Today, the Senate reached a far-reaching bipartisan budget agreement that would set top-line spending limits for FY2018 and FY2019, which would be added to the continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House. The spending levels for the two years represent significant increases above what is currently allowed under the budget caps that were created in 2011.
Under the agreement, funding for non-defense discretionary programs would be increased by $63 billion in FY2018 and $68 billion in FY2019 while defense programs would see increases of $80 billion and $85 billion, respectively.
In addition, the deal includes an additional $2 billion for the National Institutes of Health over the next two years while also providing approximately $6 billion for the opioid crisis. The agreement calls for $20 billion in infrastructure investment among its other provisions.
The deal does not address Dreamers and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced earlier in the day that she would not support any funding deal until she gets a commitment from Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) to bring an immigration bill to the floor. The Senate agreement, which will be added to the short-term CR through March 23, must be sent back to the House and passed before midnight, Friday morning.