Appropriations for FY2003: Treasury, Postal Service, Executive Office of the President, and General Government

Publication Date: March 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Banking and finance

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Abstract:

The Treasury and General Government accounts are funded for FY2003 through the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 (P.L. 108-7; Division J). Because the accounts in this appropriation were not funded, other than under continuing resolution, as the 107th Congress adjourned, legislation was required for that purpose early in the 108th Congress. During the interim, the accounts were funded at FY2002 enacted levels. P.L. 108-7 also requires a rescission across all discretionary funding within the Act.

On February 4, 2002, President George W. Bush submitted his FY2003 budget to Congress. The budget documents show, for accounts funded through the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government appropriations bill, a proposed FY2003 discretionary budget authority of $18.7 billion, an increase over FY2002 estimates by just under $1 billion. Many of the FY2002 estimates offered earlier in the year are no longer current because they have been affected by supplemental appropriations, largely in response to the September 11 attacks.

H.R. 5120, as passed by the House July 24, 2002, would have provided $18.5 billion in discretionary funding. The total for the bill would have been $35.1 billion. This would represent a 3.1% increase over FY2002, including supplemental and emergency funding. After scorekeeping adjustments, including $745 million associated with the Administration’s accrual funding proposal, the committee’s mark was $147.6 million above FY2002 appropriations and $207.8 million below the Administration request. S. 2740, as reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, would have provided a total of $34.8 billion to fund the accounts. Discretionary funding under the reported measure would be $18.5 billion. The FY2002 appropriation, P.L. 107-67, totaled $32.4 billion. Congressional Budget Office scorekeeping put the totals at $32.8 billion ($15.7 billion mandatory and $17.1 billion discretionary). Several of the accounts were also receiving funding through the Emergency Response Fund under P.L. 107-38 and P.L. 107-117.

Accounts in the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, U.S. Customs Service, U.S. Secret Service, and the General Services Administration usually receive funding for functions related to countering terrorism. Emergency Response Fund allocations, as provided by P.L. 107-38, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States, FY2001, have gone to accounts in the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, and the General Services Administration. Three major entities covered by the Treasury and General Government appropriation are being transferred to the newly created Department of Homeland Security. Those are the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Customs Service, and the Federal Protective Service of the General Services Administration. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms will be renamed and transferred to the Department of Justice.