Budget Brief 17-08
May 10, 2017
Summary 

On May 5, the president signed a fiscal year (FY) 2017 omnibus spending package (P.L. 115-31), completing the appropriations process for FY 2017. The omnibus includes 11 appropriations bills and extends Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and related programs through FY 2018.

The funding levels in the bill are in effect for the remainder of the fiscal year and replace the annualized funding levels set in the previous continuing resolution (CR). The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill complies with discretionary spending caps in the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015.

The budget essentially represents a continuation of the status quo, with level funding for many programs, and few policy riders. This Budget Brief describes funding and policy provisions in the omnibus that are relevant to states. Table 1 includes funding for major grant programs. Compared to FY 2016, states will see a 1.7% increase in these major discretionary programs. Mandatory programs are estimated to increase 3%, largely driven by growth in Medicaid. A few mandatory programs listed on the table are subject to FY 2017 sequestration of non-exempt mandatory programs, as explained below.