Senate Advances CJS and LHHS Bills Before August Recess; COSSA Releases Analysis

Over the last few weeks, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees released and began consideration of their fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee considered the Commerce, Justice Science (CJS) and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) bills; read on for details of the bills as approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Currently, the Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced 11 of its 12 bills, however, it is unlikely that the Senate will bring any of its bills to the Senate floor when Congress returns in September. Instead, it’s anticipated that the House and Senate will begin negotiations on final appropriations when they return next month, using the House and Senate bills as they currently stand as a starting point. As previously reported by COSSA, the House considered its bills in July (COSSA’s analysis is available here) and managed to pass 5 of its 12 annual appropriations bills before leaving town for the August recess.

There are some stark differences between the Senate and House’s approach to FY 2025 funding, including for key federal science agencies. While working within the same top-line budget cap as the House, the Senate allocations would divvy up funding differently than the other chamber. For example, under the Senate numbers, the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) bill—which funds the National Science Foundation, Department of Justice, and Census Bureau, among other agencies—would be allocated 11.6 percent less than the CJS bill in the House. However, for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) appropriations bill—the measure that funds the National Institutes of Health, Department of Education, and several other agencies of interest to the science community—the Senate allocation is 6.9 percent higher than the House bill. These differences will need to be reconciled in the final negotiations.

As we get closer to the November elections, it becomes less likely that FY 2025 appropriations will be completed before the September 30 deadline. Lawmakers are expected to begin work on a continuing resolution (CR) when they return after Labor Day to avoid a government shutdown come October 1 when the new fiscal year begins. The fate of final FY 2025 funding rests largely in the outcome of the elections.

Stay tuned to COSSA’s continued coverage on the appropriations process.