On April 10, the House approved, 219-205, the FY2015 Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res. 96). The Budget Committee approved the measure on April 3. The resolution provides the blueprint for upcoming federal spending bills.
According to the committee report, the resolution would set overall federal spending at $3.59 trillion in FY2015. Discretionary spending would be capped at $1.099 trillion, just above the $1.014 trillion agreed upon in the budget agreement (P.L. 113-67) enacted in December 2013 (see The Source, 12/20/13).
The measure would allocate $505.729 billion in overall spending for income security programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school lunch program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The measure would convert the SNAP program to a block grant program funded annually with discretionary dollars. The resolution would eliminate “broad-based categorical eligibility” for SNAP. Certain waivers from TANF work requirements would be eliminated; welfare work requirements would be instituted.
Health programs would receive $419.799 billion in overall spending for FY2015. The budget resolution recommends a “fundamental reform of the Medicaid program.” The resolution would repeal several provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148).
Education, training, employment, and social services would receive $419.799 billion in overall funds in FY2015. Citing the program as “duplicative,” the budget would terminate the Social Services Block Grant program, which includes funding for child care, health services, and employment services.
The legislation would allocate $38.695 billion in discretionary funds for programs within International Affairs. Such programs include international development, food security, and other international programs.
