House Appropriations Committee Passes FY 23 Funding Bills

The House Appropriations Committee completed action on all twelve FY 23 appropriations bills before leaving for the congressional 4th of July recess. While the bills will be open to amendment when considered on the floor, it is likely these will be the final House numbers for the agencies and programs that affect history, archives, humanities, and education.

Obviously, this is only the first step in a long convoluted process. To date, the Senate Appropriations Committee has not considered a single funding bill. In addition, with the November mid-term elections looming, it is likely Congress will pass a series of continuing resolutions (CRs) that temporarily fund the federal government after the start of fiscal year 2023 on October 1.

A detailed chart showing the House numbers in comparison to the Biden administration’s FY 23 request and FY 22 funding levels can be accessed by clicking this link.

Here are the highlights from the FY 23 House appropriations bills as passed by the Committee:

  • The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will receive $427.5 million for operating expenses, an increase of $39.2 million from the $388.3 million the agency received in FY 22. $2 million is provided for implementation of the Civil Rights Cold Case Record Collections Act of 2018. The committee directed NARA to spend $30 million to enhance the agency’s digitization capabilities.
  • The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) received a $2.5 million increase in grant funding up from $7 million to $9.5 million. However, Congress directed that $3 million be dedicated to a new grants program to preserve and digitize the records of the creation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The NHPRC also received $1.3 million in earmarked projects for a total of $10.8 million.
  • The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) would receive $207 million, $27 million above the FY 22 level of $180 million. This continues a steady upward trend in the NEH’s budget over the past few fiscal years.
  • The K-12 history and civics programs at the Department of Education saw its funding doubled over last year from $7.75 million up to a level of $15.5 million. The Presidential and Congressional Academies for American History and Civics were level funded at $3 million. However, funding for the American History and Civics grants program jumped from $4.75 million to $12.5 million.
  • The Title VI/Fulbright-Hays International Education programs received a $7 million increase up to $88.6 million. Title VI-A&B (domestic programs) would increase by $5 million up to $76.8 million and Fulbright-Hays (overseas programs) would increase by $2 million up to $11.8 million.
  • The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) received a $12 million funding boost up to $280 million. Museum programs would receive a $6.8 million increase up to $54.2 million. Library Programs would increase by $4.2 million, up to $201.6 million.
  • The National Park Service’s FY 23 budget includes:
  • $88 million for National Recreation and Preservation, an increase of $4 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.
  • $171 million for the Historic Preservation Fund. This is $2 million less than FY 22. Within this amount, the bill includes:
    • $82 million for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices,
    • $38 million for Save America’s Treasures competitive and project grants (includes $11.5 million in congressionally directed “earmarks”),
    • $28 million for competitive grants to preserve the sites and stories of underrepresented community civil rights,
    • $10 million for grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities,
    • $10 million for Rural Historic Revitalization Grants,
    • $3 million for a competitive grant program to honor the Semiquincentennial anniversary of the United States in 2026 by restoring and preserving sites and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places that commemorate the founding of the nation.