House to Consider Four-Bill Appropriations Minibus Next Week

WASHINGTON — In advance of Floor consideration, the House Appropriations Committee released a division-by-division summary of the first minibus of fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills. The House is expected to consider the legislation, H.R. 7608, next week.

The package includes four FY 2021 spending bills: State-Foreign Operations, Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA, Interior-Environment, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

A division-by-division summary is below and available as a PDF here.

H.R. 7608
DIVISION-BY-DIVISION SUMMARY

H.R. 7608 totals $259.5 billion in discretionary funding and consists of four FY 2021 appropriations bills: State-Foreign Operations, Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA, Interior-Environment, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

In total, the package provides:

• $10.1 billion in base defense funding;
• $201.1 billion in base nondefense funding;
• $350 million for defense Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO);
• $8 billion for nondefense OCO;
• $37.5 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations; and
• $2.4 billion in additional wildfire suppression appropriations.

Table of Contents

State-Foreign Operations
Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA
Interior-Environment
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
 

Division A – State-Foreign Operations

Overview:

The State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill funds the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and other international programs and activities.

For FY 2021, the bill provides $65.87 billion in funding, an increase of $8.467 billion above the FY 2020 enacted level and $21.158 billion above the request. This includes $10.018 billion in emergency funding for coronavirus preparedness, response, and relief globally;  $47.85 billion in base discretionary funding for the State Department, USAID, commissions and related agencies under the jurisdiction of the subcommittee; and $8 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism (OCO/GWOT) funding for base requirements that otherwise would not be funded in the President’s budget request. The bill also continues to provide OCO/GWOT funding under the account headings combined with enduring funds to offer a transparent accounting of the true resources needed to fund United States foreign policy and advance national security interests. 

The bill rejects the administration’s proposed cuts that would endanger national security and diminish America’s global standing, and instead provides robust funding to advance our diplomatic and development priorities, ensure the effectiveness of our foreign assistance, and strengthen the international partnerships that are critical to maintaining and expanding American influence and effectiveness on the world stage. That includes specifically restoring funding for the World Health Organization, which President Trump has threatened to cut off.

Bill Summary:

State Department Operations and Related Agencies – The bill contains a total of $16.4 billion in base and OCO funding for the operational costs of the State Department and related agencies, as well as diplomacy efforts to enhance peace and stability around the globe and provides the authority for the State Department to exceed the cap on U.S. peacekeeping contributions.

Within this amount, the legislation provides $6.1 billion for embassy security, equal to the FY 2020 enacted level. These funds will address needs at more than 275 diplomatic facilities overseas, including facility upgrades and security personnel.

International Security Assistance – The bill provides a total of $9 billion in base and OCO funding for international security assistance, equal to the FY 2020 enacted level.  Funds are included for international narcotics control and law enforcement activities, antiterrorism programs, nonproliferation programs, peacekeeping operations, and other critical international security efforts.  The bill also provides funding to fight terrorist financing networks and bolster border and airport security.

In addition, the legislation provides security assistance to key allies and partners.  The bill fully funds the $3.3 billion commitment to Israel’s security, and it maintains strong support for Foreign Military Financing programs in Ukraine, Georgia, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia. 

The bill maintains robust funding for counter-narcotics and law enforcement efforts in Colombia, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The legislation also provides $68 million to address international organized crime and maintains funding to combat cybercrime.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Operations – The bill contains $1.68 billion for USAID and the USAID Office of Inspector General, an increase of $15 million above the FY 2020 enacted level. The legislation also includes oversight measures to ensure the proper management of development programs and the appropriate use of United States funds.

Bilateral Economic and Global Health Assistance – The bill contains a total of $26.85 billion in base and OCO funding for bilateral economic assistance to foreign countries, an increase of $883.9 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.  This funding is targeted to activities to provide stability in volatile regions and enhance United States presence in critical and strategic areas. Within this amount, programs that support development assistance, global health, and humanitarian assistance are prioritized.  In addition, the bill includes $6.3 billion to fight HIV/AIDS around the globe. The bill also includes $225 million under Economic Support Fund for humanitarian and development programs in the West Bank and Gaza to help address the needs of the Palestinian people, which may include support for UNRWA.  

