House Appropriations Subpanels Advance FY 2022 Increases for NTIA, CPB

The House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee advanced by voice vote Monday its FY 2022 funding bill, which would usher in major increases in funding in FY 2022 for NTIA and other Commerce Department agencies in line with President Joe Biden’s proposed budget (see 2105280055). The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee, meanwhile, unanimously advanced its FY 2022 measure with an increase in annual funding for CPB in line with what public broadcasting advocates are seeking (see 2102220070). It's more than what Biden asked for. [Editor's note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said CPB would get less than what Biden requested.] A full committee markup of both measures will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in 1100 Longworth.

Appropriations Commerce’s measure would give NTIA $89.5 million, an almost 97% increase from FY 2021. The Patent and Trademark Office would get almost $4 billion, up 8% from FY 2021. The National Institute of Standards and Technology would get $1.37 billion, up 32% from FY 2021 and more than 8% less than what Biden sought. DOJ's Antitrust Division would get $201 million, up 9%. The Bureau of Industry and Security would get $143.4 million, up more than 7% from FY 2021.

Appropriations LHHS’ measure would give CPB $565 million for FY 2024, almost 19% above what Congress appropriated in the FY 2021 cycle. Biden proposed keeping CPB’s funding level at $475 million. The LHHS measure also allocates $20 million for the public broadcasting interconnection system. CPB got $175 million in emergency funding as part of the American Rescue Plan Act COVID-19 aid package (see 2103110060).

“This is an important day for public television ,” said America’s Public Television Stations CEO Patrick Butler. “We know that this is only the first step in this year’s appropriations process, but it is a giant step.” Public TV “lost $100 million in purchasing power over 10 years of flat federal funding, and this legislation would go a very long way toward restoring that purchasing power -- and with it our ability to provide the educational services, the public safety communications, the civic literacy and the beloved programming which millions of Americans need and value,” Butler said.

House Appropriations plans to mark up its Homeland Security Subcommittee’s FY 2022 measure Tuesday, which includes $2.13 billion for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. That’s more than 19% above what the agency got in FY 2021 and 14% above what the Biden administration wanted. The markup will begin at 10 a.m. in 1100 Longworth.