hypertension community to foster greater awareness of the disease.”
“To prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome [SIDS],” the committee “encourages CDC to consider supporting a National Campaign for Cribs pilot program in partnership with a national voluntary organization dedicated to infant survival. Such a pilot project may be composed of a public health education component for new parents and caregivers and seek to provide a crib for babies whose mothers and caregivers cannot afford a proper sleeping environment for their children.”
The committee “encourages CDC to consider expanding the promising research being conducted by the regional Centers for Birth Defects Research and Prevention and maintain assistance to states to implement and expand community-based birth defects tracking systems, programs to prevent birth defects, and activities to improve access to health services for children with birth defects.”
The committee is “encouraged with the progress made in preventing neural tube defects, but notes that recent March of Dimes and CDC research shows only 40 percent of women of childbearing age consume enough folic acid daily. The committee commends the CDC for its efforts related to educating women about multivitamin usage in order to improve folic acid status and reduce the rate of birth defects.”
According to the report, “the committee is concerned about the growing incidence and health consequences of eating disorders among the population. The extent of the problem while estimated by several long-term outcome studies as being high remains unknown. The committee urges the CDC to research the incidence and morbidity and mortality rates of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders not otherwise specified across age, race, and sex.”
The report states that the committee “commends the CDC for its commitment to support the enhanced development of a portable, hand-held lead screening device that holds great promise for increasing childhood screening rates in underserved communities. Further development of this device will help ensure its application in community health settings.”
The committee “recognizes that child maltreatment is a serious public health threat with extensive short and long-term health consequences. New avenues to support child maltreatment prevention would allow CDC to further the identification, enhancement, and dissemination of evidence-based child maltreatment prevention programs, such as positive parenting programs and home visitation programs.”
The committee “urges CDC to increase research on the psychological sequelae of violence against women and expand research on special populations and their risk for violence, including adolescents, older women, ethnic minorities, women with disabilities, and other affected populations.”
Global health related activities would be funded at $368.892 million, $10.732 million less than FY2006 and $10.255 million less than the administration’s request. The Office of Global Health “leads and coordinates CDC’s global programs to promote health and prevent disease in the United States and abroad, including ensuring rapid detection and response to emerging health threats.”
National Institutes of Health (NIH): The NIH would receive $28.551 billion in FY2007, $220.82 million above FY2006 and $200.664 million over President Bush’s request.
The committee “continues to be concerned that the current administration policy relating to human embryonic stem cell research is so narrow that it is stifling the pace of stem cell research. The committee strongly believes that embryonic stem cell research holds enormous potential for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries and a vast array of other diseases and injuries. After convening 18 in-depth hearings on the subject, the committee believes that with the proper safeguards in place, this field of investigation ought to be widened.”
According to the report, the committee “strongly urges the NCI [National Cancer Institute] to give increased attention to areas of research that focus on helping women to more fully restore and improve their quality of life after treatment, including further breast cancer research on lymphedema, stress, nutrition, exercise, weight, and the environment. The committee strongly urges the NCI to further accelerate advances in breast cancer screening technology and to capitalize on existing and create new technologies that improve early diagnosis, health outcomes, and survival.”
The committee “encourages NCI to give priority to gynecologic cancers and to work with the National Human Genome Research Institute on the Cancer Genomics project. The committee further encourages the NCI to support translational research involving biologic prognosticators and therapeutic effects of chemotherapy to speed the development and delivery of new cancer treatments to women with gynecologic cancers.”
The report states, “Lung cancer remains a major public health issue and is the leading cause of cancer death among women and minority populations. The death rate is expected to escalate as the population ages. The committee encourages the NCI to work with the thoracic surgical community to initiate new clinical trials that involve patients at an early stage of the disease when surgery is a treatment option.”
