House introduces bill to fund government temporarily
House of Representatives Unveils Month-Long Continuing Resolution to Fund Government
Just two days before the U.S. government shuts down, the House of Representatives has unveiled and is scheduled to vote on a month-long continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government.
The 165-page bill, called the “Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024,” was released on Sept. 29 and would reduce funding by almost 8.13 percent for almost all 12 appropriations—bringing the total amount to $1.59 trillion. It would run through Oct. 31.
These appropriations are:
- Agriculture-Food and Drug Administration
- Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- Department of Defense
- Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
- Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
- Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
- Legislative branch
- Military Construction-Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
- Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
The only ones that would be exempt from the almost 8.13 percent cut would be the Defense Department, Veterans Affairs Department, and disaster relief.
The legislation includes border security measures such as resuming border wall construction, which President Joe Biden paused on Jan. 20, 2021—the day he took office in what was a repudiation of his predecessor Donald Trump’s hardline border and immigration policies.
The CR does not include funding for Ukraine amid its war with Russia. On Sept. 28, 117 Republicans voted against Ukraine aid, while 101 Republicans joined all 210 Democrats to pass a bill that would provide $300 million in assistance to the Eastern European country.
The Senate has been considering its own CR, which would fund the government for another 45 days.
The White House said that President Biden would veto the House CR.
“Hours before a Government shutdown, House Republicans are playing partisan games instead of working in a bipartisan manner to fund the Government and address emergency needs,” said the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
OMB also said that the CR would create “unnecessary delays for travelers by underfunding the Federal Aviation Administration; loss of access to nutritious food for pregnant and postpartum women and children by underfunding the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; and deterioration in service for the over 71 million Americans who rely on the income support Social Security programs provide.”
OMB called the bill a ”blatant violation” of the debt ceiling deal reached between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). OMB also called the border security provisions “harmful” and “partisan.”Finally, OMB called on ”House Republicans to follow the Senate’s lead and engage in a bipartisan appropriations process that funds the Federal Government in a responsible manner, consistent with the bipartisan agreement earlier this year.”
Even if the House CR were to pass the lower congressional chamber, which is far from guaranteed, it would likely be dead on arrival in the Senate.
Which government agencies and programs will receive funding support from the bill, and what is the significance of this support?
Ies. The bill also allocates funding for additional personnel at the border, increased technology, and enhanced surveillance. These measures aim to address the ongoing border crisis and ensure the security of the nation’s borders.
In addition to border security measures, the bill includes funding for various government agencies and programs. It provides support for agriculture, food and drug administration, commerce, justice, science, and related agencies, energy and water development, financial services and general government appropriations, homeland security, the department of the interior, environment, and related agencies, and several others.
The month-long continuing resolution is a short-term funding solution that will allow the government to continue operating while the House and Senate work on passing the regular appropriations bills for the fiscal year. This temporary funding measure has become a common practice in recent years due to the failure of Congress to pass the necessary appropriations bills on time.
The decision to reduce funding for almost all appropriations by 8.13 percent reflects the need to address the nation’s growing debt and the prioritization of certain government functions over others. While some agencies and programs will face reductions in their budgets, others, such as defense, veterans affairs, and disaster relief, will be exempt from these cuts.
It is crucial for the House of Representatives to pass this continuing resolution and for the Senate to follow suit to ensure that the government remains funded and operational. Without a new funding measure in place, the government would be forced to shut down, resulting in the suspension of various government functions and services.
The unveiling of the month-long continuing resolution comes at a critical time as the deadline to fund the government approaches. It serves as a temporary solution to keep the government running while members of Congress work to pass the regular appropriations bills.
It is important for both parties in Congress to prioritize the needs of the American people and set aside political differences to ensure the timely passage of necessary funding measures. The month-long continuing resolution—if approved by both the House and Senate—will provide the necessary funds to keep the government operational while lawmakers work on long-term appropriations bills.
Funding the government and ensuring its continued operation is a fundamental responsibility of Congress. It is essential for lawmakers to work together and reach bipartisan agreements to address the nation’s fiscal challenges and provide adequate funding for government agencies and programs.
In conclusion, the House of Representatives has unveiled a month-long continuing resolution that aims to fund the government and address border security measures. The bill includes funding for various government agencies and programs while reducing funding for almost all appropriations by 8.13 percent. It is vital for Congress to pass this funding measure to avoid a government shutdown and ensure the continued operation of essential government functions.
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