Senate Appropriations Committee Releases Draft Continuing Resolution

With the end of the fiscal year looming on October 1, and no federal budget document in sight, the Senate Appropriations Committee has released a draft of a continuing resolution for the federal government that would extend funding at its current level through December 11.

Of particular interest to ANN readers is that the bill would continue to keep the doors open at the FAA, which is normally funded through a separate specific appropriation. That bill will be considered later this year or early next.

However, the continuing resolution will not be a particularly easy sell on one side of the aisle, and may face a veto from President Obama, because it strips funding for Planned Parenthood. A veto could trigger a partial government shutdown.

In introducing the bill, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) encouraged Senators to support a short-term continuing resolution to continue funding for government operations, while prohibiting funding for Planned Parenthood.
 
According to a committee news release. the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2016 will ensure the operation of the federal government through Dec. 11, 2015, creating a two-and-a-half month window to complete the fiscal year 2016 appropriations process. The legislation provides funding at an annual rate of $1.017 trillion, which conforms to the topline discretionary spending limit established by the Budget Control Act for fiscal year 2016.
 
“Our committee has approved all 12 of the annual appropriations bills required to meet our national security and domestic priorities. Most of these bills have bipartisan support,” Cochran said. “I encourage Senators to support this continuing resolution so that we can meet our responsibility to the American people to keep government operations open and address the challenges facing our nation.”
 
For the duration of the continuing resolution, the legislation will provide appropriations for Overseas Contingency Operations at an annual rate of $74.7 billion. The legislation also includes $700 million in emergency wildland fire suppression funding.
 
In response to the release of disturbing videotapes regarding fetal tissue sales, the legislation places a one-year prohibition on federal funding for Planned Parenthood or its affiliates unless such entities certify they will not perform or fund abortions. The bill redirects the estimated $235 million in mandatory savings to increase funding for community health centers.
 
To address unique circumstances arising during the duration of the continuing resolution, the measure includes a limited number of funding anomalies, such as: supporting veterans’ disability claims processing at a rate necessary to address ongoing backlogs; paying ongoing rental assistance contracts for rural housing; and accommodating an increased demand for 7(a) small business loans.

FMI: www.appropriations.senate.gov