June 14th, 2006 - -
FY06 Appropriation: .............. $64.1 billion ($131.1 billion total budgetary resources)
FY07 Budget Request: .......... $67.6 billion ($138.7 billion total budgetary resources)
FY07 Subcommittee Mark: ... $67.8 billion ($139.7 billion total budgetary resources)
Major Amendments Adopted by the House:
(Latourette): Increases funds for Amtrak by $214 million offset by a corresponding reduction.
(Nadler): Increases fund for section 8 programs by $100 million offset by a corresponding reduction.
(Miller, Gary): Provides $15 million for Brownfields program.
(Davis): Increases funds by $30 million for public housing capital fund.
(Oberstar): regarding foreign ownership of U.S. airlines.
Transportation Budget Gimmicks:
Over the committee’s strong objections, Congress has passed major transportation authorization bills which established guaranteed levels of discretionary transportation spending. These laws amended the rules of the House to prevent consideration of appropriations bills unless they provide inflated levels of discretionary spending for certain transportation programs. As non-security discretionary resources continue to decline, serious consideration must be given to repealing these onerous, fiscally irresponsible rules.
Provides for Smarter, More Efficient Amtrak Operations:
The bill provides $1.1 billion for Amtrak and includes significant financial and management reforms. The bill mandates that Amtrak reduce its operating subsidy which includes finding savings in food and beverage service, and first class service. Amtrak also would again be barred from marketing ticket discounts of more than 50 percent in peak hours. In addition, the DOT Inspector General is required to report back regularly to Congress on Amtrak’s progress on financial reforms.
Supports Aviation:
A total of $15.2 billion is provided to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) -- $1.4 billion above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level and $2.4 billion above the President’s request. This includes funding for FAA operations, for the Airport Improvement Program, and for Essential Air Service. The bill includes $16 million to hire and train 132 new air traffic controllers, and an additional $12 million above the request to hire and train of safety inspectors in the office of aircraft certification and flight standards.
Addresses Critical Housing Needs:
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is funded at $35.3 billion, $1.2 billion above the request and $1.7 billion above last year. Key funding levels are as follows:
- Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (Section 8 vouchers) is funded at $15.9 billion, $458 million over last year and $44 million below the budget request. The costs of this program alone, is 45 percent of HUD’s total budget.
- Project-Based Rental Assistance (project-based contracts) is funded at $5.5 billion, $438 million above last year and $200 million below the request. Along with recaptures from expiring contracts this fully funds all contracts.
- Provides $4.2 billion for the Community Development Fund, $22 million above FY06 and $1.2 billion above the President’s request. This includes $3.9 billion for the Community Development Block Grant and $270 million for Economic Development Initiative projects, $60 million less than last year. The committee created a new requirement that all grantees under this program must provide 40% matching funds in order to receive any funds.
- HOME Investments Partnership is level funded at $1.9 billion, $159 million above the FY06 enacted level.
- Includes $747 million for Housing for the Elderly, and $240 million for Housing for Persons with Disabilities. These amounts are $189 million and $118 million respectively above the requested levels.
- Provides the requested level for the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight of $62 million.
Supports the War on Drugs:
Provides $27 million to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, plus:
- $235 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program.
- $194 million for other Federal drug control programs.
- $20 million for the Counter-drug Technology Assessment Center.
Funds Highway Spending:
The bill funds the Federal-aid highways program at $39.1 billion, as set by the recently enacted surface transportation authorization legislation, SAFETEA-LU. This is equal to the President's request and $3.5 billion more than the FY 2006 enacted level, excluding emergency supplementals.
District of Columbia :
Federal Funds
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FY06 Enacted: $597 million
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FY07 Budget Request: $597 million
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FY07 Funding: $575 million
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Federal Funding
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FY06
($ mil)
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FY07
Request
($ mil)
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FY07
House Bill
($ mil)
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Resident Tuition Support
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$33
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$35
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$35
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D.C. Courts, including Family Court
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217
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197
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220
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Defender Services in D.C. Courts
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44
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43
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43
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D.C. Courts Services and Offender Supervision
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169
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182
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182
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Public Defender Service for D.C.
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30
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33
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33
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Contribution to School Improvement in D.C.
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40
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41
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41
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New Bioterrorism and Forensics Lab
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5
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0
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0
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Emergency Planning and Security Costs
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13
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9
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9
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Navy Yard Metro
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0
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20
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20
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Federal Judiciary:
Provides a 5.9 percent increase in discretionary funding for Federal Judiciary. Total funding is $6.1 billion, $343 million above FY06 and $197 million below the request. This level will enable courts to effectively process priority criminal, civil and bankruptcy cases.
Agency Funding:
Federal Transit Administration is funded at the levels set by the guarantees in SAFETEA-LU.
Department of Treasury is funded at $1.04 billion, $32 million above FY06 and $26 million above the President’s request.
The Internal Revenue Service is funded at request level of $10.5 billion, $63 million below FY06 and $110 million below the request.
Election Assistance Commission is funded at $17 million, also $3 million above FY06.
Member project funding :
The bill provides $895 million for Member projects. Last year’s conference report included approximately $3 billion total in member project funding. For comparative purposes, Member projects in the EDI account alone are down by $60 million dollars from last year, and - in a departure from previous years - all EDI grants will be required to have a 40% match.
Program Terminations:
- Rural Housing and Economic Development: -$17 million; FTA Small Starts: -$200 Million; Housing Counseling Assistance: -$45 million; National Defense Tank Vessel Construction Program: -$74 million; Open Roads Financing Pilot Program: -$100 million
Other Provisions:
- Continues current law restrictions on competitive sourcing.
- Includes a provision providing pay parity between civilian and military employees.
- Funding for General Services Administration, Federal Buildings Fund does not include $306 million requested by the President for construction of Coast Guard headquarters at the St. Elizabeth’s West Campus.
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