On July16, the House passed, 228-195, the FY2015 Financial Services and General Government Spending Bill (H.R. 5016). The House Appropriations Committee passed the bill June 25 (see The Source, 6/27/14).
The measure would provide $21.285 billion in discretionary funding for FY2015. This amount is $566 million below FY2014 and $2.256 billion below President Obama’s FY2015 budget request.
The legislation would extend the prohibition on the use of federal or local funds to provide abortion services in the District of Columbia, except in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. The bill also would continue to require the D.C. government to include a “conscience clause” in legislation regarding contraceptive coverage.
The chart below summarizes funding levels for programs within the spending bill that are important to women and their families:
| Program/Agency | FY2014 | President’s FY2015 Request |
FY2015 |
| Small Business Administration | $928.975 million | $864.646 million | $861.941 million |
| Women’s Business Centers | $14 million | $14 million | $15 million |
| National Women’s Business Council | $1 million | $900,000 | $1 million |
| Microloan Technical Assistance | $20 million | $20 million | $20 million |
| Small Business Development Centers | $113.625 million | $113.625 million | $115 million |