Multilateral Assistance – The bill provides $3.55 billion for assistance to foreign countries through international organizations and banks.  The bill fully provides for our assessed Contributions to International Organizations and continues our contributions to international financial institutions such as the World Bank’s International Development Association as well as to other multilateral institutions, including the Global Environment Facility and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, which promote environment and food security initiatives respectively. Further, the bill provides a new contribution to the African Development Bank and includes language on the limitation on callable capital subscription to the North American Development Bank.

Increases in funding for critical programs:

Includes $10.018 billion in Emergency Funding to Respond to Coronavirus:

• $955 million for Diplomatic Programs.
• $4.4 million for the Department of State Office of Inspector General.
• $105 million for USAID Operating Expenses.
• $3 million for USAID Office of Inspector General.
• $2.5 billion for Global Health Programs which includes $150 million to replenish the Emergency Reserve, $750 million for The GAVI Alliance, and $800 million for the Global Fund to Fights AIDS, TB, and Malaria.  Directs funds to be used for a contribution to a multilateral vaccine development partnership to support epidemic preparedness.
• $900 million for Development Assistance.
• $1.125 billion for International Disaster Assistance.
• $1.5 billion for Economic Support Fund.
• $500 million for Assistance to Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia.
• $1.125 billion for Migration and Refugee Assistance.
• $10 million for the Inter-American Foundation.
• $10 million for the United States African Development Foundation.
• $1.281 billion for International Organizations and Programs for the United Nations Global Humanitarian Response Plan.

Family Planning & UNFPA:

• $750 million for family planning – an increase of $175 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $513 million above the President’s budget request.
• $55.5 million for UNFPA – an increase of $23 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $55.5 million above the President’s budget request.

Other Global Health Programs:

• $2.64 billion for programs to improve maternal and child health and fight infectious diseases – an increase of $4 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $719 million above the President’s budget request.  Includes $125 million for Global Health Security, an increase of $25 million above the FY 2020 enacted level. 

Human Rights of All People including LGBTI Communities:

• $10 million for the Global Equality Fund – an increase of $2.5 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
• $6 million for the Protection of LGBTI Persons, USAID – an increase of $1 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
• $500,000 for the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons – an increase of $250,000 above the FY 2020 enacted level.
• $15.5 million for the disability rights – an increase of $3.5 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.

Peace Corps: 

• $410.5 million for Peace Corps – equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $9.3 million above the President’s budget request.

President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), including the Global Fund:

• $5.93 billion for PEPFAR, including $1.56 billion for the Global Fund – equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $2.1 billion above the President’s budget request.

International Basic Education:

• $975 million for basic education – an increase of $100 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $674 million above the President’s budget request. This includes $125 million for multilateral partnerships in education and requires not less than $150 million be spent on girl’s education in areas of conflict.

Humanitarian Assistance:

• $7.83 billion for humanitarian assistance under the accounts Migration & Refugee Assistance (MRA), U.S. Emergency Refugee & Migration Assistance (ERMA), and International Disaster Assistance (IDA) – equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $1.56 billion above the President’s budget request.

Educational and Cultural Exchange (ECE) Programs: 

• $741.7 million for exchange programs – an increase of $11 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $431.7 million above the President’s budget request.

Biodiversity, Wildlife Trafficking, & the Global Environment Facility (GEF):

• $315 million for biodiversity – equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $224 million above the President’s budget request.
• $100.7 million for wildlife trafficking – equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $67.2 million above the President’s budget request.
• $139.6 million for the Global Environment Facility, of which $136.6 million is for the third installment of the seventh replenishment – consistent with the FY 2020 enacted level and $139.6 million above the President’s budget request.

Other Environment Programs:

• $135 million for sustainable landscapes – equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $135 million above the President’s budget request.
• $177 million for adaptation programs and $179 million for renewable energy programs – equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $356 million above the President’s budget request.

