Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Releases Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON (Monday, December 19, 2022) – Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday released the $1.7 trillion fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The omnibus includes $772.5 billion for non-defense discretionary programs, including $118.7 billion – a 22 percent increase – for VA medical care, and $858 billion in defense funding. To combat the pain of inflation felt by American families across the country, the bill makes significant investments in our communities, funds critical programs supporting America’s middle class families, cares for our veterans, and invests in our national security.
The bill includes $44.9 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine and our NATO allies and $40.6 billion to assist communities across the country recovering from drought, hurricanes, flooding, wildfire, natural disasters and other matters.
This level of funding advances important, bipartisan policy priorities and provides relief to American families from the rising costs of living as a result of inflation.
Leahy said: “The pain of inflation on American families is real, and it is being felt right now across the federal government. From funding for nutrition programs and housing assistance, to home energy costs and college affordability, our bipartisan, bicameral, omnibus appropriations bill directly invests in providing relief from the burden of inflation on the American people. A continuing resolution into the New Year does not, nor would it provide assistance to Ukraine or help to communities recovering from natural disasters. The choice is clear. We can either do our jobs and fund the government, or we can abandon our responsibilities without a real path forward. Passing this bipartisan, bicameral, omnibus appropriations bill is undoubtedly in the interest of the American people. It is the product of months of hard work and compromise, and I want to thank my friends Vice Chairman Shelby and Chair DeLauro for their partnership and hard work. The House and the Senate should take up this bill and pass it without delay.”
Brief highlights of the package include:
- Funding for bipartisan priorities including $58.7 billion for programs authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; $1.8 billion in new funding to implement the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022; and $5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund to implement the landmark PACT Act.
- Making bold investments in health care and research including $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $9.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $1.5 billion for ARPA-H (the President’s bold initiative to fight cancer), and $950 million for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
- Supporting nutrition programs including a $13.4 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, $28.5 billion for Child Nutrition Programs, and $6 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
- Providing housing assistance including $3.6 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, $2 billion for the Rural Housing Service, $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, $1.435 billion for the Housing for the Elderly and Housing for Persons with Disabilities program, and new incremental Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to support over 11,700 additional low-income households.
- Investing in education including increasing the maximum Pell Grant award to $7,395, $18.387 billion for Title I-A grants, and $1.2 billion for TRIO to support more than 800,000 low-income first generation students get into college and succeed when they’re there.
- Supporting child care by investing $8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and nearly $12 billion for Head Start.
- Providing $5 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help families address the rising cost of energy.
- A record $700 million for combatting violence against women.
These investments and others advance important, bipartisan policy priorities and provide relief to American families from the rising costs of living as a result of inflation. It helps families put food on the table, make rent and mortgage payments, and reduces the cost of childcare and higher education.
A topline summary of all 12 bills prepared by the office of Chairman Leahy is available HERE.
Below are links to the legislative text, explanatory statement, and a summary for each of the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bills:
Bill text is available HERE.
Agriculture:
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:
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies:
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