3-8-2013

House Passes DoD/VA Spending Bill and New CR

The House passed (267-151) legislation (H.R. 933) aimed at averting a government shutdown when the current continuing resolution (CR) expires on March 27, 2013.   The measure, sponsored by Rep. Harold Rogers (Ky.), includes current-year (FY 2013) appropriations for the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA), and authorizes another CR for the remaining federal departments. The bill authorize continued funding for other federal agencies at last year’s (FY 2012) levels and maintains the sequestration cuts that took effect on March 1, but provides spending flexibility for DoD and VA in conjunction with across-the-board budget cuts. The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

The Senate may take up the bill as early as Monday and appropriations bills for other departments may be added to the legislation. Although no veto threat was raised, the Administration is “deeply concerned” about the House-approved CR spending directions for military programs.