This bill would provide $21.7 billion in funding for the Treasury Dept., the federal court system, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other agencies during fiscal year 2017. That’s $1.5 billion less than what was provided in fiscal year 2016 and $2.7 billion less than the president’s budget request.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
A total of $10.9 billion in funding would go to the IRS, which is $236 million less than it received in fiscal year 2016 and $1.3 billion less than the president’s budget request for the tax-collecting agency. Funding for Taxpayer Services would remain at its current level — $2.1 billion — while an additional $290 million would fund improved customer service.
A proposed IRS regulation related to tax-exempt 501(c)(4) organizations and political activities would be blocked on the grounds that this bill’s authors believe it may impact the tax-exempt status of nonprofit groups and the ability of donors to exercise their freedom of speech. There would also be extensive new requirements for reporting on IRS spending imposed by this legislation, plus a number of other prohibitions, including:
A ban on funds for bonuses or to rehire former employees unless employee conduct and tax compliance is considered;
A ban on funds to target individuals or groups for scrutiny because of their ideological beliefs or exercising their First Amendment rights;
A ban on funds for the White House to order the IRS to determine the tax-exempt status of an organization;
A prohibition on funds for the production of inappropriate videos and conferences.
The IRS would also be blocked from further implementing the Affordable Care Act or the individual mandate to buy health insurance.
Judiciary
$7 billion would be set aside for the federal courts, $177 million more than they were provided in fiscal year 2016. This funding would go toward operations, improving safety at courtrooms by supervising offenders and defendants, and improving the efficiency and speed of processing federal cases.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
$883 million would be made available to the SBA which includes the full funding needed — $157 million — to support $28.5 billion in 7(a) and $7.5 billion in 504 small business loans. There would be $186 million set aside to allow for quick loan processing when natural disasters strike certain areas. Here are some other programs within the SBA that would receive funding:
$125 million for Small Business Development Centers;
$20 million for State Trade and Export Promotion;
$19 million for Women’s Business Centers.
General Services Administration (GSA)
$9.2 billion from the Federal Buildings Fund would be provided to the GSA, a reduction of $951 million from the previous year. Most of the savings and spending reductions would come from the GSA’s new construction account, while other funding would go toward consolidating federal office spaces and disposing of properties to conserve costs.
$200 million would go to the continued construction of the new Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
$1.5 billion would fund the SEC for fiscal year 2017, $50 million less than the prior year and $226 million less than the president’s budget request. All unspent funds in the SEC’s reserve fund would be rescinded so the SEC could no longer freely spend the money. Reporting requirements related to the cost of compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act to businesses would also be included, and the SEC would be prohibited from requiring the disclosure of political contributions in regulatory filings.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
$315 million would go to the FCC, a cut of $69 million from the previous year and $43 million less than the president’s request. It would prohibit Net Neutrality from being implemented until ongoing court cases are resolved, require proposed regulations to be published online 21 days before an FCC vote, and delay the proposed set-top box rule until a study is completed.
District of Columbia
$725 million would be paid to the District by the federal government, which is $4.6 million less than the previous year and $38 million below the president’s request. Most of this funding goes toward public safety, security costs, and other essential services, $45 million would go to the D.C. school choice program known as SOAR. Additionally, federal and local funds would be prevented from being used for abortion, needle exchanges, or to further marijuana legalization.
Executive Office of the President (EOP)
$692 million would go to the EOP for fiscal year 2017, an increase of $171,000 from the previous year. Cuts to drug control programs proposed by the president’s budget would be denied, and they would instead receive $5 million more than in 2016. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would be required to release information about the expected costs of Executive Orders and Presidential Memorandums.
Presidential Transition
There would be several one-time funding increases related to the upcoming presidential transition including:
$9.5 million for the GSA;
$7.6 million for the EOP;
$4.9 million for the National Archives and Records Administration;
$25 million Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security in the District of Columbia.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Funding for this agency would no longer come directly from the Federal Reserve and would now be subject to the annual congressional appropriations process. The organizational structure of the CFPB would also be reformed so that it’s led by a five member Commission rather than a single Director.
Miscellaneous
This legislation also contains several prohibitions, including:
A prohibition against the use of funds from the Federal Employee Health Benefits program for abortion;
A ban on funding to require entities applying for or working under federal contracts to disclose campaign contributions they’ve made;
A ban on travel to Cuba for educational exchanges, importing property confiscated by the Cuban government, financial transactions with Cuban intelligence or their military, or to approve a trademark or commercial name taken by the Cuban government;
A prohibition on funds to raise the pay of the Vice President and other senior political appointees.