The $1.5 trillion legislative package to fund the government contains money for a number of other items big and small – including $30 million for America’s 250th birthday, $834 million to encourage families on food stamps to eat their fruits and veggies and $5 million for the families of the 13 American service members killed in August’s Afghanistan withdrawal. 

The 2,741-page bill details funding for the three branches of the federal government and its numerous agencies, breaking down what funding is directed for where.  

The House is expected to vote on the massive bill on Wednesday and send it to the Senate. The legislation was released at 1:34 a.m. on Wednesday morning with the vote set for this afternoon, leading to some grumbles from Republicans about the short turn around time.

The House will also vote on another stopgap spending bill that continues government funding at current levels through March 15 to give the Senate time to deal with the full-year package ahead of Friday’s deadline for a government shutdown.

No government shutdown is expected. 

Among the other budget line items in the omnibus budget bill:

America’s 250th birthday

The United States Semiquincentennial – the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies in 1776 is set for July 4, 2026. 

Even though that’s four years away, festivities will be scheduled to mark various events leading up the big day and the government is doing its part to prepare.

This year’s budget package allocates $30 million to the National Archives to prepare for the big birthday event. 

The archives has on display an original edition of the Declaration of Independence. 

The $1.5 trillion legislative package to fund the government contains money for a number of other items big and small, including $30 million for America's 250th birthday

The $1.5 trillion legislative package to fund the government contains money for a number of other items big and small, including $30 million for America’s 250th birthday

$5 million in payments for families of victims August airstrike in Kabul

The budget allocates $5 million in payments for families of victims of the August 29, 2021, air strike in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Thirteen service members were killed in the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after President Joe Biden ordered the troop withdraw. 

Biden defended his decision to end that conflict, arguing the cost would have been higher if the United States had remained mired in the country. Democrats and Republicans alike criticized his handling of the situation.

‘There is no way to get out of Afghanistan after 20 years easily. Not possible no matter when you did it. And I make no apologies for what I did,’ he said in January at a press conference marking his one year in office. 

The budget allocates $5 million in payments for families of victims of the August 29, 2021, air strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, where 13 service members died

The budget allocates $5 million in payments for families of victims of the August 29, 2021, air strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, where 13 service members died

The budget allocates $5 million in payments for families of victims of the August 29, 2021, air strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, where 13 service members died

$239 million in border security

This year’s funding package provides $14.8 billion for Custom and Border Patrol, which is $428.2 million below last year’s level.

But it does include an additional $239 million for security on the country’s southern border with Mexico.

And it includes $200 million for two new permanent DHS Immigration Facilities on the southern border. 

There is also $23 million allocated for mental health counselors and  $256 million for border technology.

The budget language also requires the Department of Homeland Security to ensure members of Congress have access to the dentention facilities.  

Budget includes $239 million for security on the country's southern border with Mexico

Budget includes $239 million for security on the country's southern border with Mexico

Budget includes $239 million for security on the country’s southern border with Mexico

$834 million to encourage families to eat their fruits and veggies

The funding bill provides $6 billion in discretionary funding for WIC – the food stamp program – that includes $834 million to increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables in the WIC Food Package.

The bill provides $26.9 billion in funding for child nutrition programs. This is an increase of $1.77 billion above last year’s. 

As kids return to the classroom, this funding will support more than 5.2 billion school lunches and snacks, Democrats note.  

$25 Million for Washington D.C. Security

Congress funds the city of Washington D.C. This year’s budget includes $25 million for security costs and event planning.

Washington D.C. metro police have been called in for national security events, including the January 6th insurrection when Donald Trump supporters tried to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election. 

It’s also includes $40 million in D.C. school tuition, which is funds that can be used on behalf of eligible District of Columbia residents to pay the difference between in-State and out-of-State tuition at public institutions. 

Executive Office of the President  

The bill provides $106.5 million, an increase of $6.5 million above last year’s level, to fund the White House, its staff and its operations. 

The bill also includes language allowing the White House to pay its interns, in line with recent actions by Congress to pay its interns.

Increased funding for members of Congress

The budget raises the basic office budgets of House members, an increase of $134.4 million  or 21% above last year’s level. This is the largest increase in since 1996.

Members of Congress have long complained about the ability to retain staff given that salary limits and office budgets aren’t staying competitive with the private sector. 

There is $18.2 million in funding for paid interns to extend internship opportunities to people who may not be financially able to take an unpaid position.

Lawmakers, however, won’t be allowed to give themselves a cost of living raise. The budget maintains a pay freeze on lawmakers that has been in place since 2009.

U.S. Capitol Police received an $87 million increase in funding that is to be used to hire up to 2,112 officers and 450 civilian members.

Additionally the budget requires the Architect of the Capitol to install a honorific plaque on the Western front of the Capitol honoring the law enforcement officers and agencies that responded to the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6.

The budget requires the Architect of the Capitol to install a honorific plaque on the Western front of the Capitol honoring the law enforcement officers and agencies that responded to the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6.

The budget requires the Architect of the Capitol to install a honorific plaque on the Western front of the Capitol honoring the law enforcement officers and agencies that responded to the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6.

The budget requires the Architect of the Capitol to install a honorific plaque on the Western front of the Capitol honoring the law enforcement officers and agencies that responded to the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6.

Defense Department Funding

The budget calls for $782 billion in defense funding, a $42 billion – 5.6% – increase over fiscal year 2021. 

It also includes the full funding necessary to support the proposed 2.7% military pay raise.

And $141 million for Arlington National Cemetery to go toward 80,000 new burial spaces.

It provides $1 million to the Army for the renaming of installations, facilities, roads and streets that bear the name of confederate leaders and officers.

Other odds and ends

There is funding for a new space station. The legislation contains funding to jumpstart development of commercial low-Earth orbit space station design and development. The money will help NASA promote new, private space stations to replace the International Space Station, which is scheduled for retirement in 2031.

It also includes $236 million for space missions that involve returning U.S. astronauts to the Moon. 

The Smithsonian Institution received $1.06 billion, an increase of $30 million and that includes funding for the Latino and Women’s Museum.

The bill provides $486.6 million for the ReConnect Broadband Pilot to provide broadband to rural parts of the country.

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