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On October 30, in preparation for consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives, the House Appropriations Committee filed its version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill, H.R.  5894. In addition, the Committee released an explanatory report accompanying the bill to clarify priorities and specific interests in agencies funded by the bill, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The report contained language praising population research activities supported by the National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Population Research—The Committee commends NICHD for fulfilling its statutory authority by supporting a robust population research portfolio that includes population representative longitudinal surveys, research centers and networks, training programs, and grant mechanisms. Over the decades, these investments have yielded numerous scientific advances regarding the causes and con[1]sequences of population change on human and child development, maternal health, and the health and wellbeing of individuals across the life course. The Committee congratulates NICHD for supporting initiatives that facilitate collaborations and resource sharing between the Population Dynamics Research Centers and outside institutions and for funding the innovative Data Sharing for Demographic Research data repository, which makes high-quality demographic data widely available to the scientific research community.

Unlike the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations report approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, the House version does not include language regarding population research programs supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The PAA Office of Government and Public Affairs is working to ensure language praising NICHD and NIA population research activities are included in the report that is paired with the final version of the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill signed into law.

The House Rules Committee, which determines the timing of bills brought to the House floor, announced that the House of Representatives may consider the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill the week of November 13.

As of November 8, the U.S. Senate had not announced a timeline for debating its version of the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill on the floor.

Fiscal Year 2024 began October 1, 2023. All federal agencies are currently being funded by a Continuing Resolution that expires on November 17.  PAA members are encouraged to respond to the current action alert and communicate their support for ensuring Federal government agencies supporting the population sciences receive the highest possible level of funding.