The committee has been “encouraged in recent years by discoveries related to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. These extremely complex disorders represent a major cause of morbidity from intestinal illness. The committee commends the NIDDK [National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases] for its strong leadership in this area and continues to encourage the Institute to increase funding for research focused on the cellular, molecular and genetic structure of IBD; identification of the genes that determine susceptibility or resistance to IBD in various patient subgroups; and translation of basic research findings into patient clinical trials, as outlined in the research agenda developed by the scientific community titledChallenges in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The committee also encourages the NIDDK to continue to strengthen its partnership with the IBD community and increase support for its successful Digestive Disease Centers program with an emphasis on IBD.”
According to the report, “Research on interstitial cystitis is still in its infancy. While there has been important progress in this area in the last decade, there is still very little known about the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. The committee urges the NIDDK to set aside IC-specific funding in order to focus on the basic science of IC and to attract and sustain research in the field. The committee was pleased that the NIDDK worked closely with the Interstitial Cystitis Association to put on an international scientific symposium on IC. The committee was also encouraged by the NIDDK’s efforts to elevate awareness of IC among providers and would like to see the NIDDK continue to work more closely with the interstitial cystitis patient community and the CDC to utilize its resources and expertise effectively.”
The committee “urges the NIAID [National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases] to expand and intensify genetic, clinical, and basic research and related activities with respect to lupus, with particular focus on identifying biomarkers and addressing the apparent health disparities associated with this disease.”
The report states, “Rett Syndrome is an incurable and devastating childhood neurological disorder that is the leading cause of severe neurologic impairment in females and the only autism spectrum disorder with a known genetic cause.” The committee “encourages research aimed at understanding the pathogenesis of Rett Syndrome, the function of MECP2 [a gene] in the developing and mature nervous system, and the identification of the targets of MECP2 and their role in disease. The development of outcome measures and new quantifiable assays to study Rett and related disorders are also needed to prepare for future interventional trials in patients. The committee also encourages NIH to coordinate with private organizations supporting research initiatives in this area in order to ensure the most efficient use of resources.”
The committee is “pleased that NICHD [National Institute of Child Health and Human Development] is funding behavioral intervention research focused on preventing childhood obesity. The committee encourages additional clinical trials that focus on the effectiveness of behavioral interventions in settings beyond primary care, including the home, school, community, and other environments that influence physical activity and health behaviors. The committee recognizes the critical importance of prevention efforts in this area and supports continued initiatives to promote healthy behaviors in children and adolescents, particularly for ethnic minority populations.”
The report states, “NIH-supported research indicates that millions of women suffer from chronic pelvic and genitourinary pain conditions such as vulvodynia. Therefore, the committee calls upon the NINDS, in coordination with the NICHD, ORWH [Office of Research on Women’s Health], the NIH Pain Consortium and other ICs [institutes and centers], to expand its support of research in this area, with a focus on etiology and multi-center therapeutic trials. The committee also calls on NINDS [National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke] to work with ORWH and other relevant ICs and government agencies, as well as patient and professional organizations, to implement an educational outreach campaign on vulvodynia.”
According to the committee report, the committee is “pleased that the NICHD is working with other Institutes and agencies to assess the state of the science and research needs related to children exposed to domestic and community violence, war, and terrorism. The committee encourages the NICHD to continue to fund research on effective ways to promote and sustain healthy family formations, particularly for low-income families and families of color. The Institute is encouraged to include research related to family, community and cultural factors that serve as risk or protective factors and promote resilience from exposure to violence in the home, communities, and schools.”
The report states that premature ovarian failure (POF) is “a condition in which the ovaries stop functioning normally in a woman younger than age 40. Studies show that women who have POF of unknown cause have a 1 in 50 chance of being a premutation carrier of the FMR1 gene, the gene that causes Fragile X syndrome [a common cause of inherited mental impairment]. Women with POF and a family history of female relatives with POF have a 1 in 15 chance of carrying this premutation. The committee recognizes that there is a need for a focused approach to investigating POF due to the FMR1 premutation. While the intramural research program of NICHD [National Institute of Child Health and Human Development] has been doing work for nearly two decades in this area, there remains much to be learned about the mechanism causing POF, abnormal ovarian function as it relates to FMR1, and mental health effects on young women who get the double diagnosis of premature ovarian failure and the FMR1 premutation. The committee encourages the NICHD to commit additional resources and expand research into POF.”
