The AAMC joined more than 1,100 organizations in a Jan. 8 letter to congressional leadership over concerns of deep cuts to the nondefense discretionary (NDD) programs for fiscal year (FY) 2024 and the impact of a yearlong continuing resolution (CR) on these programs. As the letter explained, a yearlong CR would enact the FY 2024 NDD cap included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5) and cut spending for the NDD programs by as much as 9% over the course of nine months. The letter also urged congressional leadership to finish the FY 2024 appropriations process and use the Senate FY 2024 proposed funding framework as a starting point in negotiations.
Earlier this week, House and Senate leaders announced an agreement on topline government funding levels to avert a partial government shutdown before the Jan. 19 deadline. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) sent a Dear Colleague letter to House members reiterating that the agreement is consistent with the statutory levels of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and includes extra-statutory adjustments agreed upon by negotiators last summer. A joint statement issued by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) noted that the agreement allows Congress “to maintain important funding priorities” and secures $772.7 billion for NDD spending.