Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
Continuing appropriations, 2024 and Other Extensions
A Blog about Continuing Appropriations
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Federal and more specifically Continuing Appropriations as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Federal
This should be a fairly limited bills area for management the overall structures like highways, military, federal buildings, federal laws, and the like. However it has become the micro manager of all micro managers. They get involved in areas that no federal government should be involved in, and shift more power upward. This has led to each party trying to run over the other party in the eyes of the voters, all the while doing everything possible to maintain their power. They do this by holding onto all of the money, and claiming they know best how it should be spent. But they run debts so badly that no one should be looking to them as an example of anything other than the way to overspend and go further into debt.
Summary of Continuing Appropriations
This bill spends entirely too much money in too short a time in what I am certain would be claimed to be necessary spending.
Blog Summary
Love the ease at which Congress can spend soo much. Also love that they have, at least momentarily, avoided this being included in budgets. That way they can tout what a good job they did in keeping the government going for 45 days. And now they will, unfortunately, find new ways to spend even more money on wants.
Continuing appropriations, 2024 and Other Extensions
Published: 2023-10-04
A couple of things before I dive into the actual Act. First, I considered grouping all of the spending 2024 Acts together. However, I figured a majority of the Acts have to be broken into multiple blogs just to make them more manageable anyway. And this could lead to dozens of blogs in total. Instead I've decided that for each new Act, in the summary section I will denote how many bills have come before the one I am posting about, including how many of them were actually enacted. I do try to do a modified bill that is passed under the prior bill number even if it is one that is re-introduced under a new number.
Second, the things that are passed here as if they are necessary is insane. Our spending and funding things has gone beyond over the edge. We have too many laws, too much regulation and excessively too much spending. That being said, this blog is a very brief notation of items being funded. Some areas contain actual values for the funding, but I did not go back to the 2023 appropriations to fill in all of the values.
Continuing Appropriations, 2024
The following funds are appropriated:
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; including: Food for Peace Title II Grants, McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program Grants, Agricultural Research Service - Building and Faculties, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Rural Housing Service - Rural Community Facilities Program Account (decreased from $75,300,000 to $25,300,000), Rural Utilities Service - Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account (decreased from $325,000,000 to $60,000,000)
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023 (decreased from $705,768,000 to $122,572,000); and included are Federal Prison System - Buildings and Facilities, National Science Foundation - STEM Education (decreased from $217,000,000 to $92,000,000), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Operations, Research, and Facilities (decreased from $62,000,000 to $42,000,000), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Procurement, Acquisition and Construction, National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Construction and Environmental Compliance Restoration, and National Science Foundation - Research and Related Activities (decreased from $818,162,000 to $608,162,000)
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2023
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, but not funding the SPR Petroleum Account, the Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program, the Energy Programs - Nuclear Energy, the Corps of Engineers - Civil - Department of the Army - Construction, Corps of Engineers - Civil - Department of the Army - Operation and Maintenance
Department of the Interior, Environmental, and Related Appropriations Act, 2023, except Department of the Interior - Departmental Offices - Department-wide Programs - Wildland Fire Management, Related Agencies - Department of Agriculture - Forest Service - Wildland Fire Management
Department of Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, Division H of Public Law, Division A of Public Law, and Administration for Children and Families - Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2023
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Appropriations Act, 2023
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Appropriations Ac, 2023, except section 7069, Department of State - Administration of Foreign Affairs - Diplomatic Programs (for all that follows 2024 by decreasing from $147,054,000 to $87,054,000), Bilateral Economic Assistance - Funds Appropriated to the President - International Disaster Assistance (decreasing from $937,902,000 to $637,902,000), Bilateral Economic Assistance - Funds Appropriated to the President - Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia, Bilateral Economic Assistance - Department of State - Migration and Refugee Assistance (decreasing from $1,535,048,000 to $915,048,000), International Security Assistance - Department of State - International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (except all the follows 2024 and reducing from $374,996,000 to $74,996,000)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, except Public and Indian Housing - Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Housing Programs - Project-Based Rental Assistance in title X of Division N of Public Law
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No appropriations or funds for DoD shall be used for:
- new production of items not first funding in 2023 or earlier;
- to increase production of items above 2023 production rates;
- initiation, resumption, or continuation of any project, activity, operation or organization that were not funded in 2023
- No appropriations or funds for the DoD shall be used for: multi-year procurement utilizing advanced procurement funding unless specifically appropriated
These funds are only available until a 2024 Appropriations Act is passed or until November 17, 2023; whichever is sooner. Makes the reductions in funding seem immaterial and extremely insignificant.
For all 'entitlements and other mandatory payments' that were budgeted in the appropriations Act of 2023, they will continue to pay at the rate necessary to maintain the program.
There is additional funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency - Disaster Relief Fund in the amount of $16,000,000,000 ($16 TRILLION). Department of Transportation - Federal Aviation Administration - Facilities and Equipment gets an increase from $570,000,000 to $617,000,000 and a decrease from $2,221,200,000 to $2,174,200,000.
Overall, for the items funding, at most through November 17, 2023, they increased spending by $13,980,840,000 (that is an increase of over 13 TRILLION dollars). But that equates to just an additional $42 per person (as of the writing of this blog) in additional taxes that are needed.
Extensions and Other Matters
Extensions of portions of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 regarding the Association between the US and the Federated States of Micronesia such that their funding from October 1, 2023 through November 17, 2023 shall continue as previously authorized in 2023. While other portions shall continue until such time as the US government begins new Federal programs. This portion covers not just the Association between the US and the Federated States of Micronesia, but also, the US and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
FAA Extension
The are appropriated $842,076,502 for the period from October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. (Or just $280,692,167 per month). They are anticipating the full amount that should be appropriated to be $3,350,000,000 ($3.35 BILLION) for the year.
