Fact Check: The commission receives millions in federal appropriations, much of which it passes on to the foundation.

Fact Check: "The commission receives millions in federal appropriations, much of which it passes on to the foundation."

What We Know

The claim that "the commission receives millions in federal appropriations, much of which it passes on to the foundation" can be partially substantiated. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 allocated approximately $15.3 billion for 7,234 Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending provisions (source-3). This funding is designated for specific projects and recipients, which can include foundations and nonprofit organizations.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations provides detailed information about these appropriations, indicating that various federal agencies receive funds to execute projects based on these provisions (source-1). However, the specifics of how much of this funding is passed on to any particular foundation or commission are not detailed in the available sources.

Analysis

The evidence suggests that the commission does receive federal appropriations, but the extent to which it passes on funds to a foundation is less clear. The GAO report indicates that the funds are designated for specific projects rather than being allocated through competitive processes (source-3). This means that while the commission may receive significant funding, the distribution of that funding to foundations is not explicitly documented in the sources reviewed.

Moreover, the House Committee on Appropriations provides a broader context for these appropriations, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in the funding process (source-2). However, without specific data on the commission's funding allocations to foundations, we cannot definitively conclude how much of the appropriated funds are passed on.

The reliability of the sources is generally high, as they come from official government reports and committees. However, the lack of specific details regarding the commission's financial interactions with foundations limits the clarity of the claim.

Conclusion

The claim is Partially True. While it is accurate that the commission receives millions in federal appropriations, the assertion that "much of which it passes on to the foundation" lacks specific evidence and clarity. The available data does not provide a clear picture of the amount or proportion of funds transferred to any foundation.

Sources

1. FY 2023 Congressionally Directed Spending
2. House Committee on Appropriations - Republicans
3. Tracking the FundsSpecific FY 2023 Provisions for Federal Agencies
4. Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations
5. Financial Services and General Government
6. FY25 Member Request Guidance - House Appropriations
7. H.R.2617 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Consolidated Appropriations
8. Releases Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill