Appropriations Update: House Committee Leaders Unveil Bill to Extend Federal Funding to March 11
February 7, 2022
House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released text of H.R. 6617, another short-term continuing resolution (CR) that proposes to extend funding for the federal government through March 11. Current federal funding is scheduled to expire on February 18 under the terms of a previous CR approved by Congress last year.
This marks the third time since the fiscal year began in October that Congress will be forced to resort to a short-term CR due to continued gridlock between Republicans and Democrats on a final deal to fund the federal government for the entire fiscal year. For months, the impasse has centered around disagreements on parity for defense and non-defense spending increases, as well as the use of policy riders. While both sides have largely agreed on a $25 billion increase in defense spending originally authorized in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed in December, Democrats have pushed for even larger increases in non-defense spending. Republicans have persistently rejected this, emboldened by the fact that a CR maintains current spending levels that were approved last year when Republicans controlled Congress, giving them even less of an incentive to agree to Democratic demands. Without resolution on this parity issue, agreement on an overall spending level has been elusive, making it impossible to finalize the 12 individual bills that annually fund the federal government.
Additionally, a new fault line has emerged concerning billions of dollars in earmarks, a practice which was revived by Democrats earlier this year. While House Republicans voted to bring back earmarks, Senate Republicans were more divided, and many of those who opposed them are pushing for earmarks to be excluded from any final agreement. Complicating matters further, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL), along with other Republican appropriators, are set to receive significant funding in earmarks for projects in their respective states, putting them at odds with various members of the Senate Republican Conference.
The House is likely to vote on the stopgap bill by the end of this week before it recesses for two weeks. The schedule on when that vote occurs will affect whether the Senate votes on the CR this week or waits until next week when funding is set to expire. Given that neither party benefits from a government shutdown, the CR is expected to pass both chambers.
Airports continue to be in a strong position on our priorities in the pending FY22 spending bills that have worked their way through the process to this point. The House and Senate versions of the FY22 DOT/FAA spending bill proposed $3.35 billion for AIP, between $400 million and $603.5 million for supplemental AIP funding, and at least a $5.2 million increase for the Contract Tower Program.
The House and Senate versions of the FY22 DHS/TSA/CBP spending bill proposed continued funding for TSA's law enforcement officer (LEO) reimbursement grants ($46.4 million); continued TSA staffing at exit lanes instead of shifting those requirements to airports; funding to procure and deploy 126 base and full-sized computed tomography (CT) systems to enhance the effectiveness of equipment used to screen carry-on baggage and to meet current and emerging threats ($104.5 million); and continued funding to reimburse airports that purchased and installed partial or complete in-line baggage systems prior to August 3, 2007 ($30 million). For CBP, the administration requested, and appropriators funded, current CBP activities at airports.
House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released text of H.R. 6617, another short-term continuing resolution (CR) that proposes to extend funding for the federal government through March 11. Current federal funding is scheduled to expire on February 18 under the terms of a previous CR approved by Congress last year.
This marks the third time since the fiscal year began in October that Congress will be forced to resort to a short-term CR due to continued gridlock between Republicans and Democrats on a final deal to fund the federal government for the entire fiscal year. For months, the impasse has centered around disagreements on parity for defense and non-defense spending increases, as well as the use of policy riders. While both sides have largely agreed on a $25 billion increase in defense spending originally authorized in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed in December, Democrats have pushed for even larger increases in non-defense spending. Republicans have persistently rejected this, emboldened by the fact that a CR maintains current spending levels that were approved last year when Republicans controlled Congress, giving them even less of an incentive to agree to Democratic demands. Without resolution on this parity issue, agreement on an overall spending level has been elusive, making it impossible to finalize the 12 individual bills that annually fund the federal government.
Additionally, a new fault line has emerged concerning billions of dollars in earmarks, a practice which was revived by Democrats earlier this year. While House Republicans voted to bring back earmarks, Senate Republicans were more divided, and many of those who opposed them are pushing for earmarks to be excluded from any final agreement. Complicating matters further, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL), along with other Republican appropriators, are set to receive significant funding in earmarks for projects in their respective states, putting them at odds with various members of the Senate Republican Conference.
The House is likely to vote on the stopgap bill by the end of this week before it recesses for two weeks. The schedule on when that vote occurs will affect whether the Senate votes on the CR this week or waits until next week when funding is set to expire. Given that neither party benefits from a government shutdown, the CR is expected to pass both chambers.
Airports continue to be in a strong position on our priorities in the pending FY22 spending bills that have worked their way through the process to this point. The House and Senate versions of the FY22 DOT/FAA spending bill proposed $3.35 billion for AIP, between $400 million and $603.5 million for supplemental AIP funding, and at least a $5.2 million increase for the Contract Tower Program.
The House and Senate versions of the FY22 DHS/TSA/CBP spending bill proposed continued funding for TSA's law enforcement officer (LEO) reimbursement grants ($46.4 million); continued TSA staffing at exit lanes instead of shifting those requirements to airports; funding to procure and deploy 126 base and full-sized computed tomography (CT) systems to enhance the effectiveness of equipment used to screen carry-on baggage and to meet current and emerging threats ($104.5 million); and continued funding to reimburse airports that purchased and installed partial or complete in-line baggage systems prior to August 3, 2007 ($30 million). For CBP, the administration requested, and appropriators funded, current CBP activities at airports.
