Speaker Johnson Factors to One other Brief-Time period Funding Invoice
“There’s a rising recognition that we’re going to want one other stopgap funding measure,” Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson says. (Ronda Churchill/Bloomberg Information)
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Two weeks earlier than authorities funding expires, Speaker Mike Johnson raised the chance for the Home to contemplate one other short-term stopgap measure.
Johnson (R-La.) defined the Nov. 17 funding deadline leaves the chamber with a small window of alternative for finalizing its fiscal 2024 appropriations course of. A two-month extension of an current persevering with funding decision would avert a partial authorities shutdown and assist finalize the appropriations payments.
“There’s a rising recognition that we’re going to want one other stopgap funding measure,” he mentioned.
“I made clear that my preliminary thought was to increase that to Jan. 15 to get us past, kind of, the Christmas rush and the issues that usually jam us within the Home. I feel there’s some good arguments for that,” Johnson informed reporters on Capitol Hill on Nov. 2, shortly after the chamber kicked off its consideration of a fiscal 2024 transportation invoice.
Home Republican leaders intend to schedule a vote on the transportation measure earlier than the week of Nov. 6. The $90.2 billion invoice would dedicate practically $1 billion for the Federal Motor Service Security Administration. For different companies, the Home invoice would offer $62 billion for the Federal Freeway Administration, $19.5 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration, $14.6 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, $1.4 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration and $1.2 billion for the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration. Tucked within the invoice is a provision that might prohibit necessities linked to inward-facing cameras on industrial motor autos.
Senior Democrats governing within the minority within the Home are pushing again on the Speaker’s funding agenda. Home Appropriations Committee rating member Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) cited a necessity for bipartisanship within the chamber.
“We ought to be working collectively to make sure Congress is ready to serve the American individuals and full the individuals’s enterprise safely, securely and effectively, our political variations however,” DeLauro mentioned. “I urge my colleagues on the opposite aspect of the aisle to finish the charade of forcing via partisan funding payments. We’re out of time. I hope my colleagues will come to this realization quickly and be part of me on the negotiating desk. Now could be the time to seek out frequent floor and move bipartisan funding payments instantly.”
Earlier than the beginning of the Home debate on transportation funding, the Senate on Nov. 1 authorised by an 82-15 vote its model of the fiscal 2024 laws. The $98.9 billion Senate invoice would dedicate $20.2 billion for FAA, $16.8 billion for FTA and $3.4 billion for FRA. Just like the Home invoice, the Senate would offer FMCSA with practically $1 billion for fiscal 2024.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.), noting the transportation invoice was included in a legislative funding package deal, acknowledged the chance for contemplating one other persevering with decision.
“We’ve started working to get these payments signed into legislation,” Murray mentioned. “And I don’t simply imply these investments — however essential funding in all of our bipartisan appropriations payments. Whereas we may have one other [continuing resolution] earlier than our work is completed, we completely have to recollect — long-term CRs are not any technique to govern, and so they definitely are not any technique to lead.”
Senate Appropriations Committee rating member Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) mentioned bipartisanship was central to advancing the payments.
“These vital payments honor our nation’s veterans; help our farmers, ranchers and rural communities; and enhance transportation infrastructure and housing alternatives all through the US,” she mentioned.
President Joe Biden signed into legislation a unbroken decision to avert a shutdown Oct. 1. A requisite for averting a partial authorities shutdown is enactment of fiscal 2024 measures or one other short-term persevering with decision.
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