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News and updates

News and updates

Late Votes, Last Minute Save

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With almost two days to spare, the House passed a 10-week stopgap spending bill, passed by the Senate earlier today, that would prevent a government shutdown at the end of this week. The measure passed the House by a vote of 342-85.

As previously mentioned, the measure generally provides continued funding for federal government operations through December 9 at existing levels. There were FY 2016 adjustments for FY 2017, including increase funding to address the opioid epidemic. The measure also provides $500 million in emergency supplemental funding for initial disaster response efforts to severe flooding in Louisiana and other states. It provides $1.1 billion in supplemental funding for activities in response to the Zika virus, including $933 million in domestic funding and roughly $175 million in international funding, with approximately $400 million of the total being offset. Finally, the CR provides full-year FY 2017 appropriations for military construction and for the VA Department, and is identical to the Military Construction-VA appropriations agreement reached in June between House and Senate conferees.

The White House earlier today announced its support for the CR/Zika package.

With that, the House and Senate have voted to keep the government open and operating until December 9th. The bill goes to the President’s desk to be signed, and Congress leaves town to go get reelected.

 

White House Announces Support for CR

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Following the Senate’s passage of the CR, the White House issued a Statement of Administrative Policy (SAP) in support of the CR. While the SAP does express concerns and desires for what is or should have been included, the White House does express support for the overall legislation.

Read the SAP here. 

Senate Passes 10-Week Continuing Resolution

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Today the Senate passed a 10-week continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through December 9. In addition, the CR also provides $500 million for flood relief in Louisiana and surrounding areas, year-long appropriations for military construction and veterans programs, and $1.1 billion for efforts to mediate the spread of the Zika virus. The House must take action on the CR by Friday in order to avoid a government shutdown, as the federal fiscal year ends on September 30. 

Previously, Senate Democrats blocked the measure because it did not contain funding to help Flint, Michigan, repair its lead-tainted water supply. However, House and Senate leaders have negotiated an agreement, and the House will amend its version of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) to provide funding for Flint to mediate its water emergency. 

Count Down to Shut Down: New Strategy

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Senate leaders have been locked in partisan combat for days over whether a stopgap spending measure to keep the government running past Friday should include disaster aid at all. Senate Republicans included $500 million for flood victims in Louisiana and other water-drenched states, where thousands of homes have been destroyed or damaged. Democrats, however, have insisted that any effort to help Louisiana should be coupled with aid to Flint, MI, where an estimated 9,000 children have been poisoned by lead from a contaminated water system for more than a year.

The Senate Republican proposed stopgap measure, which was presented last week and  drafted last week without Democratic cooperation, would extend current funding levels to December 9, while providing $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus. It also would offer a full year of funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects.

The measure failed, as expected, to advance the measure Tuesday, when supporters mustered only 45 votes for it on a procedural test or a cloture vote, which requires 60 votes to proceed.

Today, the Senate has invoked cloture on a 10-week continuing resolution. The vote is the first in a series on the stopgap spending package, which is needed to avoid a government shutdown when FY 2016 funding expires at midnight on Friday. Senate Democrats objections were resolved Wednesday following the failed vote on Wednesday after congressional leaders reached a deal to provide aid for Flint, MI, through separate authorizing legislation.

The tally was 60-13 with voting continuing to proceed on the motion, and ending debate.

White House Announces Opposition to Overtime Rule Delay

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Today the White House issued a Statement of Administrative Policy (SAP) regarding President Obama’s intent to veto HR 6094, the Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools, and Nonprofits Act, should the measure be presented to him. HR 6094 would delay implementation of the Department of Labor’s new overtime rules until June 1, 2017, and may go to the House floor for a vote this week. While the title of the bill suggests the delay would impact a small segment of employers, the bill would delay the entirety of the overtime rule.

As a refresher, the new DOL overtime rule increases the threshold under which most salaried employees are eligible for overtime from $23,660 to $47,476 per year. The Administration’s SAP can be viewed here.