FY 2015 Federal Budget & Appropriations Update

FY 2015 Federal Budget & Appropriations Update Kathryn G. Schubert CRD Associates Coalition for Health Funding April 23, 2014

CRD Associates • Founded in 1980 • Government Relations • Strategic consulting

Background • Founded in 1970 • Largest nonprofit alliance to preserve and strenghten public health investments • 80+ member organizations • Advocate for the public health continuum • NIH, CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA, AHRQ, FDA, etc.

Mandatory vs. Discretionary • Discretionary spending is at Congress’“discretion” • “Defense” discretionary is military spending • “Nondefense” discretionary or “NDD” is everything else • Research, education, food/drug/airline/public safety • Mandatory spending enacted by law • Entitlement Programs (e.g., Medicare) • To change spending, must change eligibility rules

Appropriations Timetable • President submits budget request (Feb.) • Congress adopts a Budget Resolution (April) • Appropriations Committees make 302(b) allocations to 12 subcommittees (May) • Subcommittees hold hearings, mark up appropriations bills (May – June) • Full Committee ratifies bills (June) YOU ARE HERE

Appropriations Timetable (cont) • House floor debate, vote (June) • Senate develops and adopts its own appropriations bills (July – Sept.) • Differences ironed out in Conference Committee (Sept.) • To president for signature or veto (Sept. 30) • New fiscal year begins (Oct. 1)

In Reality… • Budget process rarely works as it should • Continuing resolution is “parachute” for annual appropriations process • Funds federal government in absence of appropriations bills for finite period • Programs funded at current level (generally) • Outstanding bills are frequently bundled in “omnibus” or “minibus” measures • FY 2013: Year of the “CRomnibus”

CR Funding, Number of Days

Last Year: The Worst of Times • BCA (2011) set caps for next decade • Sequestration (effective March 2013) • Cuts to all programs, projects, activities • FY2014-FY2012 cuts to spending caps • Government Shutdown! (October 2013) • Ryan-Murray Budget Agreement BBA 2013 • FY2014 $1.012 trillion v. FY2015 $1.013 trillion • FY2016 Sequestration STILL LAW

Last Year: The Worst of Times

Last Year: The Worst of Times • Congress passes, President signs Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 • Omnibus measure includes all 12 spending bills • First Labor-HHS bill since FY 2012 • Good news: increases for discretionary health programs • Bad news: levels remain below FY 2010

FY 2015: Better or Worse? • For better… • Early agreement on topline provides stability • Shutdown left yearning for regular order • Appropriators reasserting their authority • For worse… • Late start: President’s budget March 4 • “Stability:” So we thought in FY 2014 • Continued sequestration makes cutting harder • Devolution of appropriations • Election year

NIH Budget Authority(in billions, not adjusted for inflation)

Previous Cuts to NIH Funding

Changing Face of Advocacy:FY2015 and Beyond • Changing world • we now lobby on the budget resolution • Seek highest top-level number for our division • Caps already set • Work together with other groups • A rising tide lifts all boats • Appropriations = policy and programs

The Time is NOW!

Questions? kschubert@dc-crd.com Publichealthfunding.org @healthfunding

FY 2015 Federal Budget & Appropriations Update