Democracy Programs & National Endowment for Democracy (NED):

• $2.4 billion for democracy programs – consistent with the FY 2020 enacted level and $850 million above the President’s budget request.
• $300 million for the National Endowment for Democracy – the same as the FY 2020 enacted level and $232.7 million above the President’s budget request.
• $323.7 million for Democracy Fund (DF), of which $218.5 million is for the State Department and $105.3 million for USAID – an increase of $50 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $323.7 million above the President’s budget request.

Assessed & voluntary contributions for peacekeeping activities:

• $1.456 billion for Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA) - $70 million below the FY 2020 enacted level and $377 million above the President’s budget request.
• $457.3 million for Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) – equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $167.3 million above the President’s budget request.

Assessed & voluntary contributions to international organizations:

• $1.506 billion to fully fund our assessed Contributions to International Organizations (CIO) – an increase of $32 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $443 million above the President’s budget request.
• $390.5 million for International Organizations & Programs (IO&P) – equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $390.5 million above the President’s budget request.
• Restores funding for the World Health Organization, which President Trump has threatened to cut off.

U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP):

• $45 million for USIP - consistent with the FY 2020 enacted level and $29.3 million above the President’s budget request.

The Asia Foundation:

• $20 million for the Asia Foundation – an increase of $1 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $20 million above the President’s budget request.

East-West Center:

• $19.7 million for the East-West Center – an increase of $3 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $19.7 million above the President’s budget request.

Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC):

• $905 million for MCC – consistent with the FY 2020 enacted level and $105 million above the President’s budget request.

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC):

• $311 million, which includes $131 million for administrative expenses, $180 million for DFC activities including equity financing, credit subsidy, technical assistance, and feasibility studies. This represents an increase of $12 million above the FY 2020 enacted level, increasing funding for administrative expenses, and a decrease of $523 million below the President’s budget request.
• $2 million for the DFC IG – consistent with the FY 2020 enacted level and the President’s budget request.

Support for U.S. allies and partners, including:

(amounts are included in account totals above)

• Israel:  $3.3 billion, fulfilling the MOU.
• Jordan:  $1.52 billion, fulfilling the MOU.
• Egypt: $1.4 billion, with governance and human rights conditions and reporting requirements.
• Assistance for Eastern Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia: $770.3 million, which is $319.4 million more than the Administration’s FY 2021 request.
• Central America: directs that not less than $519.9 million be made available for the countries of Central America, including not less than $420.8 million for Northern Triangle countries, and amends permissive language included in FY 2020 to require that the Administration meet the assistance directive for Central America. 
• Caribbean Basin Regional Security Initiative: Not less than $74.8 million.
• Colombia: $457.2 million, $9 million above FY 2020, and including not less than $36 million for rule of law and human rights activities.
• Democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela: Not less than $30 million.
• Countering Russian Influence Fund: $290 million.
• Tibet:  $17 million and $1 million for the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.

Policy Provisions:

Support for women’s reproductive rights:

• The bill includes the Global HER Act, which would permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule, reinstated by President Trump in January 2017.
• It also includes a prohibition on current and prior funds from being used to implement the Mexico City Policy.
• The bill does not include a prohibition carried in prior House bills on assistance to UNFPA.
• The bill ends the exclusion of family planning from global health authorities and allows family planning products to benefit from the HIV/AIDS Working Capital Fund. 

Emphasizes gender equality:

• The bill includes $50 million to support women’s leadership, $165 million to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, $15 million to address women at risk of violent extremism and $130 million to support the Women, Peace and Security Strategy.

Alleviate climate change:

• The bill includes $500 million in current and prior year funding for a contribution or grant to an international fund to assist developing nations in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pursue adaptation and mitigation policies.

Lautenberg Amendment:

• The bill includes the "Lautenberg Amendment," which protects refugee eligibility for historically persecuted religious minorities.

Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Program:

• The bill includes a one-year extension of the Afghan SIV program, including authorization for an additional 4,000 SIVs.

Restoring staffing levels:

• The bill continues the reversal of the Administration’s hiring freeze and maintains State Department and USAID personnel at not less than 2016 levels.

