FY15 LHHS Subcommittee Markup Bill Summary
Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc. |
U.S. Senator
"This is the bill that invests in America and allows us to respond to the changing needs of our country, all within a difficult budget. I am particularly encouraged that the bill directs funding to investments in high-quality early childhood care and education, which have been proven to have positive, lasting effects on children and families. The bill also invests in programs that support working families and contains funding that allows for an increase in the maximum Pell Grant award, which is critical for expanding access to higher education. All in all, this bill takes a thoughtful approach to funding these critical programs because this bill funds America's priorities; it is the bill in which we invest in our future."
OVERVIEW
The Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill constitutes the largest share of non-defense discretionary spending, 32 percent of the total. As a result of the funding available for programs in this bill - everything from funding for the
Total spending in this bill subject to discretionary spending caps is exactly equal to the comparable FY 2014 level. This means all increases in discretionary budget authority provided in this bill are fully offset by cuts elsewhere in this bill. That has forced the Committee to continue to make difficult decisions, including cuts to spending in mandatory programs and targeted program reductions and eliminations, to pay for modest increases and continued support for key programs and to respond to critical and emerging needs.
The Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill provides funding for a broad range of programs that spur future economic growth and provide a safety net for those who fall through the cracks. The bill provides support for high-quality early learning opportunities for our youngest children, basic medical research that invests in future cures, preventive services and care that help individuals live healthy lives, job training that help the unemployed return to work, support for local school districts and the enforcement of employee rights in the workplace. It also supports the administrative expenses for the
The priorities and considerations of the Committee in developing this bill are summarized in the section below:
INCREASING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION
High-quality early childhood care and education has been proven to have positive, lasting effects for children and families. It also supports the nation's long-term economic security by preparing our next generation of workers, entrepreneurs and business leaders. The Committee provides a combined increase of
Head Start--The Committee recommendation includes
The entire body of research on
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)--The Committee recommendation includes
Preschool Development Grants--The Committee recommends
Early Childhood Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems--The Committee recommends
RESPONDING TO EMERGING NEEDS AND CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES
Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) Program--Beginning in 2012, the number of children fleeing escalating gang and drug violence in
The Committee recommendation includes
This is an emergency situation by any definition. The Committee takes a responsible approach and pays for needed increases in the UAC program, and all discretionary increases in this bill, with corresponding cuts to mandatory spending or other targeted program reductions or eliminations.
Student Loan Servicing--The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 eliminated the mandatory funding source that supported the not-for-profit servicer program and two of the TIVAS contracts. The Committee recommendation of
HELPING AMERICA'S WORKERS
Preventing Long-Term Unemployment--The Committee recommendation includes
Job Training--The Committee recommendation includes
Paid Leave for Workers--The Committee bill includes
Expanding Apprenticeships--The Committee bill includes
Protecting Whistleblowers--The Committee recommendation includes
Preventing Misclassifications--The Committee recommendation includes an increase of approximately
INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND COST-EFFICIENCY OF GOVERNMENT
The annual appropriations process affords
Fighting Healthcare Fraud and Abuse--The Committee includes
Preventing Improper Social Security Payments--The Committee recommendation includes
Performance Partnerships for Disconnected Youth--The Committee bill continues authority for Performance Partnerships that will provide states and local communities with unprecedented flexibility to improve services for disconnected youth. Up to 10 states and/or local communities will be allowed to combine funding that they receive through various programs within this bill for these pilot projects which will be rigorously evaluated and provide critical information about how to better serve disadvantaged youth.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL
Pell Grants--The Committee bill maintains the discretionary portion of the maximum Pell grant award level at
Campus-Based Student Aid--The Committee bill includes a combined increase of
Title
Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program--The Committee bill provides
Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME)--The Committee recommendation includes
Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)--The Committee recommendation includes
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)--The Committee recommendation again rejects the administration's proposed cut to the CSBG and includes
<org>AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)--The Committee recommends
TRIO--The bill includes
Elder Justice Initiative--The Committee recommendation includes
Read this original document at: http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/fy15-lhhs-subcommittee-markup-bill-summary
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