The House Appropriations Committee today released the draft fiscal year 2022 Financial Services and General Government funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation provides annual funding for the Department of the Treasury, the Judiciary, the Executive Office of the President, and other independent agencies, including the Small Business Administration.
For fiscal year 2022, the draft bill includes $29.1 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $4.8 billion over 2021. The legislation:
* Assists small businesses and entrepreneurs through the Small Business Administration and Community Development Financial Institutions
* Protects our democracy with Election Security Grants to ensure the integrity and safety of our elections
* Rebuilds the Internal Revenue Service to finally crack down on big corporations and the wealthy who aren't paying their fair share and to provide better customer service to working families navigating the tax system
* Supports working and middle-class families by increasing funding for consumer protection activities at the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Federal Trade Commission
* Confronts the climate crisis by providing funding to start the transition of the Federal vehicle fleet to electric and zero emission vehicles
“For over a year, Americans and small businesses struggled to succeed in the face of overwhelming odds. The funding provided in this year’s FSGG bill will help our country continue on the path to recovery by securing opportunities for underserved businesses, safeguarding the future of our democracy, and protecting families and consumers," Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) said. “Critically, this bill takes steps to strengthen the IRS so that Americans can be confident that everyone is paying their fair share - including our wealthiest citizens and biggest corporations. For too long, our tax system has left billions of dollars on the table. By funding the IRS at a much-needed level, we can finally recoup that loss and invest it in the future of our country."
“The investments in the Financial Services and General Government bill start putting the government on the side of small business, the middle class, and the vulnerable, not the wealthy and big corporations," Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “I am particularly proud of strong funding increases to rebuild the Internal Revenue Service, helping the agency process Child Tax Credit payments, provide better customer service, and crack down on big corporations and the wealthy who aren’t paying their fair share in taxes."
A summary of the draft fiscal year 2022 Financial Services and General Government bill is below. The text of the draft bill is. The subcommittee markup will be webcast live and linked from https://appropriations.house.gov/events/markups.
Bill Summary:
Department of the Treasury - For fiscal year 2022, the bill provides a total of $15.4 billion in discretionary appropriations for the Department, an increase of $1.9 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level and equal to the President’s request. Of the total provided for the Department of the Treasury, the bill includes:
* $330 million for Community Development Financial Institutions, an increase of $60 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. The total amount includes $212 million for financial and technical assistance grants and $10 million to increase the availability and affordability of small-dollar loans.
* $270.7 million for Departmental Offices Salaries and Expenses, an increase of $37.7 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
* $235.1 million for Inspectors General offices for the Treasury Department, an increase of $4.8 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to ensure robust oversight of Departmental policies and practices.
* $190.5 million for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, an increase of $63.6 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to boost efforts to combat terrorist financing and money laundering.
* $185.2 million for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, an increase of $10.2 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to continue investments to protect the integrity of the financial system.
* $132 million for the Department’s Cybersecurity Enhancement Account, an increase of $114 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to address the impacts of the SolarWinds attack and minimize the impact of future attacks.
* $131.3 million for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, an increase of $7 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
* Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - The bill includes $13.6 billion for the IRS, an increase of $1.7 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level. Included in this amount is a $417 million program integrity allocation adjustment to increase tax collections and reduce the tax gap. Of this amount, the bill includes:
** $2.9 billion, an increase of $385 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for Taxpayer Services. This total includes support for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Matching Grants Program, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, the Taxpayer Advocate, Tax Counseling for the Elderly, and increased personnel to improve IRS customer service.
** $5.8 billion, an increase of $538 million, including the program integrity allocation adjustment, above the FY 2021 enacted level, for Enforcement. These funds support increased enforcement efforts and additional essential personnel.
** $4.6 billion, an increase of $650 million, including the program integrity allocation adjustment, above the FY 2021 enacted level, for Operations Support.
** $305 million, an increase of $82 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for Business Systems Modernization to modernize IRS legacy systems and improve IRS Web applications.
Executive Office of the President - The bill includes a total of $837.3 million, an increase of $78.6 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $11.5 million above the President’s budget request.
* Office of Administration - The bill provides $110.8 million, an increase of $10.8 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. This includes $4.5 million in funding to pay White House and other Executive Office of the President interns, in line with recent actions by Congress to pay its interns.
* Office of Management and Budget (OMB) - The bill provides $122.9 million for OMB, an increase of $16.3 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $1 million above the President’s budget request.
* Office of the National Cyber Director - The bill provides $15 million in funding to stand up a new Office of the National Cyber Director to help coordinate Federal cybersecurity policy and strategy.
* Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) - The bill includes a total of $457.9 million for ONDCP, including:
** $300 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, an increase of $10 million above the FY 2021 enacted level; and
** $110 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program, an increase of $8 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
The Judiciary - The bill includes a total of $8.2 billion in discretionary appropriations, an increase of $432.3 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
* Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services - $5.7 billion, an increase of $331 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to support court operations and increased services in Probation and Pretrial.
* Defender Services - $1.37 billion, an increase of $52 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to support operations and expenses associated with panel attorney compensation.
* Court Security - $682 million, an increase of $18 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to support security needs and protective services in courthouses, as identified by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Additionally, the bill extends temporary judgeships in several districts.
District of Columbia - The bill includes a total of $794.5 million, an increase of $47 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and equal to the President’s budget request.
* $40 million for D.C. Resident Tuition Support, equal to the FY 2021 enacted level.
* $5 million, an increase of $1 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for HIV/AIDS Testing and Treatment to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia.
* $8 million, equal to the FY 2021 enacted level, to fund infrastructure improvements for the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority.
In addition, the bill removes objectionable policy riders previously carried that undermine home rule in the District of Columbia:
* Eliminates a ban on the use of local and Federal funds for abortion services;
* Eliminates a ban on the use of local funds to legalize marijuana;
* Eliminates a ban on the use of funds for needle exchange programs; and
* Eliminates a provision appropriating local District funds.
The bill also restricts the President’s ability to federalize the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department.
Independent Agencies:
* Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) - The bill funds the CPSC at $172 million, an increase of $37 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. Within the total, $2 million is provided for Virginia Graeme Baker Pool Safety grants.
* Election Assistance Commission (EAC) - The bill provides $500 million for Election Security Grants, an increase of $400 million above the request, to augment State efforts to improve the security and integrity of elections for Federal office. In addition, $22.8 million is included for EAC operating expenses, an increase of $5.8 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
* Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - The bill includes $388 million for the FCC, an increase of $14 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to support efforts to expand broadband access, improve the security of U.S. telecommunications networks, and administer billions in COVID-19 relief programs.
* Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - The bill includes $390 million for the FTC, an increase of $39 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to bolster antitrust and consumer protection work.
* General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Buildings Fund (FBF) - The bill includes $10.4 billion in spending authority for the FBF. The total funding level includes:
** $254 million for Washington, DC Department of Homeland Security Consolidation at St. Elizabeths and $103 million for Calexico, CA Land Port of Entry;
** $1 billion for Repairs and Alterations; and
* $300 million for the Electric Vehicle Fund to transform the Federal vehicle fleet to electric and zero emission vehicles.
* National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) - The bill provides a total of $456 million for NARA, an increase of $58 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $30 million above the President’s request. This supports NARA’s activities to increase access to records that document the history of underserved and underrepresented communities in America. This amount also includes $2 million for implementation of the Civil Rights Cold Case Record Collections Act of 2018, $9.5 million for the National Historical Publications & Records Commission Grants Program, and $30 million to help prepare for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
* Office of Personnel Management (OPM) - The bill includes $372 million, an increase of $42 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for OPM to manage and provide guidance on Federal human resources and administer Federal retirement and health benefit programs.
* Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - The bill includes $2 billion, an increase of $73.5 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for the SEC to monitor the capital and securities markets, ensure full disclosure of appropriate financial information, and combat financial fraud and malpractice. This amount also includes funding for move costs related to the SEC’s Fort Worth regional offices.
* Small Business Administration (SBA) - The bill provides a total of $1 billion for SBA, an increase of $111.9 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. The bill supports the President’s budget proposal to invest in programs to help underserved entrepreneurs access capital and contracting opportunities. The bill includes $323.8 million, an increase of $51.8 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for Entrepreneurial Development Programs, including:
** $140 million for Small Business Development Centers;
** $41 million for Microloan Technical Assistance;
** $30 million for the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program, Growth Accelerators, and Regional Innovation Clusters; and
** $26 million for Women’s Business Centers.
Important Policy Changes:
* Strengthens our democracy:
** Campaign Finance Transparency - Eliminates three provisions that limit transparency into political spending.
** Apportionment Transparency - Includes a new provision requiring OMB to make apportionments of appropriations publicly available in a timely manner and provides $1 million to OMB to implement such a system.
** Improvements in Budget Execution - Includes new provisions that require budget authority be made available prudently for obligation, executive agencies to provide budget and appropriations information to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) promptly, and agencies to notify Congress of certain delays or restrictions in apportionment of appropriations.
** Recordkeeping - Includes a new provision related to recordkeeping requirements for certain GAO audits.
* Respects the dignity of immigrants: Includes new language making Dreamers eligible for Federal employment.
* Fosters equality for women and men: Eliminates provisions preventing the FEHBP from covering abortion services.
* Supports equity and inclusion: Includes a new provision that creates a commission to identify and recommend name changes or removal of Federal property that is inconsistent with the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
