Federal:
The Trump administration’s proposed 2018 budget includes major cuts to most executive departments, while defense-related departments would see an increase in allocations. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) faces a 17.9% decrease in funding, from $84.1 billion in 2017 to $69.0 billion in 2018. Federal allocations to the NIH would be reduced 18.3%, from $31.7 billion in 2017 to $25.9 billion in 2018, and the Fogarty International Center would be eliminated. Health professions and nursing training programs would be cut by $403 million, but scholarships and loan repayments would be retained to support those working in U.S. areas experiencing healthcare professional shortages.
Some segments within HHS have proposed funding increases. The Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control program would be expanded to $751 million in 2018, from $681 million in 2017. Emergency preparedness and prevention programs would see a boost, including a new $500 million block grant for State public health initiatives, administered by the CDC.
Read more about the proposed budget in this Washington Post piece and view the 2018 budget proposal. Stories on cuts to HHS and NIH are also available from The Washington Post.
The elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services has also been proposed. Additional agencies facing cuts that could affect library funding include the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. More on this is available from the District Dispatch.
State:
Speaker Madigan has again proposed making the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library a separate state agency. The Amendment to House Bill 136 was filed on March 9th. It was referred to the State Government Administration Committee on March 13th and is on their agenda for March 22nd.
Read an article in the Dome
Read Full Text of the Amendment to HB136
Find out who is on this committee