October 26, 2001

Appropriations Timetable Uncertain, Supplemental Requests Grow

The unprecedented closure of House and Senate office buildings this week has thrown another obstacle into the already faltering congressional schedule for completion of the 13 annual spending bills. Adding to the confusion are several efforts to increase the supplemental emergency spending package. Congress had originally approved a $40 billion emergency spending bill (P.L. 107-38) in response to the Sept. 11 attacks, with $20 billion to be allocated by the President and a second $20 billion to be determined by Congress as part of the FY 2002 appropriations process. This second $20 billion will likely be attached to the FY 2002 defense appropriations bill.

However, increasing safety concerns have stimulated calls for even more spending on domestic security. Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) Oct. 24 released a $20 billion spending plan he drafted at the request of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.Dak.). Senator Byrd wants to attach the package - which includes funding for bioterrorism protection, law enforcement, transportation security and economic improvement - to an economic stimulus bill. At the same time, the House Appropriations Committee is currently reviewing requests by Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), the panel's ranking Democrat, for billions of dollars of additional spending for homeland defense. The House would most likely attach these funds to the defense spending bill.

Meanwhile, Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) continue to work out details on an additional spending package to respond to bioterrorism. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson announced that he will ask Congress for additional funding as part of the Kennedy-Frist bill. This money would be in addition to the $1.6 billion for bioterrorism in the original $40 billion emergency supplemental. The Secretary also announced the release of $300 million in grants through the CDC to areas hit by anthrax contamination, including the District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

Information: Dave Moore, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.