House Extends Federal Budget, Senate Set to Act Next Week

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On January 31, the House passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal budget for the rest of the current (2007) fiscal year (which lasts through Sept. 30) at the same levels as fiscal year 2006. The federal budget is generally funded through eleven separate appropriations bills, but the Republican-led 109th Congress was unable to pass nine of those, making it necessary for Congress to pass a resolution "continuing" last year's budget. The $463 billion continuing resolution passed by the House now heads to the Senate, which is set to consider the resolution early next week. If both chambers cannot pass an identical measure and have it signed by President Bush by Feb. 15, parts of the federal government will be shut down.

The resolution passed by the House excluded nearly all of the earmarks included in last year's unpassed bills and instead makes block grants to federal agencies without specifying how they must spend the money (which is what earmarks do). Some House Republicans argued that, contrary to Democratic claims, the resolution contained about $500 million in earmarks, including nearly $50 million for rainforests in Iowa. Democratic leaders contended, however, that these projects were either supported by Republicans or were simply continuations of projects that had been allotted federal funds in the past. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) disagreed, stating "It is clear that the best interests of the American people – transparency and accountability – were not a priority for Democrats when they crafted this massive spending bill."

Other Republicans were more critical of what the bill failed to include. Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) complained that funding for NASA would be significantly below the levels requested by President Bush and initially approved by the House in 2006, something he believes could jeopardize a planned 2014 manned spaceship mission. Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) argued that spending for farm disaster aid was inadequate after an effort to increase it by $3.3 billion failed. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) defended Democrats, arguing that the party did its best considering it was forced to, "clean up the Republican Party’s budget mess."

While the resolution would continue FY 2006 spending levels in most areas, certain initiatives would be granted an increase in funds. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would receive a $620 million, or 2%, budget increase. The FBI would see a $200 million increase in its $6 billion budget. In addition, the maximum Pell Grant for lower-income college students would increase by $260/yr. to $4,310. Efforts to combat AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis overseas would also be increased by $1.3 billion to $4.5 billion total. Not included (for the first time since 1999) is a pay raise for members of Congress themselves, whose salaries would remain at $165,200 under the resolution.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where several Republican members, along with Democrat Max Baucus (D-Mont.), have already voiced opposition to its level of funding for the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) program. A leading critic, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), stated that “Democrats have once again robbed from military funds and spread it to other areas.” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), the Senate's sole physician, has also strongly criticized the measure for failing to fund a $30 million program he authored to test newborns for the AIDS virus.

Congresspedia has created a page on the continuing resolution and will continue updating it as the Senate considers the bill. Be sure to check it out, and feel free to update it as events unfold.