Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

This bill establishes the 2016 fiscal year budget for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, as well as several related agencies like the Social Security Administration. It provides the necessary funding for major public programs including Medicaid, Student Financial Assistance (Pell Grants), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

For the average citizen, the bill’s impact is felt through the specific restrictions it places on how federal money can be used. It includes provisions that would block funding for several components of the Affordable Care Act, prohibit the use of federal funds for abortions (except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother), and prevent the Department of Education from implementing certain regulations regarding college ratings and teacher preparation. Additionally, the bill would eliminate the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and redirect its functions to other offices within the Department of Health and Human Services.