S 4659 Introduced – FY 2023 LHH Spending

Last month, Sen Murray (D, WA) introduced S 4659, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not produced a Report on this bill. As with the House version of this bill (HR 8295), there is one cybersecurity mention in the bill.

Cybersecurity Spending

On page 111 the bill lists $1.59-million “necessary to support activities related to countering potential biological, nuclear, radiological, chemical, and cybersecurity threats to civilian populations, and for other public health emergencies”. This is about $70,000 less than made available in the House bill. The Report for the House bill explained (pg 235) that this “the funding supports the activities of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, including “funding for the Department’s [Health and Human Services] cybersecurity efforts.”

Moving Forward

HR 8295 was not included in the mini-bus (HR 8294) passed last month in the House, so unless the House takes up that bill, it is unlikely that the Senate will take up this bill, which is probably why no report has been produced. Technically, the House is required to initiate spending bills, but the Senate could pass this bill (it would probably not pass cloture) and then substitute the language for the House bill once it is passed there. This bill will likely get rolled into the end-of-year omnibus spending bill.

Bills Introduced – 7-28-22

Yesterday, with both the House and Senate in Washington and looking toward the beach, there were 92 bills introduced. Fourteen of those bills may see additional coverage in this blog:

HR 8578 To amend the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act with respect to the enforcement of certain provisions, and for other purposes.  Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

S 4659 A bill making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]

S 4660 A bill making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]

S 4661 A bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] 

S 4662 A bill making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] 

S 4663 A bill making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]

S 4664 A bill making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

S 4670 A bill making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

S 4673 A bill to reauthorize the National Computer Forensics Institute of the United States Secret Service, and for other purposes. Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

S 4678 A bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] 

S 4679 A bill to amend the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act with respect to the enforcement of certain provisions, and for other purposes. Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] 

S 4685 A bill making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes.  Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

S 4686 A bill making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

S 4687 A bill to enhance the authority granted to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice with respect to unmanned aircraft systems and unmanned aircraft, and for other purposes. Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

I will probably not be covering S 4662 and S 4685; these two spending bills seldom have anything of specific interest here. I do expect to be covering the remainder of the spending bills.

I will be watching HR 8578 and S 4679 for language and definitions that specifically include cybersecurity in the covered enforcement processes.

I will be watching S 4673 for differences between it and the recently passed House version; HR 7174.

I will be covering S 4687.