Centrists and conservatives revolt, pushing agriculture appropriations bill to September.
The House Faces Challenges in Passing Agriculture and FDA Appropriations Bill
The House of Representatives encountered obstacles in passing the agriculture and Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill before the August recess. Both conservative and centrist Republican members expressed their dissatisfaction with certain provisions, setting the stage for a funding battle to meet the September 30 deadline.
Initially, the bill was expected to be voted on Friday, but those hopes were dashed. The Rules Committee began reviewing the bill on Wednesday but had to adjourn due to opposition from both the right-wing and centrist factions of the party.
Concerns of the House Freedom Caucus
One of the main concerns raised by the House Freedom Caucus is that the bill does not do enough to reduce spending, despite being below the fiscal 2022 levels. Representative Ben Cline, a member of the Freedom Caucus, expressed his worry that the bill does not eliminate wasteful spending and suggested areas where savings could be found.
Another issue raised by the Freedom Caucus is the $7.5 billion in rescission and how the savings from it will be used. They prefer that the rescissions be actual savings for taxpayers rather than being re-spent on other priorities.
A rescission refers to the reclaiming of authorized funds that have not been utilized.
Furthermore, the Freedom Caucus members want to see work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) included in the agriculture appropriations bill. They believe that implementing a 20-hour-a-week work requirement would lead to cost savings.
Representative Chip Roy, another member of the Freedom Caucus, emphasized the need for cuts in additional measures to reach the desired spending level of $1.471 trillion.
However, members representing rural and farm-heavy districts oppose cutting additional spending in the agriculture bill. They argue that such cuts would have devastating consequences, particularly for the export industry.
Abortion Restrictions and Centrist Concerns
Aside from concerns about spending cuts, other members, particularly centrists, have grave concerns about the abortion restrictions outlined in the agriculture appropriations bill. The provision in question would reverse the Food and Drug Administration’s guidance on the abortion pill mifepristone, prohibiting its mail delivery and purchase at retail pharmacies.
Centrist Republicans, such as Representative Brian Fitzpatrick and Representative Mike Lawler, object to this provision, stating that it does not belong in the agriculture bill. They are willing to support amendments to remove it.
However, Speaker Kevin McCarthy does not appear inclined to remove the provision, arguing against the use of taxpayer money for such purposes.
Implications for September and Government Funding
These challenges set the stage for an appropriations battle in September, as the government faces a potential shutdown on October 1 if not funded. With only one appropriations bill passed, the House will need to make significant progress upon its return.
One senior GOP lawmaker suggested that passing a few more appropriations bills, such as the Department of Defense funding bill, in the first few weeks of September could allow for conference with the Senate and the creation of a minibus. This minibus, consisting of multiple appropriations bills, could be passed alongside a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government funded while further negotiations take place.
However, members of the Freedom Caucus have stated their opposition to a minibus or continuing resolution, potentially requiring support from Democrats to reach a resolution.
Overall, the House faces a challenging task in meeting the September deadline and ensuring the government remains funded.
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