WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2014 – House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers today introduced what he described as a “clean” short-term Continuing Resolution, H.J.Res.124, to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2014 and change a few existing laws.
The House Committee on Rules is scheduled to consider the 21-page piece of legislation at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
“We have reached the point where a Continuing Resolution is necessary to keep the government functioning and avoid another shutdown. It is a critical piece of legislation, and my Committee has crafted the bill in a responsible, restrained way that should draw wide support in the House and Senate,” Rogers said in a statement. “This bill is free of controversial riders, maintains current levels, and does not seek to change existing federal policies.”
“However, this is a temporary, imperfect measure that does not reflect the changing needs of the nation or new budget priorities. In order to adequately address the country’s real and urgent budgetary requirements, it is imperative that Congress fulfill its Constitutional duty and enact actual, line-by-line Appropriations legislation for the next fiscal year.
The legislation continues funding for government programs and services at the current annual cap rate of $1.012 trillion until December 11, 2014 and a few changes to existing law which are funded within the total funding level for the legislation. Some of these provisions include:
- A provision to extend expiring Department of Defense activities, including counter-drug operations, support to the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq, and rewards for assistance in combatting terrorism.
- A provision to continue a surge in funding for State Department programs to counter regional aggression toward Ukraine and other former Soviet Union countries.
- Several provisions to ensure appropriate treatment of veterans and continued oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs, such as additional funds for disability claims processing, and funds for investigations into potential improper conduct including “waitlist” and “whistleblower” allegations.
- A provision allowing funding flexibility for Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to maintain staffing levels, border security operations, detention space, and immigration enforcement activities.
- Provisions to address the recent Ebola crisis, including additional funding to accelerate HHS research on Ebola therapies, and additional funding for the Centers for Disease Control’s response to the growing outbreak in Africa.
- A provision allowing additional funds to offset food price increases in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to ensure that no current recipients are removed from the program.
- A provision allowing funding flexibility to maintain weather satellite programs, ensuring the continuation of data for weather warnings and forecasts, including forecasts of severe weather events.
- A provision allowing the continuation of current funding for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program.
- A provision extending the operating authority for the Export-Import Bank through June 30, 2015.
- A provision extending the Internet Tax Freedom Act through the period of the CR ending on December 11, 2014.
For the full text of the legislation, please visit: www.rules.house.gov
For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com
#30
