The bill being discussed is an appropriations bill that covers a range of policy areas and provides funding to federal agencies for the remainder of the fiscal year 2023. It includes the 12 regular appropriations bills that fund federal agencies, such as the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The bill also provides supplemental appropriations for disaster relief and to support Ukraine.
In addition to providing funding, the bill extends several expiring authorities and modifies or establishes various programs to address different policy areas. The bill is quite extensive, covering a wide range of policy areas and programs.
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for various programs related to agriculture, rural development, and food safety, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for the Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and other related agencies.
The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for the Department of Defense and various military programs.
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for the Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers, and other related agencies.
The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for the Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and other financial and regulatory agencies.
The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for the Department of Homeland Security and various border security and immigration enforcement programs.
The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for the Department of the Interior and various environmental protection programs.
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Education, as well as various health and education programs.
The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for the operations of the legislative branch of the federal government.
The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for military construction projects and veterans’ programs.
The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for the Department of State and foreign aid programs.
The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, provides funding for transportation infrastructure, public housing, and community development programs.
The bill also extends several expiring authorities and modifies or establishes various programs to address different policy areas, such as disaster relief and cybersecurity.
A full summary of the bill is currently being worked on by legislative analysts in the Congressional Research Service’s Legislative Analysis Services Section and will be published as soon as it is complete.
In addition to funding federal agencies, the bill also includes supplemental appropriations for disaster relief and to support Ukraine. The bill provides $3.3 billion in supplemental appropriations for disaster relief, including funding for wildfire suppression, hurricane and tropical storm relief, and drought assistance, among other things. The bill also provides $450 million in assistance to Ukraine.
The bill extends several expiring authorities, including the Export-Import Bank’s charter, the National Flood Insurance Program, and the National Security Agency’s authority to collect certain types of intelligence data under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
The bill also modifies or establishes various programs that address a wide range of policy areas. For example, the bill includes provisions to strengthen cybersecurity, address climate change, promote workforce development, and support veterans.
One significant provision in the bill is the establishment of a new Civilian Climate Corps, which is modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. The new program will provide job opportunities for young people and help address climate change by investing in conservation and resilience projects.
The bill also includes provisions to address the opioid epidemic, including funding for research and treatment programs, and provisions to improve access to mental health care.
Other notable provisions in the bill include:
- Funding for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, including support for states to establish their own health insurance marketplaces and funding for outreach and enrollment efforts.
- Provisions to address the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, including funding for humanitarian assistance and efforts to reduce migration from Central America.
- Funding to address gun violence, including grants for community-based violence prevention programs and research on the causes and prevention of gun violence.
- Provisions to address student loan debt, including expanding income-driven repayment plans and providing funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions.
- Provisions to address voting rights, including funding for election security measures and the establishment of automatic voter registration.
In conclusion, the bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that provides funding for federal agencies, addresses a wide range of policy areas, and establishes several new programs. The bill reflects the priorities of the current Congress and is likely to be a major focus of debate in the coming weeks and months.