Protecting critical partner agencies and organizations:

• The bill rejects the Administration’s request to close or consolidate the U.S. African Development Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation, the East-West Center, the Asia Foundation, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

The Middle East Partnership for Peace Act of 2020:

• Authorizes $50 million for five fiscal years to establish the People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund under USAID and the Joint Investment for Peace Initiative under the DFC, which will provide investments in people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation, respectfully, between Israelis and Palestinians with the goal of supporting a negotiated and sustainable two-state solution.

Division B – Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA

Overview:

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill funds agencies and programs within the Department of Agriculture, the Farm Credit Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Food and Drug Administration.

For FY 2021, total discretionary funding in the legislation is $23.98 billion, an increase of $487 million above the FY 2020 enacted level. In total, the bill allows for $153 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding, an increase of $331 million above the FY 2020 enacted level. 

The bill prioritizes important agricultural and food programs and services, including food and medical product safety, animal and plant health programs, rural development, farm services, agricultural trade, financial marketplace oversight, and nutrition programs, both domestic and international.

Bill Summary:

Rural Development and Infrastructure – The bill provides a total of more than $4.214 billion for rural development programs. These programs help create an environment for economic growth by providing business and housing opportunities and building sustainable rural infrastructure for the modern economy.

• Rural Broadband – The legislation invests over $1.025 billion, an increase of $435 million above the FY 2020 enacted level, in the expansion of broadband service to provide economic development opportunities and improved education and healthcare services. This includes $990 million for the ReConnect program. These significant investments in broadband reflect a commitment to enabling Americans in rural communities to access digital tools necessary to improve health, educational, and economic outcomes.
• Critical Infrastructure – The legislation includes responsible investments in infrastructure to help rural areas of the country access basic utilities. This includes $1.45 billion for rural water and waste program loans, and over $610 million in water and waste grants for clean and reliable drinking water systems and sanitary waste disposal systems. An additional $6.9 billion in loan authority is provided for rural electric and telephone infrastructure loans.

• Rural Housing Loans and Rental Assistance – The bill provides a total of $24 billion in loan authority for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. The bill includes $1 billion in direct single family housing loans, meeting the estimated need for these loans, which provide home loan assistance to low-income rural families, many of whom would have few loan options for purchasing a home because of their geographical location. In addition, a total of $1.450 billion is provided for rental assistance and rental vouchers for affordable rental housing for low-income families and the elderly in rural communities for renewal of all existing rental assistance contracts.

Food and Nutrition Programs – The legislation contains discretionary funding, as well as mandatory funding required by law, for food and nutrition programs within the Department of Agriculture. This includes funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and child nutrition programs.

• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – The bill provides $5.75 billion in discretionary funding for WIC, which is $298 million above the budget request.
• Child nutrition programs – The bill provides for $25.131 billion in mandatory funding for child nutrition programs. This is an increase of $1.516 billion above the FY 2020 enacted level. This funding will provide free or reduced-price school lunches and snacks for children who qualify for the program. The bill provides $552 million for the Summer Food Service Program to ensure low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. In addition, the bill provides $50 million for the Summer EBT program, $35 million for school kitchen equipment grants, and $15 million for school breakfast expansion grants. The report includes language that urges the Secretary of Agriculture to extend critical, nationwide waivers to ensure it is as easy as possible to feed school children through the 2020-2021 school year.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – The bill provides for $68.277 billion in required mandatory spending for SNAP. This includes $3 billion for the SNAP reserve fund.

International Food Assistance Programs – The legislation contains $2 billion for international food aid and to promote U.S. agricultural exports overseas. This includes $1.775 billion for Food for Peace grants and $235 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition program. These programs work to reduce famine and increase food security overseas.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – The FDA receives a total of $3.212 billion in discretionary funding in the bill, an increase of $40.8 million above the 2020 enacted level. Total funding for the FDA, including revenue from user fees, is $5.99 billion. Within this total, the Committee provides targeted increases for medical product and food safety activities, including new initiatives to advance new influenza vaccine manufacturing technologies, support for a new, crosscutting activity enhancing food and medical product safety and includes funding to develop a framework for regulating CBD products.  In addition, the bill includes a strong focus on continuing FDA’s efforts to enable faster responses to foodborne illness outbreaks and increase the safety and cybersecurity of medical devices. The bill also appropriates $70 million to accelerate medical product development as authorized in the 21st Century Cures Act.

