FY05 Comparable:    $142.678 billion ($354 billion)

FY06 Budget Request:    $141.590 billion

FY06 Conference Report:  $142.514 billion ($459.5 billion mandatory spending)

Discretionary spending in the bill will be below last year’s level, by comparison mandatory spending carried in the bill will increase by $106 billion or 30% from last year’s level. 

 

Improving Teacher Quality - The bills provides $2.92 billion, the same as last year’s level and the budget request, for professional development programs to provide states and school districts with tools to improve teacher quality.   In addition, $100 million is provide for a new pilot program to develop and implement innovative ways to provide financial incentives for teachers and principals who raise student achievement and close the achievement in some of our Nation’s highest-need schools;

Math and Science Partnerships are increased by $5 million over last year for a total of $184 million to enhance the number of teachers trained in the fields of math and science.

Impact Aid is funded at the requested level of $1.24 billion, $3 million below last year’s level.

Head Start is level funded at $6.9 billion.

TRIO funding is restored to last year’s level of $837 million, rejecting the $467 million cut proposed in the President’s budget.  The bill also restores GEAR UP funding to last year’s level of $306 million.  The budget request had proposed to terminate the popular program.

 

Centers for Disease Control funding is $6.2 billion, within those funds, resources were increased for emerging, effectious diseases, immunization activities, global health surveilance.

Community Health Centers are increased $66 million over last year to a level of $1.8 billion.

National Institutes of Health -- continues our commitment to curing disease by increasing funding for medical research at NIH by $253 million, bringing total funding to $28.6 billion, approximately the President’s request.  The bill provides $100 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria within available funds.  

Ryan White AIDS program is increased by $10 million over FY05 with total funding of $2.1 billion, the same as the budget request.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) state formula grants are funded at $2 billion, an increase of $115 million over last year and $200 million above the President’s budget request.  The bill also provides $183 million in a contingency fund to deal with fluctuating heating oil prices and severe weather conditions.  In addition, $1 billion in additional funding is provided in the House version of the budget reconciliation bill. 

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Implementation-The bill provides significant new resources for Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Social Security Administration to implement the Medicare prescription drug benefit.  No funding was provided in the last year’s bill as the administrative expenses were covered as mandatory spending. 

Faith and Community-based programs--Expands access for small community- and faith-based service providers as well as expanding street outreach to prevent youth gang involvement by providing a $10 million increase for the Compassion Capital Fund for a total of $65 million.

Abstinence Education- Provides $115 million for community-based abstinence education program, an increase of $11 million over FY05.  

Social Security - Provides a 5% increase of $469 million to the Social Security Administration for MMA implementation and to improve service delivery of Social Security benefits and accelerate disability claims processing times.  Total appropriations for FY06 are $9.2 billion.