Senate Committee FY 2026 Appropriations Report: A Focus on Sustainable Development Goals

A recent bipartisan decision by the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget demonstrates a significant commitment to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The committee largely rejected administration proposals to reduce funding, instead opting to increase or sustain investments in key areas aligning with goals for health, education, economic opportunity, and institutional stability.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The committee took decisive action to protect and enhance public health infrastructure, directly supporting SDG 3. This was achieved by rejecting proposed cuts and increasing funding for critical health initiatives.

• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Received $116.6 billion, an increase of $446 million, to bolster health services.
• Medical Research: Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was increased by over $400 million to a total of $48.7 billion, countering a proposed 40% cut. This includes targeted increases for:
  1. Cancer Research: +$150 million
  2. Alzheimer’s Disease Research: +$100 million
• Public Health Agencies: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was allocated $9.1 billion, more than double the administration’s proposed $4.2 billion.
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse: The committee allocated an additional $2 million for the 988 Suicide hotline and $20 million for substance abuse recovery, along with $1.6 billion for State Opioid Response grants.

SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

In a strong defense of SDG 4, the committee rebuffed efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and cut its funding. The approved bill reinforces equitable access to quality education from early childhood through higher education, a cornerstone of SDG 10.

Key Funding Decisions:

• Department of Education: Allocated $79 billion in discretionary funding, rejecting a proposed $12 billion cut.
• Early Childhood Education:
  • Head Start: $12.4 billion
  • Child Care and Development Block Grant: $8.8 billion
• K-12 Support: School Improvement Programs received $5.78 billion to support initiatives in STEM, rural education, and college counseling.
• Higher Education Access: The maximum Pell Grant award for low-income students was maintained at $7,395, rejecting a proposed cut of nearly $1,700.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The committee’s budget sustains programs vital for workforce development and economic security, aligning with the objectives of SDG 8.

Program Funding Sustained:

• Job Corps: Funding was maintained at $1.76 billion for this residential career training program for young adults, which the administration had proposed to eliminate.
• AmeriCorps: The national service program, also targeted for elimination, was funded at $1.25 billion for FY 2026.
• Social Security Administration: Received a $100 million increase over the president’s request to address staffing shortages and ensure the delivery of social protection benefits.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The appropriations process itself highlighted the function of strong, bipartisan institutions. The committee passed both the Labor-HHS-Education and Defense spending bills with overwhelming 26-3 votes, demonstrating cross-party consensus on national priorities.

Actions Reinforcing Institutional Strength:

• Accountability Measures: The bill includes language to enforce deadlines for grant distribution to states and prevents the outsourcing of the Department of Education’s statutory responsibilities.
• Global Peace and Security: The Defense appropriations bill was increased to $851.9 billion, with specific language rejecting administration efforts to cut security assistance to Ukraine.
• Institutional Debate: An amendment to require the Department of Homeland Security to reimburse the Department of Defense for immigration enforcement costs was debated, reflecting the committee’s role in fiscal oversight, though it ultimately failed on a 14-15 vote.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article extensively discusses funding for health initiatives, medical research, and public health agencies.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: A significant portion of the article is dedicated to the funding of the Department of Education and various educational programs from early childhood to tertiary education.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article mentions funding for job training programs aimed at young adults.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The article covers funding for national institutions, the legislative process, and international security assistance.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. This is addressed through the proposed $150 million increase for cancer research, a $100 million increase for Alzheimer’s disease research, and a $2 million increase for the 988 Suicide hotline.
   • Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. The article directly relates to this target by mentioning a $20 million increase for substance abuse recovery and $1.6 billion for State Opioid Response grants.
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. This is connected to the rejection of proposed cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the allocation of $9.1 billion, ensuring the agency’s capacity to manage health risks.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education. The article addresses this by providing $8.8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and nearly $12.4 billion for Head Start.
   • Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university. This is supported by the decision to maintain the maximum annual Pell Grant award at $7,395, which helps low-income students afford college.
   • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. The allocation of $79 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Education and $5.78 billion for School Improvement Programs directly supports the infrastructure and resources needed for quality learning environments.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. The article connects to this target by maintaining funding for Job Corps, a residential career training program for young adults, at $1.76 billion, preventing its proposed elimination.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article demonstrates this through the Senate Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan process to reject the administration’s budget proposals and fund key agencies like the Department of Education and the Social Security Administration, thereby ensuring their operational capacity.
   • Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels… to prevent violence. This is addressed by the rejection of the Trump administration’s effort to slash funding for aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, thereby supporting a partner nation’s security.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Financial resource allocation: The article provides specific funding amounts that serve as direct indicators of commitment. Examples include the $150 million increase for cancer research, the $100 million increase for Alzheimer’s research, the $9.1 billion allocation for the CDC, the $1.6 billion for State Opioid Response grants, and the $20 million for substance abuse recovery.
2. For SDG 4 (Quality Education):
   • Financial resource allocation: Progress is indicated by specific funding levels for education programs. This includes $79 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Education, $12.4 billion for Head Start, $8.8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and $5.78 billion for School Improvement Programs.
   • Student financial aid levels: The maintenance of the maximum Pell Grant award at $7,395 serves as an indicator for access to tertiary education for low-income students.
3. For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Program funding: The allocation of $1.76 billion to maintain the Job Corps program is a direct indicator of investment in youth employment and training. The $1.25 billion for AmeriCorps also serves as an indicator.
4. For SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions):
   • Institutional funding: The allocation of $15 billion for the Social Security Administration to address staffing shortages is an indicator of strengthening a key public institution.
   • International aid allocation: The decision to continue funding security assistance to Ukraine is a measurable indicator of international cooperation for peace and security.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nowhabersham.com