House Advances Financial Services Spending Bill

On June 23, the House Appropriations Committee passed, 27-21, the FY2012 Financial Services, General Government, and Related Agencies bill (as-yet-unnumbered). The subcommittee approved the legislation on June 16 (see The Source, 6/17/11).

According to the committee report, the measure would provide $41.35 billion in discretionary ($19.895 billion) and mandatory ($21.455 billion) funding in FY2012 (p. 2). The overall amount is $1.558 billion below FY2011 and $5.788 billion below President Obama’s request. Discretionary funding is $1.853 billion below FY2011 and $5.788 billion below the president’s request; mandatory funding is $295 million over FY2011 and equal to the administration’s request.

The measure would continue to prohibit funds from being used for abortions in the District of Columbia (p. 74) and under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (p. 69). The District of Columbia also would be required to report to Congress the steps the city has taken to ensure its compliance with the prohibition (p. 74).

As part of its funding for the District of Columbia’s Court Services and Offender Supervisions Agency, the bill would provide $153.548 million to the District for community supervision and sex offender registry, equal to the amount provided in FY2011 (p. 37).

During consideration of the bill, the committee rejected, 20-27, an amendment by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) to allow the District of Columbia to use its locally raised funds to provide abortion services.

The chart details funding levels for programs important to women and their families.