Appropriators in the House have started their work on spending bills to fund the U.S. government in fiscal year (FY) 2023, despite the lack of an agreement between Democrats and Republicans on budget limits.
After failing to negotiate a budget resolution, House Democrats adopted a $1.6 trillion discretionary spending cap for the upcoming fiscal year, largely in line with the President’s budget request, allowing appropriators to begin drafting the 12 annual spending bills. The House Appropriations Committee released its first six FY 2023 spending bills last week. These include the appropriations bills for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Legislative Branch; and Defense.
The Agriculture-FDA spending bill was advanced by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture without any amendments. It includes an overall allocation of $27.2 billion, an increase of $2 billion (or 8 percent) compared to FY 2022. Of this total, $3.6 billion would be targeted to agricultural research programs. The Agricultural Research Service would receive $1.8 billion (+3 percent), and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture would get $1.8 billion (+9 percent). The bill would make targeted investments in climate resiliency and rural development programs. It now needs approval from the full Appropriations Committee before heading to the House floor for a vote.
The remaining six appropriations bills are set to be released this week. The spending bill for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, which includes funding for the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology is scheduled to be marked up on June 22, 2022. The bills that fund the National Institutes of Health, the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy will also be taken up by their respective subcommittees this week.
Stay current on the latest science policy news. Subscribe to our bi-weekly AIBS Public Policy Report.