The House Appropriations Committee recently approved a spending bill led by U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) to provide funding to federal programs within a number of key agencies.
The Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) funding bill outlines fiscal year 2017 funding for programs within key agencies, including the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education.
The measure outlines $161.6 billion in discretionary funding, which would be $569 million less than what was authorized in the previous fiscal year and $2.8 billion below the president’s budget request.
“This bill achieves its goal of reducing discretionary spending by more than half a billion dollars, all the while prioritizing where funding is needed the most,” Cole said. “Several important programs through the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health that benefit many Americans receive a substantial increase in funding, often well beyond the amount the president requested in his budget.”
The bill would set in motion a comprehensive approach to prevent and combat the spread of Zika virus, with funding cuts in lower-priority areas offsetting those investments.
“More specifically, the bill includes additional funding dedicated to the Zika response effort, which gives the CDC director the ability to respond more quickly to the fight against Zika,” Cole said. “Furthermore, this bill continues to fund numerous programs that many Americans rely on including Head Start, special education, community service and Native American programs for well-being. This bill reflects the values and priorities of the American taxpayer. It will make a difference and improve the welfare of the American people.”