“The preterm birth rate is now over 12 percent of all live births; of these, 75 percent are near-term births,” according to the committee report. “It is estimated that this group encompasses 40 percent of neonatal ICU admissions. These infants are at risk for sepsis, pneumonia, feeding difficulties, white matter damage, seizures, and apnea and remain at risk for higher morbidities in early infancy. The committee understands that this group of infants has not been well studied and may account for a portion of the increase in adverse long-term outcomes, such as autism, attention deficit disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The NICHD is encouraged to facilitate the critical need for research in this area.”
The committee “applauds NICHD’s efforts in supporting research to understand, prevent and treat preterm birth, including workshops on major gaps in knowledge areas. Despite these efforts, however, the rate of preterm births continues to rise. The committee therefore strongly urges the NICHD to fully support the Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network so that it can continue to address issues pertaining to preterm births and low birthweight deliveries, and to fully support the new Genomic and Proteomic Network, which will hasten a better understanding behind the pathophysiology of premature birth, discover novel diagnostic biomarkers, and ultimately aid in formulating more effective interventional strategies to prevent premature birth.”
It also applauds NICHD’s “efforts in addressing stillbirth, a major public health issue with morbidity equal to that of all infant deaths. The committee understands that the NICHD cooperative network has initiated a pilot study, with the overall study using a standard protocol planned to start this year. The committee strongly encourages the NICHD to fully fund this effort.”
According to the committee report, “Although bone mineral density has been a useful predictor of susceptibility to fracture, other properties of the skeleton contribute to bone strength, including exercise and mechanisms of biomineralization. However, little is understood as to how these properties assist in the maintenance of bone strength. The committee urges the NIA, in collaboration with the NIAMS [National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases], NIBIB [National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and BioEngineering], NICHD, and NHLBI [National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute], to support research that is aimed at identifying these parameters and will lead to prevention and treatment of bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, bone loss due to kidney disease, and heart attacks due to hardening of the arteries.”
The committee is “aware that osteoporosis is becoming widespread in all ages of our population. NIAMS is urged to collaborate with other Institutes to support research into the pathophysiology of bone loss in varied populations and in targeted therapies to improve bone density and bone quality according to the etiology of osteoporosis. Furthermore, the committee urges research to identify patients at risk for fracture who do not meet current criteria for osteoporosis, as well as to study the effects of available and developing osteoporosis treatments on the reduction of fracture risk in these patients.”
The report states, “Recognizing that women are the single largest group at risk for death from stroke, the committee believes that special attention should be focused on better understanding the gender-related differences in stroke. Studies suggest that significant gender differences occur in the evaluation and treatment of stroke patients, with women often receiving fewer diagnostic tests and intervention procedures. Increased research is needed to understand these differences and provide a means to optimize stroke care for all patients. Some aspects of the disease unique to women include strokes related to pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives; stroke in younger women requires increased attention. Stroke is additionally a leading cause of serious disability among women and may contribute to late-life cognitive decline. The committee supports the funding of new and continuing NIH studies that investigate the impact of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on stroke risk. Continued support of clinical and basic research on hormone physiology in women is necessary to understanding the impact of hormones on women’s vascular systems. The committee urges NIH to increase research in stroke among women of all ages, with specific attention to gender-related differences in stroke risk, and to stroke prevention interventions, acute stroke management, post-stroke recovery, long-term outcomes, and quality of care.”
According to the committee report, “while much progress has been made with regard to AIDS treatments, considerable work remains especially with regard to HIV/AIDS across communities of color and in women. The committee encourages the NIH to further examine how these medications work in smaller frame women; how best to ensure women follow treatment regimens; mental health impact of HIV/AIDS in women including depression; and impact on memory, and AIDS-related cognitive dementia.”
