The House and Senate have both passed a fiscal 2012, $14.5-billion appropriations bill for the Department of Labor (DOL) that represents $145.4 million in additional funding.

Since those additional funds derive solely from a provision to fully finance the Job Corps, however, the DOL is actually receiving $545.6 million less than fiscal 2011 and $942.2 million less than requested by the White House.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is being funded at $278 million, $4 million less than fiscal 2011 and $8.9 million below the president's request.

The appropriations bill also comes with a few restrictive provisions that are aimed at preventing implementation of certain initiatives. Among the initiatives being barred by the appropriations bill are an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposal to add a musculoskeletal reporting column to the yearly Log 300 injury and illness report; an NLRB proposal to allow electronic or off-site voting in union organizing elections; and an Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) proposal to redefine "fiduciary" for the purposes of offering investment advice.