Los Angeles County HIV Mental Health Task Force

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The bill, House Resolution 933, keeps in place FY 2012 funding levels for mental illness research, services and supportive housing programs—MINUS the 5 percent across-the-board “sequestration” cuts that were put in place last month. Veterans programs – including mental health services in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – are exempt from the “sequester” reduction and will actually receive increases for the remaining months of FY 2013.

This brings an end to the debate over the FY 2013 budget – 6 months into the current fiscal year. Federal agencies including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will now have 30 days to submit plans to Congress on how they will impose the 5 percent cut across various programs and functions.

The federal agencies will likely cut one or a combination of the following:

• grants to states, localities and providers
• ongoing research and demonstration projects
• personnel

The stage is now set for the debate on the FY 2014 budget. Last week the House and Senate passed separate budget resolutions that set overall constraints on spending, as well as 10-year plans for long-term deficit reduction. President Obama is expected to release his proposed budget for FY 2014 on April 8.

Click here to view details of the final spending bill for FY 2013

Click here to view NAMI’s statement to the House Appropriations Committee on FY 2014 funding for mental illness research and services