S. Con. Res. 11, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for fiscal year 2016, instructed several committees of the House of Representatives to recommend legislative changes that would reduce deficits over the 2016-2025 period. As part of this reconciliation process, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved legislation on September 30, 2015, with a number of provisions that would reduce deficits.
The legislation would repeal provisions that established the Prevention and Public Health Fund and rescind any unobligated balances of the fund, which provides grant assistance to entities to carry out prevention, wellness, and public health activities. The legislation also would, for a one-year period following enactment, prohibit federal funds from being made available to certain entities that provide abortions. In addition, the legislation would increase the amount of funding authorized and appropriated to the Community Health Center Fund. That fund provides grants to organizations to improve and expand access to health care services for underserved individuals.
CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would decrease direct spending by $12.4 billion over the 2016-2025 period. Enacting the legislation would not increase direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026, CBO estimates.
The legislation contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.