This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved by voice vote its version of a fiscal year (FY) 2017 Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill. The bill totals $56 billion, a 0.5 percent increase over current levels. It provides $264.5 million for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), $3.5 million above the enacted FY2016 level and $6.5 million above the President’s FY2017 budget request. For economic development assistance programs, the bill provides $225 million, $3 million above the enacted FY2016 level and $10 million above both the Senate’s FY2017 recommendation and the President’s FY2017 budget request. The bill includes the following funding allocations for economic development assistance programs:
- Partnership Planning: $30 million, $2 million below current levels and $5 million below the President’s budget request;
- Public Works: $102 million, $2 million above current levels and $17 million above the President’s budget request;
- Economic Adjustment Assistance: $38 million, $3 million above current levels and $12 million below the President’s budget request;
- Technical Assistance: $10.5 million, $500,000 below current levels and $1.5 million below the President’s budget request;
- Research and Evaluation: $1.5 million, level with FY2016 funding and $1.5 million below the President’s budget request;
- Trade Adjustment Assistance: $12 million, $1 million below current levels and $2 million above the President’s budget request;
- Regional Innovation Strategies: no funding provided, $15 million below current levels and $20 million below the President’s budget request;
- Assistance for Coal Mining Communities: $15 million, level with the FY2016 enacted amount and $15 million above the President’s budget request.
Click here to view a chart detailing EDA’s FY2015 and FY2016 funding levels as well as the President’s FY2017 budget request and the House and Senate’s FY2017 funding recommendations.