House Moves on Appropriations Bills Ahead of Fourth of July Recess; CJS and LHHS Bills Expected this Week

As previously reported by COSSA, the fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget process is underway as Congress looks to complete funding bills before the House and a third of the Senate embark on the campaign trail. The House is moving forward with multiple spending bills this week as expected. The House Appropriations committee has already passed six of twelve bills in full-committee, including Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, Defense, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Legislative Branch, and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

On June 26, the House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee is expected mark up its bill, which funds the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, and Census Bureau. In anticipation of the mark up, the Appropriations Committee released a summary of the bill and bill text early this morning (stay tuned for COSSA’s in-depth analysis). On June 27, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Subcommittee is expected to mark up its bill, which provides appropriations for the National Institutes of the Health, Department of Education, and other agencies. The CJS and LHHS bills are scheduled to be considered by the full Appropriations Committee on July 9 and July 10, respectively. According to the schedule released by House Appropriations Chair Cole (R-OK), the House anticipates passing all twelve bills through the committee by July 10. Votes on the House floor have yet to be scheduled.

The Senate will likely begin working on their respective bills upon their return on July 8. The appropriations bills must pass by October 1 unless a continuing resolution (CR) is enacted. With election season on the horizon, it’s unclear whether the final budget will be finalized by the deadline.

Stay tuned to COSSA’s continued coverage of the FY 2025 budget process.