The FY2016 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill cuts funding for the CDFI Fund by $9.5 million from FY 2015 levels to $221 million. Following dedicated outreach from CDBA members, the bill includes $21 million for the Bank Enterprise Award (BEA) Program – an increase from $18 million in 2015. The bill also increases funding for the FA Program to $161.9 million, up $9.5 million from FY2015. Native Initiatives remain stable at $15 million. The reduction in the top line number primarily resulted from a reduction in funding for the Healthy Foods Financing Initiative, which was eliminated in both the House and Senate bills.