Senate Passes First Spending Package as Stopgap Funding Nears Expiration

On October 31, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted 84-9 to pass a four-bill spending package that includes fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. The spending measure provides funding increases for most science and environmental agencies and programs relative to FY 2019 enacted levels, including a 3 percent increase for the National Science Foundation. Although, the Senate and House have passed some appropriations bills, negotiations between the two chambers on spending numbers will not begin until an agreement is reached on the topline allocations for each of the 12 appropriations bills. A second spending package containing the FY 2020 Defense and Labor-Health and Human Services-Education spending bills failed to get enough votes to advance in the Senate, as a result of disagreements over funding allocations for the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The government is currently funded by a continuing resolution (CR) that is set to expire on November 21, 2019. This stopgap spending measure was passed last September to avert a government shutdown when the new fiscal year began on October 1. With the budget impasse and the impeachment inquiry underway, it is unlikely that FY 2020 appropriations will be completed before the November deadline. ...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news