Food Safety and Inspection Service – The legislation includes $1.088 billion for food safety and inspection programs. These mandatory inspection activities help ensure the safety and productivity of the country’s meat and poultry industry, and keep safe, healthy food on American tables. The funding provided will maintain nearly 8,800 frontline inspection personnel for meat, poultry, and egg products at more than 6,400 facilities across the country.

Marketing Programs – The bill provides $190 million, $2 million above 2020 and $42 million above the request, to facilitate the movement of agriculture products and open market opportunities. This includes $18 million for the National Organic Program to protect the integrity of the USDA Organic label and $16.5 million for the new hemp production program. The bill also provides $20 million in discretionary funds to the Agricultural Marketing Service and Rural Development for the Local Agriculture Market Program to continue supporting local food and value-added agriculture.

Farm Programs – The legislation provides $1.835 billion for farm programs, which is $30.3 million above the fiscal year 2020 level. This includes $5 million to resolve ownership and succession of farmland issues, also known as heirs property.  This funding will continue support for various farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs, and help American farmers and ranchers. It will also meet estimates of demand for farm loan programs.

Animal and Plant Health – The legislation includes $1.07 billion – $27 million above the fiscal year 2020 enacted level – for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. This funding will support programs to help control or eradicate plant and animal pests and diseases that can be crippling to U.S. producers. The funding level provides increases that will help address harmful pests and diseases such as spotted lanternfly and chronic wasting disease, and support the growing needs of veterinary biological products such as vaccines and diagnostic tests. while maintaining increases from past years for citrus greening. 

Conservation Programs – The bill provides $1 billion to help farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners conserve and protect their land. This includes $167 million for infrastructure for watershed and flood prevention and watershed rehabilitation projects.

Agricultural Research – The bill provides $3.3 billion – $92 million above the fiscal year 2020 level – for agriculture research programs, including the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This funding will support research at all ARS facilities to help mitigate and stop devastating crop diseases, improve food safety and water quality, increase production, and combat antimicrobial resistance. This funding also includes important research investments in U.S. land-grant colleges and universities, including a significant increase for the 1890 institutions, and for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s premier competitive research program.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) – Included in the bill is $304 million for the CFTC, which is the same as the request.

Bill language –

• The bill includes language to block the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents final rule (ABAWD) and the Standard Utility Allowance rule (SUA) proposed rule.
• The bill includes language to block USDA from granting line-speed waivers at meat processing facilities during the public health emergency.
• The bill includes language requiring the Secretary to submit to the Committee documents the Department cited as the basis for its decision to cancel the Forest Service application for the Rainy River Watershed Withdrawal in Minnesota.
• The bill continues language allowing the Secretary to waive matching fund requirements for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative.
• The bill includes language providing FDA, for the first time, with mandatory recall authority for prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
• The bill extends the hemp pilot program through fiscal year 2021.
• The bill includes language that allows low-fat (1% fat) flavored milk to be offered in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
• The bill includes language directing the FDA to develop a plan to identify, detain, and refuse the import of FDA-regulated products from a foreign establishment that did not allow physical access to FDA investigators.

Division C – Interior-Environment

Overview:

The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill includes funding for programs within the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other related agencies, including the Indian Health Service.

For FY 2021, the bill includes $36.76 billion in regular appropriations, an increase of $771 million above the FY 2020 enacted level, and $5.11 billion over the President’s 2021 request. Additionally, the bill includes $15 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for investments in critical infrastructure. There is also an additional $2.35 billion of funding provided under the fire suppression cap adjustment.

In FY 2021, Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) allocations will shift from discretionary to mandatory appropriations. For clarity, comparisons throughout are for non-LWCF programs.

