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Defense Health Research Consortium to Congress: Enact the FY23 Defense Appropriations Bill

The Defense Health Research Consortium and dozens of its affiliated members today sent a letter to House and Senate leadership, calling on them to “work toward the enactment of the fiscal year 2023 Defense Appropriations Act, to ensure full funding levels for the Defense Health Research Programs, including the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).”

The letter, signed by 121 patient advocacy organizations, health and medical associations, veterans organizations and colleges and universities, warns of the consequences of enacting further continuing resolutions in lieu of a fully-funded Defense Appropriations Act. According to the letter, “Failure to enact the Defense Appropriations Act this year will have major negative health implications for the millions of Americans – especially veterans, military service members and their families – who live with chronic and debilitating disorders. Further delay will impede important new discoveries and translation of medical innovation into new treatments and cures for many disorders.”

The Defense Health Research Consortium was founded by CRD Associates to bring a diverse community together to advocate for the CDMRP, a $1.5 billion medical research program designed to meet the unique health and medical challenges of the men and women in the U.S. Armed Services. Funding for the CDMRP is added every year by Congress to the annual Defense Appropriations Act, and this funding has faced threats and similar challenges in previous years

June 26, 2023

House Appropriations Committee approves FY24 Defense Appropriations Act

On June 22, the House Committee on Appropriations approved its version of the fiscal year 2024 Defense Appropriations Act. Approved 34 to 24 along party lines, the bill would provide $826.45 billion for defense spending in the fiscal year starting October 1, staying within spending caps negotiated in the debt ceiling agreement.

The House Committee mark largely includes funding for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRPs) at existing fiscal year 2023 levels. The bill provides $10 million to create a new arthritis research program. Arthritis is currently an eligible condition in the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP).

The House version of the bill will likely be brought to the House floor for consideration in July. The House may choose to first consider the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act when it reconvenes on July 11.

In a related development, on June 22, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved allocations for its versions of the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills, including $823.3 billion for defense spending.

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November 22, 2022

November 16, 2022

Rep. Ken Calvert has survived his re-election and will serve as chair of HAC-D

End-of-Year Outlook: What’s Left on the Congressional Agenda

Congress returns to Washington next week with a full agenda before adjourning for the year. Here is a look at what issues they may consider:

FY 2023 Appropriations

One benefit of the close elections is the path to finishing fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations may have gotten easier as Republicans will not have the leverage to punt the spending package into the new Congress. The current CR expires on December 16^th and Democrats in the House and Senate intend to negotiate and enact an omnibus spending package by then, or by the end of the calendar year. An omnibus would likely include supplemental Ukraine funding, disaster relief, mental health authorizations, and other priorities.

Debt Limit

The $31.4 trillion debt limit will need to be raised by before the end of 2023. Influential Republicans have described the debt limit as a tool they will use to extract major spending cuts, despite the risk of crashing the economy. Therefore, Democrats and moderate Republicans are discussing the possibility of including a debt limit increase, or abolishing the debt limit, during the lame duck. President Biden opposes the abolishment of the debt limit, claiming it would be “irresponsible.” It is unclear there will be enough votes attached to this proposal to the omnibus. However, it would protect the economy under President Biden while solving the issue for the next Congress by taking it out of their hands.

Congress Passes Another Continuing Resolution to Extend Fiscal Deadline Through December 18

December 11, 2020

The Senate passed a one-week continuing resolution (CR) late Friday afternoon via voice vote, sending it to President Trump for his signature just hours before the midnight deadline. The President signed the bill Friday evening to keep the government open for another week while lawmakers work to reach an agreement on a spending package before the new December 18 deadline.

Lawmakers and staff worked over the weekend to finalize and file an omnibus package by COB today, but sources tell us lawmakers are still uncertain whether it is possible. Rumors are circulating that House Appropriations Committee staff have drafted a three-month CR that they could rely on if a final spending package isn’t ready by early this week. However, appropriators in both chambers are outwardly optimistic, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who told reporters he is hopeful that progress on these items will produce a final bill this week.

Senate Passes FY 21 NDAA Conference Report

December 11, 2020

The Senate this afternoon passed H.R. 6395, the $740.5 billion FY 21 NDAA conference report, by a vote of 84 to 13.

President Trump had threatened to veto the bill because it excluded language repealing a legal shield to tech companies and included bill language that calls for renaming military bases named after confederate soldiers. The House passed the bill earlier this week by a strong vote of 335-78.

Congress Passes Continuing Resolution, Extending Fiscal Deadline

September 30, 2020

Today, Congress passed the continuing resolution (CR) to extend the fiscal deadline through December 11. According to a person familiar with the planning, President Trump will sign the CR on Thursday, but there won’t be a lapse in appropriations because of his intent to sign the measure, which the Senate cleared Wednesday on an 84-10 vote, several days after the House voted 359 to 57 to approve the bipartisan bill.

House Democrats Unveil a Short-term Spending Bill

September 22, 2020

House Appropriations Committee Chair Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced a short-term CR to extend Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 funding beyond the September 30 fiscal deadline until December 11.

The Democrats reportedly introduced the bill on their own without support of the White House or House or Senate Republicans.

The Latest on the CR Negotiations

September 15, 2020

We are hearing the House is planning on filing a continuing resolution on Friday, and plan to take it up on the floor next week. How long the CR will last is still unknown, but it seems that Speaker Pelosi is in favor of February or March. Senate Majority Leader McConnell and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin unsurprising prefer the CR expire in December.

House Approves Fiscal Year 2021 Defense Appropriations Act

July 31, 2020

The House has approved the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense Appropriations Act, as part of a larger minibus package. There were no amendments that would have adversely impacted the CDMRPs. Now on to the Senate, which may not act on this until after the election.

The House has sent its members home for August but will call them back with a 24 hour notice if there is a deal on the next COVID-19 relief package.

Defense Health Research Consortium to Congress: Enact the FY23 Defense Appropriations Bill

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