This is to include the following:
- Project Grant Authority
- Unmanned Aircraft Test Ranges
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Airport Safety and Airspace Hazard Mitigation and Enforcement
- Competitive Access Reporting
- Marshall Islands, Micronesia, andPalau
- Discretionary Funds: $140,401,803
- Compatible Land Use Planning and Projects by State and Local Governments
- Non-Movement Area Surveillance Pilot Program
- Weather Reporting Programs: $9,803,278
- Learning Period
- Midway Island Airport
- Order Establishing Mileage and Adjustment Eligibility
- Contract Weather Observers
- Remote Tower Pilot Program
- Airport Access Roads in Remote Locations; Storage Facilities for Snow Removal Equipment
- Remote Detection and Identification Pilot Program
- Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection
- Aviation Consumer Advocate
- Advisory Committee On Air Travel Needs of Passengers with Disabilities
- Enhanced Traffic Services
- Pilot Program for Redevelopment of Airport Properties
FAA operations is appropriated $2,995,027,322 beginning October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. Air Navigation Facilities and Equipment is appropriated $740,273,224 beginning October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. Research, engineering and Development is appropriated $64,098,360 beginning October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
Small Community Air Service is appropriated $89,191,486 beginning October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. Airports not receiving sufficient services are appropriated $2,513,661 beginning October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
Aviation Revenue Provisions
- Airport and Airway Trust Fund received continued funding through January 1, 2024.
- Taxes funding airport and airway trust fund is extended through December 31, 2023.
Counter-UAS Authority - Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended to November 18,2023.
Health and Human Services
Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee: The fees authorized will be dedicated toward expediting the animal drug development process, and review of new and supplemental animal drug applications. These fees were authorized in 2023. So basically watch the prices of every medication for animal will substantially increase beginning about the time these fees began - perhaps a short delay. For each year from 2024 through 2028, they intend to ensure the fees generate $33,500,000. They will do this through animal drug application fees, supplemental animal drug application fees, animal drug sponsor fees, animal drug establishment fees, and animal drug product fees. They do have a sunset date for the fees of January 31, 2029. My guess is though that they will use the creation of these fees to claim rapid development of medication and claim a victory, thereby convincing people that this fee structure needs to be put in place permanently. But a 5 year window does not really provide enough time to show a victory. It may seem that a drug is working but they won't know of the true side effects in that time. And if they do manage to implement this fee structure in a more permanent manner, the cost of medications will substantially increase. I love animals, but that being said, they were already doing a great job of creating new medications for animals. This is in part because some items that were used for humans were converted to animal use; and some animal medications could later be developed into treatments for humans. More fees are not really necessary, and inevitably lead to more wasting of resources via the Federal government. And if they ever are not earning enough to support something, they will gladly throw tax dollars at it and claim they are trying to help. Yet another issue the Federal government needs to limit their meddling in.
Teaching Health Centers that operate graduate medical education programs is to receive $126,500,000 and $16,635,616 (for October 1, 2023 though November 17, 2023)
Community Health Centers are appropriated $4,000,000,000 ($4 BILLION) and $526,027,397 (another half billion).
National Health Centers for Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is appropriated $40,767,123 for October 1, 2023 to November 17, 2023.
Special Diabetes Programs for Type I Diabetes is appropriated $19,726,027 for October 1, 2023 to November 17, 2023. Special Diabetes Programs for Indians is approprirated $19,726,027 for October 1, 2023 to November 17, 2023.
There are extension to make appointments for National Disaster Medical System Personnel, Temporary Reassignment of State and local personnel during a public health emergency, National Advisory Committee on Children and disasters, National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters, and National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters. All are extended through November 17, 2023. I'm not sure why we need all of these positions filled or if they are merely filled at the time of an actual disaster. I also do not know why more than one committee is necessary. I do suppose this way they can over spend, step on one another's toes and create more burecracy than necessary.
Medicaid is extended, and the value of $7,000,000,000 is reduced to $6,357,117,810.
Child and family services programs are extended, and paid out in the same manner as the 2023 fiscal year authorized.
Sexual Risk Avoidance Education under the Social Security Act - extended through the November 17, 2023.
Personal Responsibility Education Extension under the Social Security Act - extended through the November 17, 2023. I just had to look this up - increase reproductive health outcomes and life opportunities for youth in the Commonwealth through sexual health and adulthood preparation education.
Budgetary Effects
The budgetary effects of this Act are not being entered on PAYGO. So if Congress just waits to pass things to 'keep things status quo' for awhile they can forgo having it reflect in the PAYGO system immediately. I mean eventually I imagine the Budget office will include the funds being spent but, for the time being, Congress can act as if they did not appropriate Billions of additional dollars to keep things going through November 17, 2023. And hey if they don't bury this value in the actual budget, they can make further heinous claims of limiting spending.
I also like the verbage 'out of funds not otherwise appropriated'. But honestly if they were all out of funds we had, then we would not be borrowing so much. I swear they put that language in certain places to act as if they are only funding things we can afford. But don't ask how other items are being funded, because they are all probably funded on borrowed money. We are already so far in debt that two generations after mine will be paying for what we are spending. And all of the things appropriated are not necessary. I know that there are individuals who want this, or want that; but wanting and having to have are not the same. Our government sets a horrible example to the citizens that they should run in debt to pay for what they want. People have lost track of rights vs privileges; needs vs wants. And everyone seems to want the Federal government to solve some problem or another. We need to stop, the Federal government needs to stop. They cannot, nor should any expect, the Federal government to solve all problems. Honestly, if you are an adult and do not expect your mother and father to solve every problem in your life; then you should not expect the Federal government to do so either. Power needs to be taken back from the Federal government and returned to the states, local governments and the individual citizens of the US.
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