Bill Summary:

Department of the Interior (DOI) – The bill provides a total of $13.83 billion in discretionary appropriations for DOI, an increase of $304 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $1.8 billion above the President’s budget request. Of this amount, the bill includes:

• $1.3 billion for the Bureau of Land Management (MLR/O&C), $28 million below the FY 2020 enacted level and $107 million above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, the bill includes: 
  • $72 million for sage-grouse conservation, and $49 million for the National Landscape Conservation System.

• $1.6 billion for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an increase of $37 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $201 million above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, the bill includes:  
  • $278 million for Ecological Services, an increase of $12 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $34 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $511 million for National Wildlife Refuge System, an increase of $8 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $14 million below the President’s budget request.
  • $19 million for Multinational Species Conservation Fund, an increase of $4 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $13 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $78 million for State and Tribal Wildlife Grants, an increase of $11 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $47 million above the President’s budget request.

• $3.22 billion for National Park Service, an increase of $55 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $449 million above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, the bill includes:
   
  • $2.8 billion for Operation of the National Park System, an increase of $200 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $261 million above the President’s budget request. This increase includes funding for 1,200 new staff at park units.
  • $74 million for National Recreation and Preservation, an increase of $3 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $40 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $136 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, an increase of $18 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $96 million above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, the bill includes $71 million for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, $25 million for Save America’s Treasures grants, $22 million for competitive grants to preserve the sites and stories of underrepresented community civil rights, and $10 million for grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
     
• $3.5 billion for Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Office of the Special Trustee, an increase of $188 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $562 million above the President’s budget request. This amount reflects the move of the Office of the Special Trustee to Indian Affairs in FY 2019. Within this amount, the bill includes:
   
  • $1.6 billion for operation of Bureau of Indian Affairs Operation of Indian Programs, an increase of $64 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $194 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $129 million for Bureau of Indian Affairs Construction, equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $69 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $11.8 million for the Indian Guaranteed Loan Program, equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and $11 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $982 million for Bureau of Indian Education Operation of Indian Programs, an increase of $39 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $106 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $249 million to Bureau of Indian Education Construction, an increase of $1 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $180 million above the President’s budget request.
  • Fully funds Contract Support Costs and creates a separate indefinite appropriation for Payment for Tribal Leases.
  • $108 million for Office of the Special Trustee, equal to the FY 2020 enacted level and the President’s budget request.
     
• $393 million for Departmental Offices, $81 million below the FY 2020 enacted level and $30 million above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, the bill includes:
   
  • $120 million for Office of Insular Affairs, an increase of $8 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $31 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $62 million for DOI’s Office of Inspector General, an increase of $6 million above the enacted level and $2.5 million above the President’s budget.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – The bill provides a total of $9.38 billion in for EPA – an increase of $318 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $2.67 billion above the President’s budget request. Of this amount, the bill includes:

• $3.58 billion for EPA’s core science and environmental program work, an increase of $210 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $822 million above the President’s budget request. Within these amounts, the bill includes:
   
  • $555 million for Geographic Programs which help with restoration of nationally significant bodies of water like the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, and Long Island Sound. This is an increase of $45 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $224 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $575 million for compliance monitoring and enforcement activities, an increase of $46 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $59 million above the President’s request.
  • $12.9 million in additional funding for scientific and regulatory work on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), needed to establish drinking water and cleanup standards. This funding builds on the $39 million increase the EPA received in 2020.
     
• $4.36 billion for State and Tribal Assistance Grants, an increase of $119 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $1.52 billion above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, the bill includes:
   
  • $2.76 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, equal to the enacted level and $782 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $189 million for targeted grants for drinking water contaminants and wastewater treatment for lead, nitrates, and other health hazards, an increase of $36 million above the enacted level and $86 million above the request.
  • $90 million for Brownfields cleanups, a $1 million increase above the FY 2020 enacted level and $10 million increase above the President’s budget request.
  • $90 million for Diesel Emissions Reduction grants, an increase of $3 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $80 million above the President’s budget request.
     
• $1.22 billion for Superfund, an increase of $37 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $143 million above the President’s request.
   
