The bill shaves funding for the department, curbs an NIH reorganization proposed by House Republicans, and restores money for HIV/AIDS programs.
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted on Thursday to advance the fiscal 2025 HHS budget. The bill, which passed 25-3, shaves funding for the department, curbs an NIH reorganization proposed by House Republicans, and restores money for HIV/AIDS programs.
The Senate bill summary released ahead of a committee hearing on Thursday comes after the House Appropriations Committee advanced its version of the budget earlier this summer. The House bill includes $107 billion for HHS — a 7 percent cut from fiscal 2024. The deepest cuts are at the CDC and agency programs that focus on gun control and climate change.
However, House leadership yanked the bill from the House floor before a vote because controversial abortion and contraceptive provisions made it unlikely to pass.
According to the Senate bill summary, its version includes $122.8 billion for HHS, slightly below what President Joe Biden requested: $130.7 billion. It retains funding for certain programs that House Republicans want to cut, including for teen pregnancy prevention and Title X.
The Senate bill also retains funding for HIV/AIDS initiatives, including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which the House version proposed cutting. And it includes $613 million for the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, which the House bill would eliminate.
Additionally, the Senate bill increases funding for the CDC by $173 million, with funding increases aimed at wastewater surveillance, data modernization, cancer prevention, and public health infrastructure, per the summary.
Here’s what else is in the bill:
National Institutes for Health: While House appropriators have voted to keep NIH funding level and restructure the agency, the Senate bill curbs the restructuring and increases NIH funding by about $2 billion to $50 billion in fiscal 2025. It keeps level funding of $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The Senate bill also increases funding for certain research programs, including for Alzheimer’s disease, Biden’s cancer moonshot, the Office of Research on Women’s Health, and mental health. It also includes a $20 million increase for artificial intelligence programs at the NIH.
It also includes provisions to address sexual harassment reporting at the NIH.
Substance use and mental health: The Senate bill increases funding for substance use and mental health programs by $215 million. That includes a $40 million increase from fiscal 2024 for state substance use block grants. The House bill also includes an increase for state grants.
The budget also includes:
— $13 billion for Head Start, a $700 million increase from fiscal 2024
— A $25 million increase for a loan repayment program for providers in the mental health workforce
— A $20 million increase for the 988 suicide prevention lifeline
— A $400 million increase for mental health clinics
— $1.86 billion to sustain funding for community health centers
— A $10 million increase in cybersecurity efforts at HHS
— A $13 million increase in funding for the organ transplant system overhaul
— A $100 million increase for heating and cooling support for lower-income people
— A $200 million boost for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, with increases focused on the Strategic National Stockpile and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
Senate panel approves HHS fiscal 2025 budget
politicopro.com
August 1, 2024 4:09 pm
The bill shaves funding for the department, curbs an NIH reorganization proposed by House Republicans, and restores money for HIV/AIDS programs.
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted on Thursday to advance the fiscal 2025 HHS budget. The bill, which passed 25-3, shaves funding for the department, curbs an NIH reorganization proposed by House Republicans, and restores money for HIV/AIDS programs.
The Senate bill summary released ahead of a committee hearing on Thursday comes after the House Appropriations Committee advanced its version of the budget earlier this summer. The House bill includes $107 billion for HHS — a 7 percent cut from fiscal 2024. The deepest cuts are at the CDC and agency programs that focus on gun control and climate change.
However, House leadership yanked the bill from the House floor before a vote because controversial abortion and contraceptive provisions made it unlikely to pass.
According to the Senate bill summary, its version includes $122.8 billion for HHS, slightly below what President Joe Biden requested: $130.7 billion. It retains funding for certain programs that House Republicans want to cut, including for teen pregnancy prevention and Title X.
The Senate bill also retains funding for HIV/AIDS initiatives, including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which the House version proposed cutting. And it includes $613 million for the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, which the House bill would eliminate.
Additionally, the Senate bill increases funding for the CDC by $173 million, with funding increases aimed at wastewater surveillance, data modernization, cancer prevention, and public health infrastructure, per the summary.
Here’s what else is in the bill:
National Institutes for Health: While House appropriators have voted to keep NIH funding level and restructure the agency, the Senate bill curbs the restructuring and increases NIH funding by about $2 billion to $50 billion in fiscal 2025. It keeps level funding of $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The Senate bill also increases funding for certain research programs, including for Alzheimer’s disease, Biden’s cancer moonshot, the Office of Research on Women’s Health, and mental health. It also includes a $20 million increase for artificial intelligence programs at the NIH.
It also includes provisions to address sexual harassment reporting at the NIH.
Substance use and mental health: The Senate bill increases funding for substance use and mental health programs by $215 million. That includes a $40 million increase from fiscal 2024 for state substance use block grants. The House bill also includes an increase for state grants.
The budget also includes:
— $13 billion for Head Start, a $700 million increase from fiscal 2024
— A $25 million increase for a loan repayment program for providers in the mental health workforce
— A $20 million increase for the 988 suicide prevention lifeline
— A $400 million increase for mental health clinics
— $1.86 billion to sustain funding for community health centers
— A $10 million increase in cybersecurity efforts at HHS
— A $13 million increase in funding for the organ transplant system overhaul
— A $100 million increase for heating and cooling support for lower-income people
— A $200 million boost for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, with increases focused on the Strategic National Stockpile and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.