Senate
On June 24, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government approved, by voice vote, the FY2015 Financial Services and General Services spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered).
According to the committee summary, the measure would provide $22.673 billion in funding for FY2015. The amount is $607 million more than FY2014 and $1.1 billion below President Obama’s FY2015 budget request.
The legislation includes $896 million for the Small Business Administration (SBA), $34 million below the amount provided in FY2014.
House
On June 25, the House Appropriations Committee approved, 28-21, its version of the bill. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government approved the bill on June 18 (see The Source, 6/20/14).
According to the committee report, the measure would provide $21.285 billion in funding for FY2015. This amount is $566 million below FY2014 and $2.256 billion below President Obama’s FY2015 budget request.
The bill provides $1 million for the National Women’s Business Council and $15 million for Women’s Business Centers (WBCs). Additionally, the committee notes the absence of WBCs serving many U.S. territories and recommends that the SBA consider providing WBC services to these areas.
A provision is included that would permit breast feeding in federal buildings or on federal property.
The measure also would prohibit the use of funds for abortion services in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and for abortion except in cases of rape or incest or if necessary to save the life of the mother.