• $15 million for Environmental Justice activities, an increase of $4.8 million, or 47 percent, above the 2020 enacted level more than five times above the President’s budget request.  
   
• $45 million for the EPA Office of Inspector General, an increase of $3.6 million above the enacted level and $5.3 million above the request.  

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) – The bill does not contain discretionary funding but rather provides allocations for the estimated $900 million which will be made available in FY 2021.

Wildland Fire Management (WFM) - The bill provides $5.73 billion for WFM, which includes $2.35 billion in cap adjusted fire suppression funding. The total funding is $174.13 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $35.45 million below the President’s budget request.

Related Agencies –

• $3.13 billion for the Forest Service (non-fire/without LWCF), an increase of $134.2 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $196.71 million above the President’s budget request.
   
• $6.5 billion for the Indian Health Service, an increase of $445 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $199 million above the President’s budget request.
   
  • $4.5 billion for Health Services, an increase of $225 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $33 million above the President’s budget request. This reflects the move of Payment for Tribal Leases to a separate, indefinite appropriation account.
  • $935 million for Health Facilities, an increase of $23 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $166 million above the President’s budget request.
  • Fully funds Contract Support Costs and creates a separate indefinite appropriation for Payment for Tribal Leases.
     
• $170 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, an increase of $7.75 million above the 2020 enacted levels and rejects the President’s budget request proposal to eliminate the Agencies.
   
• $1.06 billion for the Smithsonian Institution, an increase of $12.7 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $50 million below the President’s budget request. 
   
• $14.8 million for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, an increase of $800,000 above the FY 2020 enacted level and $6.6 million above the President’s budget request. 
   
• $40.4 million for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, $3 million below the 2020 enacted level and equal to the President’s budget request. 
   
• $62 million for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, an increase of $2 million above the enacted level and the President’s budget request.

Additional Infrastructure Investments – In addition to the investments made in the above titles, the bill provides an additional $15 billion in emergency infrastructure investments for the Bureau of Indian Education, Environmental Protection Agency, and Indian Health Service:

• $13 billion in additional funds for Environmental Protection Agency infrastructure grants, including:
   
  • $10.2 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
  • $1 billion for Superfund program for site remediation.
  • $950 million for targeted water infrastructure grants for lead pipe replacement, sewer overflow control, and for small and disadvantaged communities.
  • $350 million for Brownfields grants.
  • $450 million for Diesel Emissions Reduction (DERA) grants.
     
• $1.5 billion in additional funds for the Indian Health Service to construct health care facilities.
   
• $500 million in additional funds for the Bureau of Indian Education for school construction needs.

Division D – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs

Overview:

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill supports our military personnel, bolsters resources for military families, and provides robust funding for veterans’ benefits, healthcare, and other programs.

For FY 2021, the bill provides $250.9 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding, an increase of $15.2 billion above the fiscal year 2020 enacted level and $2.3 billion above the President’s budget request. Of this amount, discretionary funding totals $115.5 billion, an increase of $5.1 billion above the fiscal year 2020 enacted level. This includes $350 million in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding, as well as $12.5 billion in emergency appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs to address the sharply rising cost of providing health care for Veterans. 

Bill Summary:

Military Construction – The bill provides a total of $10.1 billion, not including overseas contingency operations funding, for military construction – $1.2 billion below the 2020 enacted level and $2.3 billion above the President’s budget request. Of this amount, the bill includes:

• $1.49 billion for Family Housing, an increase of $22 million above the 2020 enacted level and $135 million above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, Family Housing Support and Management is funded at $135 million to address issues such as mold, vermin, and lead in military family housing. The President’s budget does not include funding for this program.

• $596 million for construction or alteration of Guard and Reserve facilities in states and territories, an increase of $45 million above the 2020 enacted level and $28 million above the President’s budget request.

• $173 million for the NATO Security Investment Program, an increase of $1 million above the 2020 enacted level and equal to the President’s budget request, for infrastructure necessary for wartime, crisis, and peace support and deterrence operations, and training requirements. The funds will support responses to the challenges posed by Russian aggression as well as the risks and threats emanating from the Middle East and North Africa.

