FY24 Appropriations Underway, Senate Appropriators to Review CJS Bill
As previously reported in the weeks leading up to the Independence Day recess, several House Subcommittees began their work for fiscal year (FY) 2024. The House Appropriations Committee has scheduled mark ups for state and operations, financial services, and transportation, in addition to the already reported agriculture, defense, energy and water, homeland security, and legislative branch activities bills. Earlier this week, 21 House Republicans signed a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) stating their intent to reject any funding amounts above the FY 2022 levels. Additionally, they urged the Speaker to hold floor considerations until all 12 appropriations bills have been reported. With the slim majority Republicans hold in the House, Republicans will require almost every vote from their party to pass the Appropriations bills without Democrat support. By the end of the week, 8 of the 12 bills are expected to be completed.
On July 13, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up their version of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) bill, which funds the National Science Foundation, Department of Justice, Census Bureau, and other federal agencies and programs. Following the passage of the CJS bill, the Senate will release an accompanying report detailing proposals for each agency. There is a nearly $11 billion difference between the House and Senate allocations for the CJS bill signaling tough negotiations between the two chambers. The Senate has already approved the military construction and agriculture measures in June, and are expected to review energy and water, state and foreign operations, and transportation next week.
At this stage, the endgame remains unclear between the two chambers. The new fiscal year begins October 1, which suggests that a continuing resolution (CR) will likely be needed to keep the government open until the FY 2024 process can be completed.
Stay tuned to COSSA’s coverage on FY 2024 appropriations.