On February 13, the House approved, 338-83, an omnibus appropriations package that was attached to a continuing resolution (H. J. Res. 2). The same day, the Senate approved H. J. Res. 2, 76-20. Since 2 of the 13 appropriations bills have been enacted–defense and military construction–H. J. Res. 2 provides $397.3 billion in FY2003 discretionary spending for the remaining 11 appropriations bills.
Agriculture
H. J. Res. 2 provides $17.5 billion in discretionary funding for agricultural programs in FY2003, $124 million more than the President’s request. Congress allocated $16 billion in discretionary funding in FY2002.
The bill provides $10.6 billion for child nutrition programs, $4 million more than the President’s request and $493 million more than the FY2002 level.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) receives $4.7 billion in FY2003, $55 million less than the President’s request. In FY2002, Congress allocated $4.35 billion for WIC programs.
Commerce, Justice, State
H. J. Res. 2 provides $44.8 billion to fund the Commerce, Justice, and State Departments in FY2003, $755 million more than the President’s request. In FY2002, Congress allocated $41.6 billion for these departments.
Department of Justice
Local Law Enforcement Block Grants: Local law enforcement block grants are level-funded at $400 million in FY2003. Of this amount, $80 million is provided for the Boys and Girls Club.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): H. J. Res. 2 level funds programs under VAWA at $390 million.
Victims of Trafficking: Justice Department grants to victims of trafficking receive $10 million, the same funding level appropriated in FY2002.
DNA Backlog: H. J. Res. 2 provides $41 million to help reduce the DNA sample backlog, including the testing of rape kits.
Juvenile Justice: Juvenile justice programs receive $275 million in FY2003, $18 million more than the President’s request and $30 million less than FY2002.
Department of State
The State Department receives $7.9 billion in FY2003. Congress approved $7.6 billion in FY2002.
District of Columbia
The bill provides $512 million in FY2003 for the District of Columbia, $144 million more than the President’s request. Congress provided $517 million in FY2002.
H. J. Res. 2 maintains current law with respect to the prohibition on the use of local and federal funds for abortion coverage for low-income women on Medicaid and implementation of a voter referendum approving the medical use of marijuana. Exceptions for abortion coverage are made in the cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.
The measure also maintains current law prohibiting the use of federal and local funds for needle exchange programs.
In addition, the measure maintains current law allowing the use of local funds to implement a D.C. law that permits municipal employees to purchase health insurance benefits for their domestic partners, regardless of gender or marital status.
H. J. Res. 2 also includes a provision allowing the District of Columbia to enact contraceptive coverage legislation; however, the bill states that “it is the intent of Congress that any legislation enacted on such an issue should include a ‘conscience clause’ which provides exceptions for religious beliefs and moral convictions.”
Foreign Operations
H. J. Res. 2 provides $16.3 billion in discretionary spending, roughly the same amount provided in FY2002 and $170 million less than the President’s request.
Afghanistan: The measure appropriates $295 million in humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan. Of this amount, $50 million is provided for child survival and health programs and $41 million is provided for general development assistance.
Development Assistance: H. J. Res. 2 contains two major accounts for development assistance—a Development Assistance account and a Child Survival and Disease Fund. Total funding for development aid is $4.3 billion. Of that amount, $120 million is provided for the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The Development Assistance account receives $1.4 billion in FY2003, $211 million more than the FY2002 level. Additionally, the conferees recommend a minimum of $250 million for children’s basic education, with an emphasis on education for girls as well as funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Women in Development account.
The Child Survival and Disease Fund receives $1.8 billion in FY2003, $403 million more than the FY2002 level. The conferees also recommend $30 million for displaced children, orphans, and blind children.
Global HIV/AIDS: H. J. Res. 2 provides $800 million for global HIV/AIDS prevention and control. Of this amount, $250 million is provided for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis and $100 million is provided for the Mother-to-Child HIV Prevention program. Congress allocated $475 billion for global HIV/AIDS programs in FY2002.
Additionally, the conferees included report language urging a greater priority for microbicides research, mother-to child HIV transmission prevention, support for affected orphans and tuberculosis prevention.
International Family Planning: H. J. Res. 2 provides $465 million for international family planning programs. The President requested $368.5 million for these programs in FY2003 and last year, Congress allocated $446 million. The measure retains the Mexico City policy, which prohibits nongovernmental organizations that use their own funds to perform abortions abroad or to lobby foreign governments on abortion policy from receiving U.S. funds.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): H. J. Res. 2 provides $34 million for UNFPA, the same amount allocated in FY2002. However, the measure maintains current law allowing the President to withhold funds from any country or organization if the President certifies that the funds would be used for the performance of coerced abortions and involuntary sterilization. As a result, FY2002 funds were withheld.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID): In FY2003, USAID receives $572 million for operating costs, the same amount requested by the President and $23 million more than FY2002.
