At press time, the Senate was expected to work through the weekend in an attempt to complete action on an omnibus appropriations bill and the conference report for H.R. 1, a bill to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit. The House may return the week of December 1 to complete work on the omnibus spending bill.
House and Senate Action
Continuing Resolution
On November 20, the House approved, 410-10, a continuing resolution (H. J. Res. 78) to fund government programs at their FY2003 levels until November 23. The Senate amended, by voice vote, the resolution to fund government programs until November 24. At press time, the House was expected to approve the amended resolution on Friday evening, but House leaders may amend the resolution to fund government programs until January 31, 2004. A continuing resolution passed by the House and Senate the week of November 3 (see The Source, 11/7/03), will expire on November 21.
To date, only 4 of the 13 spending bills have been enacted into law: defense, homeland security, interior, and legislative branch. The House and Senate have approved the military construction and energy and water conference reports, which are awaiting the President’s signature. The House and Senate hope to approve the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies and foreign operations conference reports before November 24. The remaining spending bills will likely be wrapped into an omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2673) before Congress adjourns for the year.
Senate Action
District of Columbia
On November 18, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, the FY2004 District of Columbia spending bill. The Senate began its consideration of the measure the week of September 22 (see The Source, 9/26/03).
The text of S. 1583, as passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on September 4 (see The Source, 7/5/03), was substituted for the bill.
H.R. 2765 would provide $545 million to the District of Columbia in FY2004, $36 million more than FY2003, $34 million more than the President’s request, and $79 million more than the House approved on September 4.
The bill would provide $172.1 million for the operation of the D.C. Courts, an $11.2 million increase over FY2003 and the President’s request. This total would include funding for the Family Court, which handles all cases in the District pertaining to child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, adoption, and foster care.
Prior to floor consideration, Senate leaders removed a new provision in the spending bill that would have included $13 million for private school vouchers, $13 million in new funds to public schools, $13 million in new funds to charter schools, and $1 million to cover administrative costs.
Senate leaders also included $14 million for improvements to the District’s foster care system.
In addition, Senate leaders lifted current prohibitions on the use of local funds for needle-exchange programs.
The District of Columbia spending bill is expected to be rolled into the omnibus appropriations bill.
VA-HUD-Independent Agencies
On November 18, the Senate approved, by voice vote, the FY2004 VA-HUD-Independent Agencies spending bill (H.R. 2861). The Senate began its consideration of the measure on November 12 (see The Source, 11/14/03).
The text of S. 1584, as approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on September 4 (see The Source 9/5/03), was substituted for the bill.
Prior to Senate consideration, an additional $1.3 billion was included for VA health programs, bringing the total allocation for the bill to $124 billion in FY2004. This represents a $5.3 billion increase over FY2003, $1.9 billion above the President’s request, and $1.3 billion more than the House approved on July 25 (see The Source, 7/25/03).
S. 1584 would provide $1.325 billion for homeless programs, $107.9 million more than FY2003 and equal to the President’s budget request. Of the amount provided, $194 million would be allocated for the renewal of Shelter Plus Care contracts, which provide supportive housing for homeless people with disabilities and their families.
In addition, the bill would include $291 million for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, $898,000 more than FY2003, but $6 million less than the President’s request. In the Senate Appropriations Committee report accompanying S. 1584, the committee “requires HUD to allocate these funds in a manner that preserves existing HOPWA programs to the extent those programs are determined to be meeting the needs of persons with AIDS.”
During consideration of H.R. 2861, the Senate approved, by voice vote, an amendment by Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO) that would require the General Accounting Office to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the Section 8 Moving to Work demonstration program. This program gives local public housing authorities funding flexibility in providing housing to low-income families, which allows them to participate in job training programs.
The VA-HUD-Independent Agencies spending bill is expected to be rolled into the omnibus appropriations bill.