• $581 million for Base Realignment and Closure, an increase of $182 million above the 2020 enacted level and $280 million above the President’s budget request. Within this amount, cleanup of Perfluorooctane Sulfanate and Perfluorooctanoic Acid contamination is funded at $200 million. 

Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) – The bill provides an additional $350 million for military construction projects in countries with ongoing U.S. operations and the European Deterrence Initiative to combat Russian aggression. These funds will support the construction of facilities to enable our military to fight current and emerging threats, to support increased troop levels, and to sustain services for military families. This includes operational facilities, training facilities, hospitals, family housing, National Guard readiness centers, barracks, and other important resources.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – The bill provides a total of $104.8 billion in discretionary appropriations for VA, an increase of $12.3 billion above the 2020 enacted level and $35 million below the President’s budget request. These resources will serve to expand access to services for Veterans and will boost oversight and accountability across the department. Of this amount, the bill includes:

• $90.0 billion for Veterans Medical Care, an increase of $9.8 billion above the 2020 enacted level and equal to the President’s budget request. Of this amount:
   
  • $10.3 billion for Mental Healthcare, an increase of $865 million above the 2020 enacted level and $40 million above the President’s budget request, including $313 million for suicide prevention outreach.
  • $661 million for Gender-specific Care for Women, an increase of $76 million above the 2020 enacted level and $35 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $1.9 billion for Homeless Assistance Programs, an increase of $81 million above the 2020 enacted level and $40 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $504 million for Opioid Abuse Prevention, an increase of $102 million above the 2020 enacted level and equal to the President’s budget request.
  • $300 million for Rural Health Initiatives, equal to the 2020 enacted level and $30 million above the President’s budget request.
  • $84 million for Whole Health Initiatives, an increase of $20 million above the 2020 enacted level and $20 million above the President’s budget request.
  • Additionally, the bill includes $94.2 billion in advance fiscal year 2022 funding for Veterans’ medical programs – equal to the President’s budget request. This funding will provide for medical services, medical community care, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities, and ensure that our Veterans have continued, full access to their medical care needs.

• $840 million for Medical and Prosthetic Research, an increase of $40 million above the 2020 enacted level and $53 million above the President’s budget request.

• $2.6 billion to continue implementation of the VA Electronic Health Record System, an increase of $1.1 billion above the 2020 enacted level and equal to the President’s budget request. The bill also continues GAO oversight of this program to ensure that the EHR system is implemented in a timely manner.

• $1.8 billion for VA Construction, an increase of $139 million above the 2020 enacted level and equal to the President’s budget request. Within this amount, $1.4 billion is for Major Construction and $400 million is for Minor Construction.

• $3.2 billion for operating expenses of the Veterans Benefit Administration, an increase of $62 million above the 2020 enacted level, to ensure the prompt processing of disability claims. The bill also continues rigorous reporting requirements to track each regional office’s performance on claims processing and appeals backlogs.

• Additionally, the bill includes $145.3 billion in advance mandatory funding for VA benefit programs, equal to the President's budget request.

• Within the total for the Department of Veterans Affairs, to respond to sharply rising costs in Veterans health care, the bill provides $12.5 billion in emergency spending. This funding supports the following:

• Medical Services
• Medical Community Care
• Medical Support and Compliance
• Medical Facilities
• Veterans Electronic Health Record
• Information Technology Systems

Related Agencies – The bill provides a total of $276 million in discretionary appropriations for related agencies, an increase of $500,000 above the 2020 enacted level and $21 million above the President’s budget request. Of this amount, the bill includes:

• $81.8 million for Arlington National Cemetery, an increase of $1 million above the 2020 enacted level and $11 million above the President’s budget request.

• $84.1 million for the American Battle Monuments Commission, equal to the fiscal year 2020 enacted level and $9 million more than the President’s budget request.

• $73.1 million for the Armed Forces Retirement Home, $2.2 million below the 2020 enacted level and $2.8 million above the President’s budget request. 

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