Washington D.C. - In a move that staved off a potentially crippling government shutdown, the House of Representatives passed a critical spending package on Wednesday. This bipartisan agreement funds a significant portion of the federal government, but key hurdles remain before the full fiscal year budget is finalized.
The 339-85 vote successfully ushered through six spending bills, encompassing crucial departments like Agriculture, Justice, Transportation, and Interior. These departments had been operating on temporary measures since the last fiscal year ended in September 2023. With Senate approval expected by week's end, the package will then head to President Biden's desk for his signature.
The approved bills authorize roughly $460 billion in discretionary spending for these agencies until the current fiscal year concludes. Notably, the overall spending target for the year remains at $1.6 trillion, as established in a previous debt ceiling agreement between President Biden and then-Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.
Securing passage required a two-thirds majority vote. This bypassed typical internal Republican disagreements that have plagued GOP leadership for months. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) strategically employed special provisions to achieve this outcome.
While this vote signifies a crucial step forward, significant work lies ahead. The six remaining spending bills, encompassing potentially more than $800 billion in defense spending, remain a point of contention. Funding for these agencies expires on March 22nd, pressing lawmakers to reach an agreement before another potential shutdown. The highly charged issue of immigration significantly complicates negotiations for these remaining bills.
Congressional leaders have been locked in months-long negotiations to finalize the 12 annual appropriations bills that keep the government running. The recent stopgap deal provided a deadline of March 22nd to fully fund all agencies, with a smaller portion needing approval by this past Friday.
The White House urged lawmakers to approve the measure, acknowledging that while no party received everything they desired, it prevented a "damaging shutdown of several key agencies."
Democrats and Republicans predictably painted the outcome as a win for their respective parties. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) hailed Democrats' success in securing over $7 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This program provides crucial grocery assistance via the Department of Agriculture. Notably, House Republicans had previously proposed maintaining flat funding for WIC at the previous year's level.
Senate Democrats also secured funding for critical safety measures like new air traffic controllers and rail safety inspectors. Additionally, they preserved funding for rental assistance programs targeting financially vulnerable individuals.
House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D., Conn.) emphasized defeating "the vast majority of the extreme cuts and harmful policy riders" proposed by Republicans.
House Republicans maintained their focus on controlling federal spending, specifically targeting agencies accused of imposing stringent regulations in areas like firearms, automotive industries, and polluting factories.
Speaker Johnson touted a 7% reduction for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and a 6% decrease for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) compared to the previous fiscal year. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faced a 10% funding cut, primarily driven by a $745 million reduction for Superfund cleanup sites.
However, some of these cuts might have a less dramatic real-world impact. For instance, the ATF's previous budget contained a one-time construction project costing $75 million. Similarly, the Superfund program might receive more than $1 billion in new tax revenue during 2024, potentially mitigating the effects of reduced appropriations.
In a policy win for Republicans, the spending package includes a provision blocking Veterans Affairs officials from reporting specific details about veterans with mental health concerns to the national gun background check system. This measure requires a judge's determination that a veteran poses a danger before such reporting can occur.
While the House vote successfully averted a government shutdown, significant hurdles remain in finalizing the complete budget. Negotiations surrounding the remaining bills will likely be contentious, particularly those encompassing defense spending and immigration concerns. Only time will tell if lawmakers can overcome these challenges and deliver a full-year budget that avoids further gridlock and potential shutdowns.
