Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a draft FY 2017 C-J-S spending bill with $56.3 billion in discretionary spending that includes funds for efforts to combat heroin use. The FY 2017 amounts would be about $563 million above the currently enacted level, and $1.6 billion more than the Obama Administration request. Overall, it is a 1 percent increase from fiscal 2016.
Also, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its $56.5 billion FY 2017 Transportation-HUD (T-HUD) spending bill by a 30-0 vote. The measure boosts funding for housing assistance programs but cuts funds for transportation. The panel is now expected to consider amendments.
Overall, the FY 2017 draft bill includes $16.9 billion in discretionary funds for the Department of Transportation and $39.2 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The overall total is $827 million lower than FY 2016 enacted levels and $2.9 billion below the Administration’s budget request.
Amendments are expected to be contentious, judging from reactions from advocacy groups after a bill summary was released Tuesday. The bill contains controversial provisions related to trucker rest requirements. Lawmakers have also voiced concern about tight funding in the bill that could strain rental assistance programs. After amendment consideration, the bill heads to the full Senate.
Finally, at the Committee meeting today, Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran said that a bipartisan Zika funding measure will be part of a future appropriations bill. Republican Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have worked with Democratic Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) to develop a bipartisan Zika proposal. Meanwhile, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) said he and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will introduce a bill on the Senate floor that would contain the Obama administration request for $1.9 billion in emergency funding to combat the virus.