Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017
Latest action (5 May 2017): Became Public Law No: 115-31.
What this bill does
This bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, is an omnibus spending law that funds most of the federal government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017. It combines twelve separate appropriations bills into a single act, covering agencies and programs ranging from Agriculture and Commerce to Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor/Health and Human Services/Education, State Department, Transportation/HUD, and Veterans Affairs, plus additional matters such as an Intelligence Authorization Act, a veterans' employment measure, and provisions on miners' health benefits and a Puerto Rico Medicaid-related amendment. It sets specific dollar amounts for federal offices and programs—for example, detailed line-item funding for USDA offices, agricultural research, food safety, and rural development—along with rules on how funds may be transferred, reserved, or spent, and includes standard provisions governing emergency and overseas-contingency-operations funding designations.
The bill affects essentially the entire federal government and, by extension, the public: it determines funding levels for federal agencies, employees, contractors, grant recipients (such as universities and state agricultural programs), and beneficiaries of federal programs (including veterans, miners, and Puerto Rico's Medicaid program). Specific populations named include agricultural research institutions, 1890 and 1994 land-grant colleges, extension programs in states and territories, and federal offices such as the USDA Inspector General and Chief Information Officer.
The bill was introduced in the House on January 4, 2017, passed through the legislative process, and was enacted after being signed by the President on May 5, 2017. As an enacted appropriations act, it is now law and governs federal spending for the specified fiscal year; no further congressional action is required for it to take effect.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Highlights:
This bill provides FY2017 appropriations for most federal agencies for the remainder of FY2017.
It includes 11 of the 12 regular appropriations bills, excluding the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 which was signed into law on September 29, 2016.
The bill also provides additional emergency, disaster relief, and Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism funding which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.
The bill includes additional provisions that:
• reauthorize intelligence programs;
• permanently extend health care benefits for certain retired coal miners and their families;
• reauthorize the District of Columbia's school voucher program and other educational funding for DC;
Timeline
5 May 2017
Became Public Law No: 115-31.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 244 do?
- This bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, is an omnibus spending law that funds most of the federal government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017. It combines twelve separate appropriations bills into a single act, covering agencies and programs ranging from Agriculture and Commerce to Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor/Health and Human Services/Education, State Department, Transportation/HUD, and Veterans Affairs, plus additional matters such as an Intelligence Authorization Act, a veterans' employment measure, and provisions on miners' health benefits and a Puerto Rico Medicaid-related amendment. It sets specific dollar amounts for federal offices and programs—for example, detailed line-item funding for USDA offices, agricultural research, food safety, and rural development—along with rules on how funds may be transferred, reserved, or spent, and includes standard provisions governing emergency and overseas-contingency-operations funding designations. The bill affects essentially the entire federal government and, by extension, the public: it determines funding levels for federal agencies, employees, contractors, grant recipients (such as universities and state agricultural programs), and beneficiaries of federal programs (including veterans, miners, and Puerto Rico's Medicaid program). Specific populations named include agricultural research institutions, 1890 and 1994 land-grant colleges, extension programs in states and territories, and federal offices such as the USDA Inspector General and Chief Information Officer. The bill was introduced in the House on January 4, 2017, passed through the legislative process, and was enacted after being signed by the President on May 5, 2017. As an enacted appropriations act, it is now law and governs federal spending for the specified fiscal year; no further congressional action is required for it to take effect.
- Has H.R. 244 become law?
- Yes. H.R. 244 has been enacted. Status last updated 5 May 2017.
- Who sponsored H.R. 244?
- H.R. 244 was sponsored by Rep. Cook, Paul [R-CA-8] (R-CA), with 28 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 244?
- Became Public Law No: 115-31. (5 May 2017).
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