Supplemental Appropriations and the 2017 Hurricane Season

Supplemental Appropriations and the 2017 Hurricane Season

The 2017 hurricane season was the fifth-most active on record in the Atlantic Basin, in terms of accumulated storm strength. Four named storms made landfall on U.S. soil from mid-August to mid-October, causing extensive damage. Concurrently, a series of deadly wildfires struck California.

Enacted 2017 Hurricane Season Supplemental Appropriations

Congress has passed two supplemental appropriations bills in response to Administration requests made in September and October 2017 in the wake of these incidents. Table 1 outlines the two requests and enacted appropriations.

Table 1. Enacted Supplemental Appropriations After 2017 Hurricanes

($millions, rounded, discretionary budget authority)

Appropriations Subcommittee

FY2017

FY2018

Totals

Agency/Bureau Appropriation

September 1, 2017 Request

P.L. 115-56

October 4, 2017 Request

P.L. 115-72

Requested

Enacted

Agriculture

Department of Agriculture

Nutrition Assistance Program [Grant]a

—

—

—

[1,270]a

—

[1,270]a

Financial Services/General Government

Small Business Administration

Disaster Loan Program

450

450

—

—

450

450

Homeland Security

Department of Homeland Security

Office of Inspector General

Operations and Supportb

—

—

—

[10]b

—

[10]b

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Disaster Relief Fund (DRF)

7,400

7,400

12,700

18,670

20,100

26,070

DRF after Transfers

7,400

7,400

12,700

13,760

20,100

21,160

Disaster Assistance Direct Loan Programb

—

[4,900]b

—

[4,900]b

National Flood Insurance Programc

—

—

16,000c

16,000c

16,000c

16,000c

Interior/Environment

Forest Service

Wildland Fire Management

—

—

—

185

—

185

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund

—

—

—

342

—

342

Department of the Interior

Department-wide Programs

Wildland Fire Management

—

—

50

50

Transportation/Housing and Urban Development

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Community Development Fund

—

7,400

—

—

—

7,400

Source: CRS analysis of OMB requests and enacted legislation.

a. Funding drawn from SNAP contingency reserve funds.

b. Provided as a transfer from the DRF.

c. This is a cancellation of debt owed by the program, rather than an appropriation.

Third Supplemental Appropriations Request

The Administration made a third supplemental appropriations request on November 17, 2017. Table 2 provides a breakdown of the supplemental appropriations request by subcommittee of jurisdiction. Requests for specific authorities, legislative language, or mandatory spending are not included. Consult CRS appropriations experts for details.

Table 2. Third 2017 Hurricane Season Supplemental Appropriations Request

($millions, rounded, discretionary budget authority)

Appropriations Subcommittee

Department/Agency

Bureau

Account

Request

Agriculture

992

Department of Agriculture

Office of Inspector General

Office of Inspector General (OIG)

1

Agricultural Research Service

Buildings and Facilities

22

Farm Service Agency

Emergency Conservation Program

375

Emergency Forest Restoration Program

50

Commodity Credit Corporation Fund

40

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations

500

Rural Housing Service

Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account

4

Commerce/Justice/Science

494

Department of Commerce

Economic Development Administration

Economic Development Assistance Programs

300

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Operations, Research, and Facilities

51

Procurement, Acquisition and Construction

29

Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Salaries and Expenses (S&E)

5

Drug Enforcement Administration

S&E

2

Federal Prison System

S&E

11

Buildings and Facilities

30

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration

58

National Science Foundation

Research and Related Activities

8

Defense

442

Department of Defense

Operation and Maintenance (O&M)

O&M, Army

20

O&M, Navy

268

O&M, Marine Corps

18

O&M, Air Force

21

O&M, Defense-wide

3

O&M, Army Reserve

13

O&M, Navy Reserve

3

O&M, Air Force Reserve

6

O&M, Army National Guard

55

Defense Health Program

1

Procurement

Other Procurement, Navy

26

Revolving and Management Funds

Working Capital Fund, Navy

9

Energy and Water Development

515

Corps of Engineers—Civil Works

Construction

15

O&M

323

Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies

162

Department of Energy

Energy Programs

Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability

10

Strategic Petroleum Reserve

6

Financial Services and General Government

1,786

General Services Administration

Real Property Activities

Federal Buildings Fund

122

Judicial Branch

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services

S&E

5

Small Business Administration

Small Business Administration

OIG

7

Disaster Loans Program Account

1,652

Homeland Security

24,164

Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Operations and Support (O&S)

146

Procurement, Construction, and Improvements (PC&I)

3

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

O&S

36

PC&I

33

Transportation Security Administration

O&S

11

United States Coast Guard

Operating Expenses

112

Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements

312

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Disaster Relief Fund

23,500

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

O&S

5

PC&I

4

Interior/Environment

576

Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Capital Improvement and Maintenance

69

National Forest System

21

State and Private Forestry

8

Department of the Interior

United States Geological Survey

Surveys, Investigations, and Research

33

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Construction

211

National Park Service

Operation of the National Park System

25

Construction (and Major Maintenance)

183

Historic Preservation Fund

18

Environmental Protection Agency

Hazardous Substance Superfund

3

Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund

7

Labor/Health and Human Services/ Education

1,518

Department of Education

Hurricane Education Recovery

Hurricane Education Recovery

1,235

Department of Health and Human Services

Departmental Management

Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund

252

Department of Labor

Employment and Training Administration

Job Corps

31

Military Construction/Veteran Affairs

814

Department of Defense

Military Construction

Navy and Marine Corps

202

Army National Guard

519

Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Health Administration

Medical Services

11

Medical Support and Compliance

3

Medical Facilities

75

Departmental Administration

Construction, Minor Projects

4

Transportation/Housing and Urban Development

12,696

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Community Planning And Development

Community Development Fund

12,000

Department of Transportation

Federal Aviation Administration

Facilities and Equipment (Airport and Airway Trust Fund)

72

Federal Highway Administration

Emergency Relief Program

416

Federal Transit Administration

Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program

199

Maritime Administration

Operations and Training

10

TOTAL

43,996

Source: CRS analysis of November 17, 2017, supplemental request letter.

Legislative Response to the Third Supplemental Request

A supplemental appropriations package may be considered in parallel or in combination with a bill to extend funding for government operations past the expiration of the current continuing resolution (CR) on December 8, 2017. Supplemental (and annual) appropriations have been provided in consolidated appropriations measures with continuing resolutions in the past, including the initial FY2018 CR (P.L. 115-56) and the first two continuing resolutions for FY2017 (P.L. 114-223, P.L. 114-254).