The Senate Appropriations Committee approved, 16-14, the FY2014 Financial Services and General Government spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered). The legislation was approved on July 23 by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. The House Appropriations approved its version of the bill on July 17 (see The Source, 7/19/13).
According to a committee report, the legislation would authorize $44.304 billion for FY2014, including $23.190 billion in discretionary spending and $21.115 billion in mandatory spending. This amount is $958.275 million above FY2013 and $1.131 billion below President Obama’s FY2014 request.
The bill would authorize $949.238 million for the Small Business Administration (SBA), $897.942 million below FY2013 and $139.05 million above the president’s FY2014 request. This amount includes $14 million for Women’s Business Centers, $28,000 above FY2013 and $950,000 above the president’s request. In addition, the bill would provide $1 million to the National Women’s Business Council, $4,000 above FY2013 and $100,000 above the president’s request.
The committee stated its disappointment that “the budget request again proposes to reduce support for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program” and authorized $114.75 million for the program, $2.475 million above FY2013 and $10.07 million above the president’s request. The committee stated that “providing support for SBDCs is more critical than ever as our economy works to recover and grow” and directed the SBA “to prioritize the continuation of a robust SBDC network.”
The bill also would authorize $20 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance program, $40,000 above FY2013 and $150,000 above the president’s request.
