Bill Overview
Title: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2023
Description: This bill provides FY2023 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, the District of Columbia, and several independent agencies. The independent agencies funded in the bill include the Administrative Conference of the United States, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Election Assistance Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Election Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, the Federal Trade Commission, the General Services Administration, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Credit Union Administration, the Office of Government Ethics, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Special Counsel, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, the Public Buildings Reform Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Selective Service System, the Small Business Administration, the U.S. Postal Service, and the U.S. Tax Court. The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.
Sponsors: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Target Audience
Population: People directly employed by or contract with the affected federal agencies and citizens using their services
Estimated Size: 3500000
- The bill provides appropriations for a wide range of federal departments, independent agencies, the judiciary, and the District of Columbia, all of which collectively impact a vast number of government employees and contractors.
- Federal government employees, including those working for the Department of Treasury, the judiciary, and various independent agencies, will be directly affected by the appropriations outlined in the bill.
- The federal workforce, which by some estimates includes over 2 million employees, plus additional contractors, will see operational funding influence their work environment and resources.
- Agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission regulate industries that affect millions of people and businesses across the U.S., indirectly impacting the broader population.
- Appropriations also influence the functioning of the U.S. Postal Service, affecting its ability to deliver mail to every U.S. household and business.
- The bill impacts legislation that affects financial and administrative operations of agencies that serve or regulate various sectors of the economy, impacting financial markets, consumers, businesses, and local governments.
Reasoning
- The bill impacts a wide range of federal agencies and departments, affecting those directly employed by them, as well as contractors and citizens who rely on their services.
- Federal employees, especially those in the agencies mentioned, will be affected in terms of their work environment and potentially job security depending on how funds are allocated and used.
- For citizens, the services provided by agencies such as the FCC, SEC, and the U.S. Postal Service can indirectly impact their lives, depending on changes in regulatory or operational capacities.
- Considering the scope of the policy, some individuals will experience direct effects on their profession, while others, such as everyday consumers or small business owners, may experience indirect effects.
Simulated Interviews
Senior Analyst at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The appropriations ensure that my team can continue to work effectively to protect consumers.
- The funding is crucial for updating our systems and responding to emerging product safety issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Legal Advisor at the Federal Election Commission (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stable funding is essential for ensuring fair and transparent elections.
- This budget allows us to expand our advisory roles and support more state and local election efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Denver, CO)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased funding for the SBA could improve access to necessary financial support.
- Right now, the application processes are slow and often cumbersome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired Postal Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any support to USPS is welcomed, especially with all the operational challenges they face.
- I worry about the future of postal services and their ability to meet demand.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stable FCC regulations help for a predictable business environment.
- Without proper funding, FCC actions can be unpredictable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
District Court Clerk (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Additional funding can mean better resources for our courts.
- We really rely on updated technology to process cases efficiently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Financial Advisor (Houston, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The SEC's operational efficiency is critical to market stability.
- Appropriations help maintain investor confidence and market transparency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Civil Liberties Advocate (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about how budget restrictions could impair our oversight on privacy comes funding.
- Adequate funding supports vital civil liberties protections and advocacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Local Government Official (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding positively affects how federal agencies can assist with infrastructure and permitting.
- Local projects can sometimes be delayed without efficient federal support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Academic Researcher (Boston, MA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Scholarships are critical for students in STEM disciplines, especially underrepresented groups.
- Increasing funding can expand opportunities and reduce student debt.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $44000000000 (Low: $43000000000, High: $45000000000)
Year 2: $45200000000 (Low: $44000000000, High: $46200000000)
Year 3: $46400000000 (Low: $45200000000, High: $47400000000)
Year 5: $48000000000 (Low: $46700000000, High: $49200000000)
Year 10: $51000000000 (Low: $49600000000, High: $52300000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The appropriations are needed to maintain the operational integrity and service delivery of federal agencies.
- Given the wide scope of agencies funded, the appropriations impact a broad range of sectors from communication to finance.
- Potential indirect savings might arise from more efficient operations among these agencies.