This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies spending bills.
The Senate began consideration of the Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies spending bill (H.R. 2997). It is expected to complete work on the bill next week.
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
On July 30, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved, 29-1, the FY2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered); the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies approved the bill, by voice vote, on July 28. The House approved its version of the measure on July 24 (see The Source, 7/24/09).
According to a committee press release, the bill would provide $163.1 billion in discretionary spending in FY2010, $3.2 billion over FY2009 and $1.6 billion more than the president’s request.
Department of Labor
The bill would provide “$94 million for activities designed to end abusive child labor and forced labor, and monitor and more effectively support enforcement of labor issues in countries with which the United States has free trade agreements. This amount is $7.8 million above the FY2009 enacted level.”
The Green Jobs Innovation Fund would receive $40 million in FY2010.
Department of Health and Human Services
As requested by the administration, the National Institutes of Health would receive $30.8 billion, $442 million over FY2009.
The bill includes $7.2 billion for the Head Start Program, $122 million above FY2009 and the same as the administration’s request.
The legislation includes $104 million for “a new program to fund evidence-based efforts to reduce teen pregnancy.” As in the House-approved version of the bill, the Senate draft does not include funding for abstinence-only sexual education.
The bill includes $333 million for global health activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $24 million over FY2009 and $14 million above the administration’s request.
Department of Education
Title I grants to local educational agencies would receive $13.8 billion, $800 million above the president’s budget request.
The Striving Readers program would be funded at $263 million. The “revamped” program “will take a comprehensive approach to literacy, serve children from birth through grade 12, and subsume the mission of the Early Reading First program, which the bill eliminates. This funding level is an increase of $115 million over the combined FY2009 enacted level for Early Reading First and Striving Readers.”
As requested by President Obama, Pell Grants awards would be increased from $4,860 to $5,550 in FY2010.
Additional information will be available when the committee report accompanying the bill is printed.
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
On July 30, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved, 30-0, the FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered); the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies approved the bill, by voice vote, on July 29. The House approved its version of the measure on July 23 (see The Source, 7/24/09).
According to a committee press release, the bill would provide $122 billion in FY2010, $12.9 billion above FY2009 (excluding emergency and supplemental funds) and $1.2 million below the administration’s request.
Section 8 tenant-based assistance would receive $18.1 billion, $1.16 billion above FY2009 and $301 million above the President’s request. Included in that amount is “$20 million for new family unification vouchers to assist youth aging out of foster care and families separated because of a lack of housing.”
As requested by the President, project-based rental assistance programs would be funded at $8.1 billion, $600 million over FY2009.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS would receive $320 million, $10 million above FY2009 and the administration’s request.
