March 2024 Federal Funding Update

March 04, 2024

This week, Congress must approve legislation to provide FY24 funding for a portion of the federal government. Currently, the federal government is operating on a two-tiered continuing resolution. Funding for discretionary programs in the Agriculture Appropriation bill—Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and FDA—expires on March 8.

On March 3, Congress released the legislative text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which proposes FY24 funding for six of the 12 appropriation bills. This package includes funding for EPA, the WIC program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and FDA, among other critical programs.

Importantly, this legislation includes full funding for the WIC program, a priority for ASTHO and other public health organizations. Funding for HHS discretionary programs (NIH, CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA) expires on March 22. Legislative text proposing funding for these programs has not been released.

Outlook

Given bipartisan negotiations, ASTHO’s government affairs team believes this bill will be signed into law, avoiding a partial government shutdown on March 8.

Additionally, text for the remaining six appropriation bills, including funding for HHS, is expected to be released later this week, with approval needed before March 22. According to media reports, this specific package of legislation will face a very difficult road to approval by Congress.

Resources

• Bill Text
• Legislative summaries (Majority and Minority)
• Joint Explanatory Statement—Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2024
• Joint Explanatory Statement—Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024
• Joint Explanatory Statement—Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

Key Public Health Funding Highlights

Agriculture Appropriation Bill

• $7.03 billion for the WIC program, an increase of $1.3 billion over FY23. This ensures the program is fully funded, and it increases funding for fruits and vegetables in the WIC Food Package to meet the President’s request.
• $122.4 billion ($3 billion to remain available through Sept. 30, 2026, for a contingency reserve) for SNAP, a decrease of $31.5 billion from FY23.
• $6.7 billion, level funding, for FDA. In addition, FDA is required to address drug and device shortages, among other critical priorities.
• Urges FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products to immediately remove any product containing synthetic nicotine from the market, regardless of whether such product is subject to the Premarket Tobacco Product Application process.
• Rescinds unspent COVID resources at FDA.

Environmental Protection Agency

This bill includes $9.2 billion for EPA, a reduction of $232 million.

• $4.4 billion for State and Tribal Assistance Grants. Within this amount, the bill includes $2.8 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and $1.4 billion in Community Project Funding.

Compact of Free Association

Pages 960-1048 of the bill text include a section amending Compacts of Free Association, which is important for territorial ASTHO members. The government affairs team will review this provision and provide additional analysis to our territorial members in the upcoming weeks.

Other Public Health Programs

Extends funding for the following programs through December 31, 2024:

• Community Health Centers
• National Health Service Corps
• Teaching Health Centers that Operate graduate medical education programs 
  Special Diabetes Program
• Authority for states and tribes to request temporary reassignment for federally funded personnel.