Budget & Taxes (Appropriations)

HRES 91 allocates $11,990,000 for the operational expenses of the House Committee on the Budget during the 119th Congress, including staff salaries and committee-related costs. The funding is split equally between two sessions: $5,995,000 for expenses from January 2025 to January 2026, and $5,995,000 for expenses from January 2026 to January 2027. Payments require vouchers signed by the Committee Chairman and approved by the Committee on House Administration, following its established regulations. This resolution directly affects the Committee on the Budget's ability to function within its allocated budget for the congressional term.

SRES 517 is a Senate resolution opposing congressional spending on earmarks - special spending projects directed by lawmakers for specific local projects. It condemns the use of earmarks to allocate taxpayer funds, reaffirms previous bans on such spending (including a 2019 permanent ban), and urges Congress to focus on reducing the national debt instead. The resolution does not change current spending rules but expresses the Senate’s position against earmarks as a way to curb deficit spending and debt growth. It directly affects how Congress manages federal budget allocations, emphasizing fiscal responsibility over targeted project funding.

# Summary of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This comprehensive appropriations bill allocates funding for the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies for fiscal year 2026. Key provisions include: 1. **Major Funding Allocations**: - Significant funding for the Indian Health Service, National Park System, and environmental programs - Specific allocations for National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities - Funding for the Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, and other cultural institutions 2. **Key Restrictions and Prohibitions**: - Ban on using funds for activities promoting public support/opposition to pending legislation - Prohibition on using funds for certain types of mineral leasing within National Monuments - Restrictions on using funds for certain environmental regulations (e.g., greenhouse gas reporting from manure management) - Ban on using funds for certain types of ammunition regulation 3. **Program Extensions**: - Extension of various programs through 2026 (e.g., Forest Service Facility Realignment, Tribal Leases, Alaska Native Regional Health Entities) - Extension of the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Program 4. **Administrative Provisions**: - Requirements for quarterly reporting on fund balances - Restrictions on reprogramming funds without committee approval - Requirements for posting reports on agency websites - Specific guidelines for grant awards and cancellations 5. **Rescissions and Repurposing**: - Permanent rescission of $41 million from Environmental Protection Agency Buildings and Facilities - Permanent rescission of $50 million from John F. Kennedy Center Capital Repair - Repurposing of $764.5 million from unobligated balances for wildland fire management The bill contains numerous specific provisions governing how funds may be used across various programs, with particular attention to environmental protection, cultural institutions, Native American health and land management, and forest management. It includes numerous restrictions on fund usage and specific requirements for reporting and transparency.

HR 5738, the "No Budget, No Pay Act," requires Congress to approve a budget resolution and pass all annual appropriations bills by October 1 each fiscal year. If Congress misses this deadline, members of Congress (excluding the Vice President) lose pay for the period of non-compliance, as determined by the House and Senate Budget and Appropriations Chairs. The bill specifies that no retroactive pay is allowed for any period during which Congress was out of compliance. This directly affects all elected members of Congress by linking their pay to timely budget passage, creating a financial incentive for meeting the October 1 deadline.

Eliminate Shutdowns Act This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if the appropriations bills for a fiscal year have not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations at the rate of operations that was provided for the prior fiscal year to continue programs, projects, and activities that were funded in the preceding fiscal year.

# Summary of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This comprehensive appropriations act provides funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies for fiscal year 2026. Key elements include: ## Major Funding Areas - **Rural Development**: Significant funding for rural housing, water and waste disposal systems, broadband access, and business development programs - **Food and Nutrition**: Funding for school meal programs, food assistance, and child nutrition initiatives - **Agricultural Programs**: Support for crop insurance, conservation, research, and marketing - **Food Safety**: Resources for FDA inspections and enforcement ## Key Provisions 1. **New Programs**: - $2 million for a Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program - $4 million for a new Energy Circuit Rider pilot program - $6 million to continue the Institute for Rural Partnerships - $700,000 for tribal meat inspection fee coverage 2. **Restrictions**: - Prohibits using funds to close or consolidate USDA laboratory locations without congressional approval - Bans funds for horse inspections under certain acts - Limits use of funds for certain travel and administrative activities - Requires specific notification for large grant terminations ($1 million+) 3. **Program Changes**: - Updates to hemp definitions and regulations (Section 781) - Modifications to the Rural Business Program (Section 760) - Changes to the definition of "hemp" and "cannabis" for regulatory purposes - Updates to the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard 4. **Allocation Requirements**: - Requires at least 10% of certain funds to be allocated for persistent poverty counties - Mandates specific reporting for FDA user fee programs - Requires notification for certain program changes 5. **Specific Restrictions**: - Prohibits using funds to procure poultry or seafood from China for school meal programs - Limits funds for certain FDA activities related to e-cigarettes - Prohibits funds for certain types of enforcement actions until specific data is available This act also includes numerous technical amendments to existing laws and establishes new reporting requirements for various programs across the Department of Agriculture.

S 2699, the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act, authorizes $48,245,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to fund geriatrics education and training programs under the Public Health Service Act. This funding directly supports healthcare providers and training institutions focused on elder care by expanding resources for developing geriatric specialists. The bill’s key provision replaces a prior funding reference with this specific, multi-year appropriation to strengthen the geriatric healthcare workforce. It does not change eligibility or create new requirements, only establishing dedicated federal funding for existing geriatrics training initiatives.

This bill ensures uninterrupted funding for Head Start programs in fiscal year 2026 by appropriating necessary funds from the Treasury if regular or continuing appropriations for that year are not enacted by September 30, 2026. It directly affects Head Start programs and the children and families they serve by preventing service disruptions during funding gaps. The key mechanism requires funding to continue under the same conditions as fiscal year 2025 (as established by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025) until either regular appropriations are passed, a specific appropriations resolution is enacted, or September 30, 2026. The bill does not create new funding but maintains current levels to avoid program interruptions.

HR 3787, the Emergency Spending Accountability Act, requires the Office of Management and Budget to implement mandatory spending cuts equal to 20% of all emergency spending approved in a fiscal year. These cuts would occur over five years (starting October 1 of the next fiscal year) and apply to most federal programs, though they exempt Social Security benefits, national defense (budget function 050), Department of Veterans Affairs programs, and Medicare. The bill also mandates that any congressional measure containing emergency spending must include a detailed justification explaining why the spending qualifies as "emergency" under existing budget laws. This aims to create accountability for spending that bypasses standard budget limits.

This bill ensures the U.S. Capitol Police continue receiving pay during fiscal year 2026 funding gaps by authorizing temporary funds for salaries, benefits (including hazard pay and retirement), and contractor support. It directly affects Capitol Police officers (classified as "excepted employees" during emergencies), their civilian support staff, and contractors providing essential services. The funding mechanism provides immediate payments for the period starting October 1, 2025, and lasts until Congress passes regular appropriations for the Capitol Police or September 30, 2026, whichever comes first.