Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education: FY2016 Appropriations

Summary

This report provides an overview of actions taken by Congress and the President to provide FY2016 appropriations for accounts funded by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill. This bill provides funding for all accounts funded through the annual appropriations process at the Departments of Labor (DOL) and Education (ED). It provides annual appropriations for most agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with certain exceptions (e.g., the Food and Drug Administration is funded via the Agriculture bill). The LHHS bill also provides funds for more than a dozen related agencies, including the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Continuing Resolution: On September 30, 2015, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016, was passed by the House and the Senate and signed into law by the President (P.L. 114-53). The FY2016 continuing resolution (CR) provides appropriations for each of the 12 regular appropriations bills (including LHHS) through December 11, or until full-year appropriations are enacted. With limited exceptions, the CR funds discretionary LHHS programs at FY2015 levels, minus a reduction of less than one percent (-0.2108%). The CR generally funds annually appropriated mandatory spending programs at current law levels, though non-exempt mandatory spending programs remain subject to sequestration in FY2016.

Senate LHHS Action: On June 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its FY2016 LHHS appropriations bill by a vote of 16-14 (S. 1695; S.Rept. 114-74). This bill would provide $162 billion in discretionary LHHS funds, which is about 1% less than FY2015 enacted levels. In addition, the Senate committee bill would provide an estimated $718 billion in mandatory funding, for a total of $880 billion for LHHS as a whole.

DOL: The Senate committee-reported bill would provide roughly $11.4 billion in discretionary funding for DOL, roughly 5% less than FY2015 enacted.

HHS: The Senate committee-reported bill would provide roughly $71.0 billion in discretionary funding for HHS, roughly the same as FY2015 enacted.

ED: The Senate committee-reported bill would provide roughly $65.8 billion in discretionary funding for ED, roughly 2% less than FY2015 enacted.

Related Agencies: The Senate committee-reported bill would provide roughly $13.7 billion in discretionary funding for LHHS related agencies, roughly 3% less than FY2015 enacted.

House LHHS Action: On June 24, the House Appropriations Committee approved its FY2016 LHHS bill by a vote of 30-21 (H.R. 3020; H.Rept. 114-195). This bill would provide $161 billion in discretionary LHHS funds, which is about 2% less than FY2015 enacted levels. In addition, the House committee bill would provide an estimated $718 billion in mandatory funding, for a total of roughly $879 billion for LHHS as a whole.

DOL: The House committee-reported bill would provide roughly $11.7 billion in discretionary funding for DOL, roughly 2% less than FY2015 enacted.

HHS: The House committee-reported bill would provide roughly $71.3 billion in discretionary funding for HHS, roughly the same as FY2015 enacted.

ED: The House committee-reported bill would provide roughly $64.4 billion in discretionary funding for ED, roughly 4% less than FY2015 enacted.

Related Agencies: The House committee-reported bill would provide roughly $13.8 billion in discretionary funding for LHHS related agencies, roughly 3% less than FY2015 enacted.

President’s Budget Submission: On February 2, 2015, the Obama Administration released the FY2016 President’s budget. The President requested $175 billion in discretionary funding for accounts funded by the LHHS bill, which is about 6% more than FY2015 enacted levels. In addition, the President requested roughly $718 billion in annually appropriated mandatory funding, for a total of roughly $893 billion for LHHS as a whole.

DOL: The President requested roughly $13.2 billion in discretionary funding for DOL, roughly 10% more than FY2015 enacted.

HHS: The President requested roughly $75.8 billion in discretionary funding for HHS, roughly 7% more than FY2015 enacted.

ED: The President requested roughly $70.7 billion in discretionary funding for ED, roughly 5% more than FY2015 enacted.

Related Agencies: The President requested roughly $15.1 billion in discretionary funding for LHHS related agencies, roughly 6% more than FY2015 enacted.