Capitol Hill Reports - CR Hitches a Ride on Leg Branch Spending Bill

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CR Hitches a Ride on Leg Branch Spending Bill
Thursday, September 24, 2009
9:45 PM

A stop-gap funding measure that will allow the federal government to continue operating through midnight on Oct. 31, 2009 has hitched a ride on the final version of the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Legislative Branch appropriations bill (H.R. 2918). None of the twelve FY 2010 appropriations bills have been enacted into law thus far, so a "continuing resolution" (CR) is necessary to prevent a government shutdown when the current fiscal year (FY 2009) ends on Sept. 30. The full House is expected to vote on the conference agreement on Friday, with the Senate following suit by early next week.

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The CR will fund most federal programs at FY 2009 levels, including supplemental appropriations for the Pentagon. The exceptions:

VA Medical Programs - The CR allows the medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities accounts to operate for the duration of the CR at a total annual rate of $44.3 billion, $3.85 billion above the FY 2009 level.
Census - The CR allows the Census Bureau’s periodic censuses and programs account to operate at an annual rate of $7.065 billion, $3.87 billion above the FY 2009 level in order to accommodate the ramping up of activities in preparation for the 2010 census.
ACORN - None of the funds made available by the CR or any prior Act may be provided to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or allied organizations.
Postal Service - The CR allows the Postal Service to reduce a payment designed to prefund retiree health benefits in order to cover a budget shortfall.

House and Senate appropriators also wrapped several month-long extensions of authorizations into the CR, including child nutrition programs, Guantanamo Bay restrictions, certain housing programs, stop-loss payments to U.S. troops, and surface and aviation transportation programs.

In other news, the Senate on Thursday easily passed the $32.1 billion FY 2010 Interior and Environment appropriations legislation (H.R. 2996), clearing the measure for conference negotiations with the House. Below is an unofficial list of floor amendments adopted throughout Senate floor debate on H.R. 2996:

FY 2010 Interior & Environment Appropriations Bill
Senate Floor Amendments Adopted

Johanns - Prohibits funding for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

Feinstein - Earmarks $250,000 for the Smithsonian Institution to participate in activities under the Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009.

Barrasso - Prohibits the use of wildland fire management stimulus funds in the District of Columbia.

Reid - Provides for an evaluation of the aquifers in the area of the Jungo Disposal Site in Humboldt County, Nevada.

Bingaman - Provides funds for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund.

Risch - Provides for the use of certain funds for the Upper Snake/South Fork River Area.

Carper - Requires the EPA to conduct a study on black carbon emissions.

Roberts - Encourages the EPA administrator to reassess the cost-effectiveness of the buyout and relocation of residents of certain properties in Treece, KS.

Feinstein - Makes technical corrections to certain state and tribal assistance grants.

Inhofe - Provides for the expedited cleanup of the Tar Creek Superfund Site.

Reid - Makes funds available for preliminary planning and design of a high-performance green building to consolidate the multiple offices and research facilities of the EPA in Las Vegas.

Dorgan - Provides for the inclusion of property in, or removal of property from, the Northern Plains Heritage Area.

Coburn - Protects property owners from being included without their knowledge or consent in the federal preservation and promotion activities of any national heritage area.

Bennett - Regarding the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area Map.

Barrasso - Provides for the use of certain funds for an Indian estate planning assistance program.

Isakson - Encourages the participation of the Smithsonian Institution in the activities preserving the papers and teachings for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., under the Civil Rights History Act of 2009.

Coburn - Regarding border security and environmental protection.

Coburn - Requires public disclosure of certain reports.

Coburn - Prohibits no-bid contracts and grants.

Bingaman - Modifies the composition of the Board of Directors of the National Forest Foundation.

Bingaman - Provides funds for the Flame Fund.

Tester - Limits the increase in cabin user fees.

Schumer - To support the Pest and Disease Revolving Loan Fund.

Bingaman - Modifies the composition of the Board of Directors of the National Forest Foundation.

Whitehouse - Sense of the Senate that the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program is an effective way to address mercury pollution.

Feinstein - Extends a special use permit for Drake's Estero at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Feingold - Clarifies the authority of the secretary of Agriculture regarding the coordination of biobased product activities.

The Senate turns to the Defense appropriations bill (H.R. 3326) on Friday.