On January 18th, Congress passed another stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown. This continuing resolution (CR) mirrors the previous one in that it divides the 12 appropriation bills into two groups with different deadlines. Funding expires for Transportation, Agriculture, HUD, Veterans Affairs and related agencies on March 1st and on March 8th for the rest – including programs of particular interest to FABBS (ARPA-H, IES, NIH, and NSF).
While this CR buys time, both the House and Senate will need to work quickly to make the March deadlines. Congress still has to decide topline spending for the 12 appropriations bills that fund all discretionary spending – also known as 302(b)s. Once this has been accomplished, the appropriations subcommittees will distribute funds under their respective jurisdictions. This process is integral to secure funding for FABBS related agencies.
FABBS is already advocating for robust funding for the behavioral and brain sciences in the individual appropriations bills. The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, of which FABBS is a member, sent a letter urging the House to adopt the Senate’s proposed FY24 funding for the NIH. As outlined in Senate Bill 2624 (the proposed appropriations legislation that includes the NIH), funding would be set at $47.7 billion for the agency. This would ensure that the NIH can continue to provide groundbreaking opportunities for scientific research. Importantly, this funding level would also reverse spending cuts from the 21st Century’s Cure Act.
In anticipation of potential floor votes, the House of Representatives has added three days to its schedule from February 28 to March 1. The possibility for yet another CR is still on the table. Avoiding a CR and potential cuts is a top priority for FABBS during the appropriations process.