The committee notes that “in 2001, the Institute of Medicine released a report that stressed the importance of biological sex as a basic variable that needs to be considered in all areas of biomedical research. Recent findings have demonstrated significant differences between men and women exist in health and disease. For many disorders, the sex of the patient influences disease etiology, natural history, diagnosis, and treatment alternatives and outcomes. One of the fields where such differences are most pronounced is neuroscience. The committee strongly encourages each of the 15 Institutes involved in the NIH Neuroscience Blueprint to carefully analyze their entire NIH Neuroscience Blueprint research portfolio to ensure sex is included as a variable, when appropriate, and to require that all reported results include sex specific analysis.”
The committee “remains very interested in efforts to find a cure and treatments for LAM [lymphangioleiomyomatosis], a progressive and fatal lung disease that strikes women, usually in their childbearing years. Currently, there are no effective treatments. The committee understands that recent scientific findings have presented new treatment approaches for clinical testing, and that experimental trials with the drug sirolimus have begun. The committee urges the NHLBI [National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute], as well as the NCI, the Office of Rare Diseases, and the NINDS [National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke] to find clinical treatment trials through both intramural and extramural means and to use all available mechanisms as appropriate, including support of state-of-the science symposia, request for applications, and facilitating access to human tissues to stimulate a broad range of clinical and basic LAM research.”
The committee was “very disappointed that the President’s budget proposed to eliminate funding for the National Children’s Study. The committee supports full and timely implementation of the Study [NCS] and has included funds within the Office of the Director to continue the study. This study aims to quantify the impacts of a broad range of environmental influences, including physical, chemical, biological, and social influences, on child health and development. Now that the pilot phase of the project has gotten underway, the committee believes it is timely to reconsider the scientific strategy to measure environmental exposures and genetic factors. Major scientific advances have occurred in several fields since the National Children’s Study was first authorized, and the leadership of the NCS is urged to bring in additional objective scientific expertise to assess the scientific merit of the study components. The committee further urges the NIH to coordinate the involvement of the Departments, the lead Federal partners and other interested institutes, agencies, and non-federal partners conducting research on children’s environmental health and development, such that this study is ready for the field by no later than 2007.”
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA):SAMHSA would receive $3.337 billion in FY2007, $12.776 million above FY2006 and $77.311 million more than the administration’s request.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment: The bill would provide $911.805 million for mental health services, $28.132 million more than FY2006 and $62.893 million more than President Bush’s request.
The substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant (SAPT) would receive $1.789 billion in FY2007, $31.166 million above FY2006 and $30 million more than President Bush’s request.
The committee “continues to be concerned about the incidence of drug addiction among pregnant and parenting women. The unavailability of family-based treatment is manifested in the overrepresentation of substance-abusing mothers in the child welfare system. Up to 80 percent of the families who come to the attention of child welfare agencies are substance abusing. The committee believes that increased capacity for family-based treatment programs is imperative.”
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): As requested by the administration, AHRQ would be level-funded at $318.695 million in FY2007.
The committee is “seriously concerned about the prevalence of undiagnosed and untreated mental illness among older Americans. Affective disorders, including depression, anxiety, dementia, and substance abuse and dependence, are often misdiagnosed or not recognized at all by primary and specialty care physicians in their elderly patients. While effective treatments for these conditions are available, there is an urgent need to translate advancements from biomedical and behavioral research to clinical practice. The committee urges AHRQ to support evidence-based research projects focused on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses in the geriatric population, and to disseminate evidence-based reports to physicians and other health care professionals.”
Administration for Children and Families
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): Under the bill, the CCDBG would receive $2.062 billion in FY2007, $1.417 million less than FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
Social Services Block Grant: As requested by the administration, the Social Services Block Grant would be level-funded at $1.7 billion in FY2007.
