Budget and Revenue Standing Committee

Federal Budget and Revenue Update

June 11, 2007
Volume 13, Number 9

An Information Service of the NCSL Budgets and Revenue Committee

FY 2008 Appropriations Subcommittee 302(b) Allocations
On June 5, the House Appropriations Committee approved the appropriations subcommittees’ 302(b) allocation, or spending caps, for FY 2008. The subcommittee allocations provide:

$18.8 billion for Agriculture, 5.9 percent above FY 2007 levels;
$53.6 billion for Commerce, Justice and Science, 6.4 percent above FY 2007 levels;
$459.3 billion for Defense, 9.5 percent above FY 2007 levels;
$31.6 billion for Energy and Water, 4.3 percent above FY 2007 levels;
$36.3 billion for Homeland Security, 13.6 percent above FY 2007 levels;
$27.6 billion for Interior and Environment, 4.5 percent above FY 2007 levels;
$151.1 billion for Labor, Health and Human Service, and Education, 4.6 percent above FY 2007 levels; and
$50.7 billion for Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, 6.7 percent above FY 2007 levels.

This week, the House is expected to take up four appropriations bills—the Department of Homeland Security, Interior & Environment, Energy & Water, and Military Construction, Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs. The House is scheduled to complete its work on the FY 2008 appropriations bill by the July 4^th recess. The Senate will begin work this week with consideration of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Act.

FY 2008 Appropriations Bills

Approved by House Appropriations Subcommittee

Approved by House Appropriations Committee

Approved by House

Agriculture

Commerce/Justice/Science

6/11/2007

Defense

Financial Services and General Government

6/5/2007

6/11/2007

Energy & Water

5/23/2007

6/6/2007

State/Foreign Operations

6/5/2/007

Homeland Security (H.R. 2638)

5/18/2007

6/5/2007

Interior & Environment

5/23/2007

6/7/2007

Labor/HHS/Education

6/7/2007

Legislative Branch

6/6/2007

Military Construction/Veterans Affairs

5/22/2007

6/6/2007

Transportation/HUD

6/11/2007

FY 2008 House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Markup
On June 7, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee adopted the Department of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Act for FY 2008, which is scheduled for consideration by the House the week of June 11^th. The bill provides $27.6 billion for the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related agencies, including:

$1.125 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds, $42 million above FY 2007 levels;
$1.272 billion for Superfund, $17 million above FY 2007 levels;

$233 million for Payment in Lieu of Taxes, equal to FY 2007 levels; and
$3.4 billion for state and tribal assistance grants (STAG), $207 million above FY 2007 levels.

FY 2008 House Energy and Water Appropriations Markup
On June 7, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee adopted the Department of the Energy and Water Appropriations Act for FY 2008, which is scheduled for consideration by the House the week of June 11^th. The $31.6 billion bill provides:

$245.6 million for Weatherization Grants, $41 million above FY 2007 levels; and
$49.5 for State Energy Grants, $4 million above FY 2007 levels.

FY 2008 House Homeland Security Appropriations Markup
On June 5, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee adopted the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for FY 2008 (H.R. 2638). The bill provides $36.254 billion in discretionary funds, including:

$550 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, $25 million above FY 2007 levels;
$400 million for the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, $25 million above FY 2007 levels;
$800 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative, $30 million above FY 2007 levels;
$50 for the Metropolitan Medical Response System, $17 million above FY 2007 levels;
$300 for the Emergency Management Performance Grants, $100 million above FY 2007 levels;
$400 for Port Security Grants, $190 million above FY 2007 levels;
$400 for the Transit Security Grants, $225 million above FY 2007 levels;
$50 million for Interoperability Communications Grants; and
$50 million for state implementation of the Real ID, $50 million above FY 2007 levels.

The bill includes a provision that would prohibit the preemption of state chemical security laws and regulations that are more stringent than those established by the Department of Homeland Security under the FY 2007 DHS Appropriations Act (P.L. 109-395).

FY 2008 House Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Markup
On June 7, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education adopted the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Act for FY 2008. The bill, which is scheduled to be considered by the full committee the week of June 11th, includes:

Department of Labor
The Subcommittee appropriated $11.8 billion for Department of Labor programs, $209 million above FY 2007 levels, which includes:

$864 million for Adult Job Training (including advance funding), equal to FY 2007 levels;
$940 million for Youth Job Training, equal to FY 2007 levels;
$1.47 billion for Dislocated Worker Assistance (including advance funding), equal to FY 2007 levels;
$2.5 billion for State and National Unemployment Compensation, $53 million above FY 2007 levels; and
$759 million for State and National Employment Service, $ 9.3 million above FY 2007 levels.

Department of Health and Human Services
The Subcommittee appropriated $68.2 billion for Department of Health and Human Services programs, $4.1 billion above FY 2007 levels, which includes:

$660 million for the Community Services Block Grant, $30 million above FY 2007 levels;
$2.06 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, $75 million above FY 2007 levels;
$$2.66 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), $500 million above FY 2007 levels;
$750 million for Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, $57 million above FY 2007 levels;
$2.24 billion for the Ryan White AIDS Program, $99 million above FY 2007 levels;
$50 million for State High Risk Pools, which was not funded in FY 2007;
$75 million for State Health Access Grants, which was not funded in FY 2007.

Department of Education
The Subcommittee appropriated $61.7 billion for Department of Education programs, nearly $2.0 billion above FY 2007 levels, which includes:

$25.6 billion for No Child Left Behind, $1.99 billion above FY 2007 levels;
$10.9 billion for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (including advance funding), $174 million above FY 2007 levels;
$3.19 billion for State Grants to Improve Teacher Quality (including advance funding), $300 million above FY 2007 levels;
$272 million for Education Technology State Grants, equal to FY 2007 levels; and
$99 million for Innovative Education State Grants, also equal to FY 2007 levels.

The President’s budget proposal eliminated 43 education programs and reduced funds for others, including drug free schools state grants and special education state grants. While the subcommittee rejected a number of those proposals, the final tally will not be available until the bill is reported by the full committee later this week.

NCSL Annual Meeting: August 5-9, 2007

This summer, thousands of state legislators and legislative staff will come to Boston—the cradle of the American Revolution—to revolutionize ideas for America’s future.

For more information: http://www.ncsl.org/annualmeeting/