Congress Reaches Deal, Files FY21 Omnibus to Fund Govt, Provide COVID Relief

Spending Bills Include Military Pay Raise, Support for Veterans, Increased Funding for NIH, Additional Resources for Nuclear Security Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A comprehensive appropriations package containing all 12 appropriations measures was filed today in the U.S. House of Representatives in an effort to complete the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) appropriations process. In addition to the funding bills, the legislation includes targeted rescue measures for American families and businesses suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate and House are expected to vote on the package later today. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) issued the following statement regarding the legislation:

“I am pleased we have finally reached a deal. The American people expect us to do our job, and after many months of work on this legislation, I am hopeful we can swiftly advance the bipartisan package through Congress and on to the President’s desk. Funding the government, including our Armed Forces, is our fundamental responsibility. Providing relief to struggling Americans and businesses is paramount as our nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. This year has been unprecedented in a number of ways. Completing our work is all the more important. I urge my colleagues to support this package.”

The legislation includes an increase of $2.6 billion in defense funding to continue rebuilding our military and provide our men and women in uniform with a 3 percent pay raise, as well as a $12.5 billion increase in funding for veterans to address rapidly increasing costs of health care and information technology support. The FY21 measures also contain strengthened border security and an increase of $3.027 billion in funding for the Department of Energy nuclear security programs. Further, the appropriations measures support an increase of $1.25 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), amounting to an increase of 43 percent since 2015.

The bill text and explanatory statement include FY21 measures for the Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Defense; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

The following are links to the legislative text, explanatory statement, and highlights for each of the FY21 funding measures:

Bill Text

Joint Explanatory Statement