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education
H. J. Res. 2 provides $133.4 billion in discretionary spending for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education in FY2003. Congress allocated $127.6 billion in discretionary funding for these departments in FY2002.
The bill retains prohibitions on the use of federal funds for abortion coverage for women on Medicare or Medicaid except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.
Department of Labor
H. J. Res. 2 provides $14.6 billion for the Department of Labor in FY2003, $455 million more than the FY2002 level and $484 million more than the President’s request.
Dislocated Workers Assistance: Dislocated worker programs receive $1.1 billion in FY2003, $51 million more than the President’s request. In FY2002, Congress allocated $1.5 billion.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
H. J. Res. 2 provides $319.1 billion for HHS in FY2003, $1.2 billion more than the President’s request. In FY2002, the department received $479 billion.
National Institutes of Health (NIH): In FY2003, the NIH receives $27.2 billion, $3.8 billion more than the FY2002 level and $10 million less than the President’s request.
Centers for Disease Control: H. J. Res. 2 provides $4.3 billion for the CDC, $67.5 million less than the FY2002 level and $322 million more than the President’s request.
Ryan White: The Ryan White CARE Act receives a $96 million increase to $2.0 billion in FY2003.
Family Planning: Title X, the nation’s family planning program, receives $275 million, $10 million more than the President’s request and the FY2002 level.
Community Health Centers: H. J. Res. 2 provides $1.5 billion for community health centers, $57 million more than the President’s request and $171 million more than the FY2002 level.
Head Start: The Head Start program receives $6.7 billion in FY2003, the same amount requested by the President. In FY2002, Congress allocated $6.5 billion.
Child Care and Development Block Grant: The measure provides $2.1 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, to provide low-income families with financial assistance for child care. This funding level is the same amount requested by the President and $18,000 more than last year’s allocation.
Social Services Block Grant: H. J. Res. 2 level funds the Social Services Block Grant at $1.7 billion.
Administration on Aging (AoA): The measure provides $1.4 billion for the AoA, $35 million more than the President’s request and $29 million more than the FY2002 level.
Department of Education
H. J. Res. 2 provides $60 billion in FY2003 for the Department of Education. That represents a $3.6 billion increase over FY2002 and a $3.1 billion increase over the President’s request.
No Child Left Behind: Grants to local educational agencies under the No Child Left Behind Act (P.L. 107-110) receive $11.8 billion in FY2003, $400 million more than the President’s request and $1.4 billion more than the FY2002 allocation.
Teacher Quality: H. J. Res. 2 provides $3 billion for State Grants for Improving Teacher Quality. Last year, Congress allocated $2.9 billion.
Pell Grants: The maximum Pell Grant award is increased to $4,050, a $50 increase over last year’s maximum award.
21st Century Community Learning Centers: The measure provides $1 billion in FY2003, the same amount requested by the President and appropriated in FY2002.
Special Education: Special education state grants receive $9.7 billion in FY2003, $400 million more than the President’s request and $1.4 billion more than FY2002. Of this amount, $390 million is provided for preschool grants and $437 million in grants is allocated for infants and families.
Vocational Education: H. J. Res. 2 provides $1.3 billion for vocational education, $21 million more than FY2002 and $35 million more than the President’s request. This funding level includes $1.2 billion for basic state grants.
Adult Education: The measure provides $591 million for adult education, the same amount requested by the President and appropriated in FY2002.
Transportation
In FY2003, H. J. Res. 2 provides $22.5 billion for the Transportation and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Congress allocated $18.9 billion in FY2002.
Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government
In FY2003, H. J. Res. 2 provides $18.3 billion in discretionary spending for the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government appropriations bill, $382 million less than the President’s request. Congress allocated $18.55 billion in FY2002.
The bill maintains current law requiring health plans participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) to cover prescription contraceptives if they cover other prescription drugs. Physicians and others who provide contraceptives are exempted from the requirement if they object based on religious beliefs. Religiously affiliated health plans also are exempt.
The measure also prohibits abortion coverage under FEHBP, except when the life of the mother is endangered or in the case of rape or incest. Additionally, H. J. Res. 2 renews a provision that allows women to breastfeed their children in federal buildings or on federal property, as well as a provision that requires agencies to administer a policy to ensure that all workplaces are free from discrimination and sexual harassment.
Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development (VA-HUD)
The VA-HUD spending bill receives $90.4 billion in discretionary spending in FY2003. Congress allocated $95.41 billion in FY2002.
In FY2003, H. J. Res. 2 provides $1.2 billion for homeless programs, including funding to renew Shelter Plus Care contracts, which provide supportive housing for homeless people with disabilities and their families. Congress allocated $1.1 billion for homeless assistance grants in FY2002.
In addition, the bill provides $292 million for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program, a $14 million increase over last year.
Other Agencies
Legal Services Corporation (LSC): The LSC receives $338 million in FY2003, $10 million less than the FY2002 funding level.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): The bill appropriates $308 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, $2 million less than FY2002.
