This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and Legislative Branch spending bills. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies approved its FY2010 spending bill.
Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies
On June 11, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies approved, by voice vote, its FY2010 spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered).
According to committee documents, the bill would provide $22.9 billion in FY2010, $2.298 billion more than FY2009 and $78.81 million below the administration’s request.
Department of Agriculture
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) would receive $7.541 billion in FY2010, $681 million over FY2009, and $236 million less than President Obama’s request.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program would be funded at $250.57 million in FY2010, $19.77 more than FY2009 and $17.182 million above the administration’s request.
As requested by the administration, the Food for Peace program (P.L. 480) would receive $1.69 billion in FY2010, $464.1 million above FY2009. The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition program would be funded at $199.5 million, as requested by the administration, $99.5 million over FY2009.
Food and Drug Administration
As requested by the administration, the FDA would receive $2.35 billion in FY2010, a $298.692 million increase over FY2009.
Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies
On June 9, the House Appropriations Committee approved, by voice vote, the FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered). The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies approved the measure, by voice vote, on June 4 (see The Source, 6/5/09).
According to a committee statement, the bill would provide $64.415 billion in FY2010, $6.764 billion more than FY2009 and $197 million less than the administration’s request.
During debate on the measure, the committee adopted, by voice vote, a manager’s amendment by Chair Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV) that would, among other provisions, add report language to urge the attorney general to designate a senior departmental official to coordinate the development of a national strategy for child exploitation prevention and interdiction, as required by the Protect Our Children Act (P.L.110-401), and encourage the Department of Justice to continue supporting programs that provide recovery services to victims of rape.
Department of Justice
Violence Against Women
The full committee did not change the amount of funding for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs; the programs would receive $400 million in FY2010 (under the bill, six VAWA programs would be funded via the Office of Justice Programs).
State and Local Law Enforcement
Programs authorized by the Adam Walsh Act (P.L. 109-248) to combat sex crimes and child exploitation would receive $325 million in FY2010, $41 million above FY2009 and $22 million more than President Obama’s request.
Related Agencies
Legal Services Corporation: (LSC) LSC would receive $440 million in FY2010, $50 million more than FY2009 and $5 million more than the administration’s request. The LSC provides “legal assistance to people who are unable to afford it. A 2005 study found that for every eligible person served, another was turned away due to lack of resources.”
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): As requested by the administration, the EEOC would receive $367 million in FY2010, a $23 million increase over FY2009.
Civil Rights Division: As requested by President Obama, the Civil Rights Division would receive $145 million in FY2010, $22 million above FY2009. The increase is “to reinvigorate the civil rights program at the Department of Justice. New staff will allow for the vigorous pursuit of human trafficking crimes and unsolved Civil Rights Era crimes.”
Legislative Branch
On June 12, the House Appropriations Committee approved, by voice vote, the FY2010 Legislative Branch spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered). The House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch approved the bill, by voice vote, on June 9.
According to a committee statement, the bill would provide $3.68 billion in discretionary spending for the legislative branch. The bill funds only House operations and would provide $237 million above FY2009 and $282 million below the administration’s request. Included in that amount is “$1 million for child care benefits for lower-paid employees in [congressional] offices and committees.”
More information will be available when the committee report accompanying the bill is printed.
