House Approves 6-Month Continuing ResolutionOn March 6, 2013, the House of Representatives approved a six-month continuing resolution (HR 933) that would maintain funding for all federal programs for the remainder of the federal fiscal year. The measure would provide $984 billion for federal spending through September 30, 2013, and includes the $85 billion in automatic spending cuts (sequestration) that went into effect on March 1, 2013. While funding most federal discretionary programs at this reduced level, the bill would provide flexibility for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to deflect the impact of the sequester cuts and would include the House’s fiscal 2013 versions of these bills. Despite considerable pushback from the transportation community, the continuing resolution cuts $555 million from federal highway programs and $117 million from federal transit programs beyond what Congress agreed to in the two-year MAP-21 legislation that was enacted last summer.
Consideration of the package now moves to the Senate, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has scheduled votes on the measure this week. Senate appropriators have indicated a desire to add three additional fiscal 2013 spending bills to the continuing resolution: the Senate’s fiscal 2013 Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Homeland Security bills.
In the House, conservatives appear open to considering the expanded Senate bill, if it maintains the sequestration by setting discretionary spending at $984 billion for the year. Significant Senate debate is expected on the measure, as are a number of budget-related amendments. House and Senate leaders must approve and gain enactment of a final fiscal 2013 continuing resolution compromise package before the current resolution expires on March 27, 2013 – or risk a government shutdown.
|