Child Support Enforcement: The measure would allocate $2.753 billion for child support enforcement and family support programs. This amount is $64.688 million less than FY2006 and $7.3 million less than the administration’s request.
International Trafficking: Under the Refugee and Entrant assistance account, a program to aid victims of trafficking would be level-funded at $9.816 million, $5 million less than President Bush’s request.
The committee “encourages the efforts of the Department [of Health and Human Services] to assist child trafficking victims from remaining trapped in life-threatening situations. However, there is concern that the victims may fear being interrogated by law enforcement authorities. The committee supports efforts made within the jurisdiction of the Department, under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386), to certify child victims of trafficking as eligible for emergency benefits or services, and encourages the Department to facilitate the provision of guardians ad litem for child trafficking victims to help ensure their access to these [services]. The committee encourages the Department to work with the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that needs of the victims are served in the best and most appropriate manner.”
Child and Family Services Programs: Head Start would receive $6.789 billion in FY2007, $5 million less than FY2006 and $2.8 million less than the administration’s request.
Consolidated runaway and homeless youth programs would be funded at $87.837 million in FY2007, $50,000 more than FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
Child abuse and neglect treatment and prevention activities would receive $96.967 million, $1.816 million more than FY2006 and $1.75 million more than President Bush’s request.
Adoption: As requested by the administration, adoption opportunities programs would receive $26.848 million in FY2007, $18,000 more than FY2006. Adoption awareness campaigns would be funded at $12.674 million, $9,000 more than FY2006 and an amount equal to the President Bush’s request. For adoption incentives, the bill would provide $29.654 million, $11.834 million more than FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
Mentoring Children of Prisoners: As requested by the administration, the bill would provide $40 million for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners programs. This amount is $9.459 million less than FY2006.
Promoting Safe and Stable Families: The bill would provide $420 million for the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program in FY2007, $25.961 million more than FY2006 and $14.1 million below the administration’s request.
Violence Against Women (VAWA): As requested by the administration, the National Domestic Violence Hotline would be funded at $2.97 million in FY2007, $2,000 more than FY2006. In addition, battered women’s shelters would receive $124.731 million, $86,000 more than FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
Abstinence-only Education: The measure would allocate $113.4 million in FY2007, $125,000 more than FY2006 and $27.765 million less than President Bush’s request.
Administration on Aging (AoA): The AoA’s National Family Caregiver Support program would receive $156.167 million in FY2007, $107,000 above FY2006 level and $1.98 million above the administration’s request
Office of the Secretary
Public Health Service’s Office of Minority Health: The bill would provide $57.325 million in FY2007, $870,000 more than FY2006 and $10.55 million more than the administration’s request.
Public Health Service’s Office on Women’s Health: The measure would allocate $28.869 million in FY2007, $624,000 more than FY2006 and $500,000 above the administration’s request.
Adolescent Family Life: The Adolescent Family Life program would receive $30.277 million in FY2007, $21,000 above FY2006 and $95,000 less than President Bush’s request.
Minority HIV/AIDS: As requested by the administration, the measure would provide $51.891 million for minority HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities. This amount is $36,000 above FY2006.
Embryo Adoption Awareness Campaign: The bill would provide $2 million for the embryo adoption awareness campaign, $21,000 more than FY2006 and $20,000 more than the administration’s request.
The bill continues a policy “prohibiting the use of Title X funds unless the applicant for the award certifies to the secretary [of the Department of Health and Human Services] that it encourages family participation in the decision of minors to seek family planning services and that it provides counseling to minors on how to resist attempts to coerce minors into engaging in sexual activities.” The report language restates a prohibition on the use of funds to: carry out a needle distribution program; to provide abortion services; and to enforce any federal, state, or local law or regulation if it “discriminates against individual or institutional health care entities if they do not provide, pay for, or refer for abortions.”
Department of Education
No Child Left Behind: As requested by the administration, grants to local educational agencies under the No Child Left Behind Act (P.L. 107-110) would be level-funded at $12.713 billion in FY2007.
