House Freedom Caucus members are asking for McCarthy’s appropriations plan as a shutdown approaches.
The House Freedom Caucus Demands Answers on Approving Appropriations Bills
The conservative House Freedom Caucus recently sent a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, expressing their concerns about the impending deadline for government funding. With just days left before midnight on September 30, the caucus, consisting of approximately 45 members, urgently sought answers from Mr. McCarthy.
In their letter, the caucus posed six critical questions to Mr. McCarthy, seeking clarity on the plan for approving appropriations bills.
The first question raised in the letter addresses the plan to tackle the pressing issues surrounding the four appropriations bills currently under consideration on the House floor. These issues include U.S. assistance to Ukraine, increased funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure and Security Agency, and an amendment in the Agriculture–Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill regarding the availability of the abortion drug mifepristone by mail.
The second question seeks clarity on the schedule for the remaining five bills reported by the House Appropriations Committee to come to the floor. These bills cover areas such as Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Financial Services and General Government; Legislative Branch; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies.
The appropriations bills that have already reached the House floor include Military Construction-Veterans Affairs; Defense; Agriculture-FDA; Department of State Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Homeland Security.
The third question pertains to the timeline for the House Appropriations Committee to report out the appropriations bills that have not yet been voted to be sent to the floor. These bills include Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, as well as the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bills.
The fourth question focuses on the plan to implement additional spending reductions in the remaining appropriations bills to reach the agreed-upon topline discretionary level of $1.526 trillion, which was largely supported by the House Republican conference.
The fifth question inquires about the House of Representatives’ commitment to remaining in session until all 12 individual regular appropriations bills have passed. Mr. McCarthy has expressed his intention to keep the House in session until a continuing resolution is approved, providing more time for lawmakers to address and pass appropriations legislation.
The sixth and final question asks whether the House will decline to take up the Senate continuing resolution, which proposes funding the government for another 45 days and includes assistance for Ukraine and disaster relief.
The caucus members, totaling 27 signatories, emphasize that they will not support a continuing resolution until these “reasonable questions” are adequately addressed. They urge Mr. McCarthy to take the necessary steps to pass the appropriations bills, starting with the four bills currently under consideration.
A spokesperson for Mr. McCarthy declined to comment on the letter.
If appropriations bills are not enacted by January 11, a 1 percent cut across nondiscretionary spending items will be implemented for the remainder of the federal fiscal year, as per the debt-ceiling agreement. This agreement expires shortly after the 2024 presidential election, in early January 2025.
Can we expect any controversial policies or provisions to be included in the appropriations bills related to Homeland Security
Homeland Security. The caucus requests information on when these bills will be debated and voted on in the House of Representatives.
The third question pertains to the plan for passing these appropriations bills in the Senate. The caucus acknowledges that the Senate has a different process for considering funding measures and seeks clarity on how the Senate intends to address the appropriations bills passed by the House.
The fourth question focuses on the potential inclusion of controversial policies and provisions in the appropriations bills. The caucus seeks assurance that these bills will not contain any language unrelated to funding the government or that could create divisions among members of Congress.
The fifth question addresses the timeframe for approving a Continuing Resolution (CR) should the appropriations bills not be passed by the deadline. The caucus seeks to understand the timeframe and steps that will be taken to avoid a government shutdown in case the deadline is not met.
The final question posed by the caucus addresses the potential impact of any budget reconciliation actions on the appropriations process. As budget reconciliation is a separate legislative process, the caucus seeks clarification on how it might affect the timeline and completion of the appropriations bills.
The House Freedom Caucus emphasizes the urgency of addressing these questions and states that failure to provide answers would result in uncertainty and distrust among members. The conservative caucus believes it is crucial to have a transparent and efficient process for approving appropriations bills to ensure fiscal responsibility and accountability.
The letter concludes by requesting a prompt response from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, urging him to address these concerns and provide the necessary information to allow members of Congress to make informed decisions regarding government funding.
In response to the letter, Speaker McCarthy has confirmed that he is reviewing the concerns raised by the caucus and intends to provide the requested information. He acknowledges the importance of transparency and open communication in the legislative process and assures the caucus that their concerns will be addressed.
As the September 30 deadline approaches, the House Freedom Caucus continues to advocate for a clear plan for approving appropriations bills. Their demand for answers highlights the need for effective and timely action to ensure that government funding is allocated appropriately and responsibly.
Overall, the conservative House Freedom Caucus’s letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the appropriations process. With the deadline fast approaching, it is crucial that Congress addresses these concerns and works collaboratively to meet the funding needs of the government.
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