This week, the House approved the Department of Homeland Security and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies spending bills. The House Appropriations Committee approved the Energy and Water Development and Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs spending bills. In addition, a House Appropriations subcommittee approved the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies spending bill.
Committee Action
Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs
The House Appropriations Committee approved, by voice vote, the FY2006 Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered). A House Appropriations subcommittee approved the measure on May 12 (see The Source, 5/13/05).
The measure would allocate $85.2 billion in FY2006, a $5.9 billion increase over FY2005 and $1.1 billion more than the administration’s request.
Under the bill, $4.2 billion would be allocated for military family housing, $127 million more than FY2005, but $41 million less than the amount requested by President Bush.
The measure also includes several women’s health research programs that were previously under the jurisdiction of the defense subcommittee. Additional information will be made available after the House Appropriations Committee releases its report on the bill.
During consideration of the bill, the committee approved, by unanimous consent, an amendment offered by Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) that would provide $115 million for the Army’s Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program and $15 million for the Ovarian Cancer Research Program. Last year, Congress allocated $150 million and $10 million for these programs.
The committee rejected, 27-34, an amendment offered by Ranking Member David Obey (D-WI) that would have provided an additional $2.6 billion for health programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The increase would have been offset by an 8.125 percent tax cut reduction for individuals with annual incomes over $1 million.
The House is expected to consider the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs spending bill next week.
Subcommittee Action
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
On May 16, a House Appropriations subcommittee approved, by voice vote, the FY2006 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered).
The measure would allocate level funding of $16.83 billion in FY2006, $93 million above the administration’s request.
The bill would provide $5.3 billion in FY2006 for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, $22 million above the FY2005 level and $47 million more than the administration’s request.
Child nutrition programs would receive $12.4 billion in FY2006, a $630 million increase over FY2005, but $4 million less than the amount requested by the administration.
The measure would allocate $1.48 billion for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in FY2006, $30 million more than FY2005, but $20 million less than the administration’s request.
As requested by President Bush, the Food Stamp Program would be funded at $40.7 billion in FY2006, a $5.6 billion increase over FY2005.
Under the bill, $1.1 billion would be provided for the Food for Peace Program, $66 million less than FY2005 and $222 million above the administration’s request.
During consideration of the bill, the subcommittee approved, by voice vote, an amendment offered by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) that would withhold $5.9 million from the FDA until the commissioner or acting commissioner testifies before the House on the agency’s FY2006 budget.
The subcommittee also approved, by voice vote, an amendment offered by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) that would prohibit the FDA from using federal funds to prevent U.S. citizens from importing prescription drugs.
