2014 Continuing Resolution Chooses Partisanship Over Progress
The 2014 continuing resolution (CR) would prioritize an ideological fight to defund the Affordable Care Act ahead of American jobs and the economy. Republicans are forcing a 42nd vote on repealing and undermining the Affordable Care Act, which would put medical decisions back in the hands of insurance companies. Pursuing ideological crusades under threat of government shutdown is no way to govern.
The CR also includes the "Pay China First" provision, requiring that if House Republicans cause a default on our nation's debt, bondholders from China and elsewhere would be paid first, putting payments to Americans at risk.
A CR is necessary because the majority has refused to work on a balanced plan to create jobs, grow the economy, and make investments in schools, military readiness, research, public safety, infrastructure, and much more. In fact, the Republican austerity plan hurts investments in infrastructure, jobs, education, and health care so much that the majority was unable to pass 8 of 12 individual Appropriations bills through the House before the end of the fiscal year.
The CR would extend government funding through December 15 at the current rate, $986.3 billion. This rate – reflecting across-the-board cuts that went into effect in March 2013 following Congress' failure to pass a balanced deficit reduction plan – is more than $70 billion lower than the 2014 discretionary spending level to which Democrats and Republicans agreed in the Budget Control Act.
Additional items of note:
• Appropriated entitlements and other mandatory programs would be continued not at last year's rate but at the rate needed to maintain program levels under current law.
• The CR extends three expiring authorities requested by OMB for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provides flexibility to maintain CBP staffing and border security and to maintain ICE staffing and immigration enforcement.
• The CR provides an additional $636m for firefighting by the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior.
• The CR extends the authorization for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Care Entitlement program, as requested by OMB.
• The CR provides an additional $294m for Veterans Benefits Administration for disability claims processing.
• The CR extends authorization for the Food for Peace program to enter into contracts, as requested by OMB.
• The CR provides an additional $26m for Federal Defenders, as requested by the Department of Justice.
• The CR extends the rental assistance demonstration (RAD) project at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).