William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Program: In accordance with the administration’s request, the bill does not provide any funding for this program. In FY2006, the program received $99 million.
Reading First and Early Reading First: The bill would allocate $1 billion for the Reading First program in FY2007, $29.234 million less than FY2006 and the administration’s request. In addition, the Early Reading First program would receive $100 million, $3.118 million less than FY2006 and the administration’s request.
Teacher Quality: Under the bill, $1.312 billion would be provided to states to improve teacher quality in FY2007. This amount represents a decrease of $140 million from FY2006 and the administration’s request. The bill would provide level funding for the Troops-to-Teachers and Transition to Teaching programs, which assist eligible members of the armed forces and mid-career professionals to obtain certification as teachers. As requested by the administration, these programs would be level-funded at $14.645 million and $44.484 million, respectively. In addition, the Math and Science Partnerships would be funded at $195 million in FY2007, $12.84 million above FY2006 and the administration’s request.
21st Century Community Learning Centers: As requested by the administration, the bill would provide level funding of $981.166 million in FY2007.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Total spending for special education would be $11.61 billion in FY2007, $43 million less than FY2006 and $88 million less than the administration’s request.
Education for Homeless Children and Youth: Under the bill, level funding of $61.871 million would be provided for education for homeless children and youth, equal to the administration’s request.
Vocational Education: The measure would level-fund vocational education at $1.296 billion in FY2007. Under the administration’s budget request, this program would not have been funded.
Adult Education: In FY2007, funding for adult education would be remain at $579.552 million, an amount equal to the administration’s request.
Pell Grants: The bill would provide $12.607 billion for Pell Grants in FY2007, $438.517 million less then FY2006 and $53 million less than the administration’s request. The maximum Pell Grant would be $4,050, $100 more than FY2006 and the amount requested by President Bush.
Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS):Funding for the CCAMPIS program would remain level at $15.81 million in FY2007, as requested by the administration.
Office for Civil Rights: The measure would provide $92.866 million in FY2007 for the Office for Civil Rights to enforce laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age in all programs and institutions funded by the Department of Education. This funding level is $2.255 million more than FY2006 and equal to the administration’s request.
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
The bill (H.R. 5385) would allocate $94.316 billion, $13.1 billion above FY2006 and $433.501 million below the administration’s request. The House version of the bill would allocate $93.91 billion, $405.85 million more than the Senate version. The bill would provide $3.989 billion for housing for military families, $493.405 million below FY2006 and $95.213 million less than the administration’s request.
Report Language
The Senate Appropriations Committee report accompanying the bill includes language detailing a number of programs affecting women and their families. Although report language is not binding, federal agencies give careful consideration to such language as it indicates programs or initiatives that are particularly important for appropriators.
Department of Veterans Affairs The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would receive $36.493 billion in discretionary funding for FY2007, $2.241 billion more than FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
The Veterans Health Administration would be funded at $32.67 billion, $3.329 billion more than FY2006 and $13 million more than the administration’s request. Included in that amount is $28.689 billion for medical services, $3.569 billion for medical facilities, and $412 million for medical and prosthetic research.
According to the committee report, “Many Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, including Guard and Reserve forces, are returning home with physical and/or mental injuries. The attacks from insurgents and suicide bombers have left a record number of men and women with a loss of limbs, brain and spinal cord injuries, and blindness. In past wars, these service members would not have survived these types of injuries, but recent advancements in medical science have made it possible to save more lives. The road to recovery is often dependent on the quality of care the VA’s healthcare system has to offer. Many veterans have injuries that are not visible. Many suffer from mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorders [PTSD]. PTSD can debilitate our veterans with severe mental anguish, stress and depression, disabling them from moving forward with their lives. This committee fully supports the VA’s efforts to treat all mental health disorders, particularly PTSD, and commends the VA for its work in this area.”
Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, HUD, and Related Agencies
The bill (H.R. 5576) would allocate $89.39 billion in discretionary funds for FY2007, $13.558 billion below FY2006 and $2.642 billion more than the administration’s request. The House version of the bill would allocate $86.657 billion (not including appropriations for the District of Columbia), $2.655 billion less than the Senate version.
Report Language
The Senate Appropriations Committee report accompanying the bill includes language detailing a number of programs affecting women and their families. Although report language is not binding, federal agencies give careful consideration to such language as it indicates programs or initiatives that are particularly important for appropriators.
Department of Transportation
As requested by President Bush, $841,000 in level funding would be provided for the Minority Business Resource Center. The center “provides assistance in obtaining short-term working capital and bonding for disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned businesses.” The center also “enables qualified businesses to obtain loans at prime interest rates for transportation-related projects.” In addition, minority business outreach would be level-funded at $2.97 million, an amount equal to the administration’s request.
The committee has “become aware of possible increases in vehicle crashes involving pregnant women. These vehicle crashes put both the expectant mother and fetus at risk, yet little is known of the incidents, risks, and characteristics of pregnant women in crashes. The committee directs the NHTSA [National Highway Transportation Safety Administration] to explore the feasibility of adding a gravid anthropomorphic dummy to its vehicle testing procedures. A federal standard on a gravid anthropomorphic dummy may help spur research to improve the crashworthiness of vehicles for pregnant women. NHTSA shall report to the House and Senate Committee on Appropriations within 9 months of the enactment of this act on the number of crashes involving pregnant women and the injuries and fatalities associated with those crashes.”
Occupant Protection Incentive Grants would receive $25 million, $250,000 more than FY2006 and an amount equal to the administration’s request.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Homeless programs would receive $1.511 billion, $1.859 million more than FY2006 and $24.8 million less than the administration’s request.
The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program would receive $295 million, an increase of $9.11 million over FY2006 and $5.1 million less than the administration’s request.
Section 8 housing vouchers would be funded at $15.92 billion (including $4.2 billion as an advance appropriation to be made available on October 1, 2006), $502.081 million more than FY2006 and an amount identical to the administration’s request. Included in this amount is $14.436 billion for the renewal of all expiring section 8 contracts, $149.3 million for section 8 preservation contracts through tenant-based protections, and $47.5 million for family self-sufficiency contracts.
Fair housing programs would receive $44.55 million, $10,000 more than FY2006 and an amount equal to the budget request.
Lead Hazard Reduction would be funded at $152 million, $1.52 million above FY2006 and $37.16 million more than the administration’s request. The allocation would include $91.674 million for lead abatement grant assistance to states, local governments, and Native American tribes, and $9 million for the Healthy Homes Initiative, which conducts outreach-related activities.
The Downpayment Assistance Initiative would be funded at $25 million, $250,000 less than FY2006 and $75.25 million less than the administration’s request. The committee “supports expanding home ownership opportunities, but it is concerned that this program may be helping families with excessive credit risk and who may not be the best candidates for home ownership.”
Executive Office of the President
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) would receive $11.5 million, $15.139 million less than FY2006 and $11.809 million more than President Bush’s request. The committee is “extremely displeased with the performance of ONDCP regarding their communication with the committee and their responsiveness to congressional inquiries. ONDCP lethargy and the inadequate information provided severely impacts the ability of the committee to conducts its oversight and make budgetary decisions in a timely manner. This kind of unresponsiveness on the part of ONDCP results in an unnecessary waste of time and energy; numerous follow-up conversations are required in almost every instance. Therefore, the committee has reduced the salaries and expenses budget to more closely reflect actual performance.”
The bill would provide level funding of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign at $120 million.
Independent Agencies
The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation would receive $119.79 million in FY2007, $2.97 million more than FY2006 and an amount identical to the administration’s request.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness would receive $2 million in FY2007, $218,000 more than FY2006 and an amount equal to President Bush’s request.
