Defense
On July 8, the House approved, 336-87, the FY2012 Defense spending bill (H. R. 2219). The House Appropriations Committee approved the measure on June 14 (see The Source, 6/17/11).
The bill would provide $649.223 billion in FY2012 mandatory and discretionary defense spending. This amount is $21.917 billion below FY2011 and $8.074 billion below President Obama’s request. The overall funding level includes $118.567 billion for overseas contingency operations, $132.092 billion for military personnel, and $2.3 billion for military family programs.
The legislation would provide $32.317 billion for the Defense Health Program (DHP), $935.261 million above FY2011 and $118.689 million over the president’s request. The amount includes $120 million for the peer-reviewed breast cancer research program, $16 million for the peer-reviewed ovarian cancer research program, and $8 million for global HIV/AIDS prevention.
During consideration of the bill, the House approved several amendments to increase funding for the Defense Health Program through offsetting cuts to other programs. These amendments included an amendment by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to increase funding for the DHP by $500,000 for post-traumatic stress disorder research, approved by voice vote.
The House also approved:
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
On July 7, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies approved, by voice vote, its FY2012 spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered).
According to the subcommittee summary and chart, the bill would provide $50.565 billion in overall funding, $3.093 billion below FY2011 and $7.434 billion less than the president’s FY2012 request. The total amount includes $50.237 billion in discretionary funding, $3.09 billion less than FY2011 and $7.434 billion less than the president’s request, and $328 million in mandatory funding,$3 million less than FY2011 and equal to the president’s request).
The legislation includes $7.118 billion for the Department of Commerce, $463.15 million below FY2011 and $1.685 billion below President Obama’s request. The Minority Business Development Agency would receive $30.339 million in FY2012, equal to the FY2011 level but $1.983 million less than the administration’s request.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) would receive $26.348 billion, $1.04 billion below FY2011 and $2.376 billion below the president’s request. The Marshals Service would receive $1.134 billion in FY2012, $5.967 million less than FY2011 and $125.059 million less than the president’s request. Within funding for the Marshals Service, priority would be given to sex offender apprehension, among other programs.
With regard to funding for various DOJ grant programs, the committee notes that, “In this time of fiscal crisis, the committee made the tough choice to fund only the highest priority programs with national reach and broad purposes.” The bill would provide $1.767 billion for State and Local Law Enforcement activities, $1.051 billion below FY2011 and $1.337 billion below the president’s request. Violence against women programs and missing and exploited children programs would be funded at FY2011 levels. Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants would receive $357 million in FY2011, $73 million less than FY2011. Several programs to reduce and prevent violence against women and children are funded through State and Local Law Enforcement activities and Byrne Justice Assistance Grants.
The measure also would prohibit funds for DOJ from being used to provide abortion services, except in the cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother.
The measure would provide $6.86 billion to the National Science Foundation, equal to FY2011 and $907.133 million below the president’s request. Funding for programs to encourage women and minorities to enter science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions would be included.
The Legal Services Corporation would receive $300 million in FY2012, $104.19 million less than FY2011 and $150 million less than the administration’s request.
The measure would allocate $366.568 million in FY2012 for the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission, equal to FY2011 and $18.952 million below the president’s request.
The bill would provide $8 million in FY2012 for the Commission of Civil Rights, $1.381 million below FY2011 and $1.429 million below President Obama’s FY2012 request.
Additional details about programs important to women and their families will be provided once the committee issues its report.
Legislative Branch
On July 7, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch approved, by voice vote, its spending bill for FY2012 (as-yet-unnumbered).
According to House Appropriations Chair Hal Rogers (R-KY), “this bill will reduce House leadership, member, and committee budgets by over six percent.” The measure would provide $3.326 billion for House and joint operations, $227.002 million less than FY2011 and $471.764 million below the president’s request.
Funding for the House child care center is allocated in the Legislative Branch spending bill.
