It’s the Wednesday before the Friday when government funding runs out and the Senate is not in session. But that’s sort of okay, because the House is and it is getting ready to pass that big funding bill, along with a few others. That’s after some procedural problems, coming from Republican obstruction on the floor, where they forced the whole body to vote on a motion to adjourn at the beginning of the day to mess with the Democrats, who are scheduled to leave in the afternoon for a caucus retreat in Philadelphia. The other hiccup comes from Democrats who object to how the COVID aid is funded, clawing back money from the states.
As of print time, the legislation the House intends to pass Wednesday includes another stop-gap funding bill, yet another continuing resolution, but it will only last four days, giving the Senate time to come back to deal with it by the end of next Tuesday. The $13.6 billion for Ukraine aid aid and $15.6 billion for ongoing COVID response will be included in the larger funding bill which contains the regular 12 funding bills for the federal government. The House will also vote to codify the Russian oil import ban President Biden announced Tuesday.
Wednesday, Mar 9, 2022 · 7:24:03 PM +00:00
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Joan McCarter
Still no resolution to the COVID funding problem sprung overnight on members. Rep. Cory Bush (D-MO) explains the issue: “In Missouri, this funding was already appropriated to help fund childcare, health care, housing, and our schools. To turn around and now say we’re taking hundreds of millions of dollars back, in the name of bipartisan is just unbelievable.” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-OR) agrees. “Some of that money is being clawed back to use for Covid funding, but that money has already been appropriated by our state legislature, and it's not like it's unused funding.”
The big omnibus funding bill includes $1.512 trillion in discretionary spending for what is left of fiscal year 2022. The agreement negotiators came to, in the big fight over reaching “parity” in defense vs. non-defense funding that’s been the excuse Republicans have used for delaying passage of the bill allows for a 5.6% increase for defense, to $782 billion, and a 6.7% increase for everything else, to $730 billion.
Among the highlights, a 2.7% increase in troop pay which doesn’t really account for the rate of inflation, but is better than a bucket of warm spit. There’s a $550 million one-time boost for broadband infrastructure. It boosts the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) $834 million to increase fruits and vegetables for mothers and children. However, Mitch McConnell appears to have gotten his way to end the school lunch waivers that allowed schools to provide universal free lunches during the pandemic. That program is going to end as soon a June 30.
However, a good thing is happening with it. The Violence Against Women Act, which lapsed in 2019, is going to be reauthorized in this bill as well, a chance lawmakers couldn’t pass up, so they’re hitching it on. “Finally, this historic legislation will carry major bipartisan legislation that has been in the making for years,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “The Violence Against Women Act, expired for too many years, will finally be reauthorized.” Last month, bipartisan senators reached an agreement on the bill, with Democrats giving in on a gun dispute. The “boyfriend loophole,” which allows unmarried partners to keep their guns even if they’ve been convicted of domestic violence, will be preserved.
On the other hand, in the words of lead sponsor Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), it will strengthen “existing programs to support survivors and to prevent and to respond to domestic violence, and that’s dating violence and sexual assault and stalking,” and expand services “for survivors of domestic violence, including survivors in rural communities, LGBT survivors.” The legislation also, finally allows tribal authorities to prosecute non-Indians for domestic violence against tribal members, including children.
That Ukraine funding has about $6.5 billion for the Department of Defense. About $3 billion of it will go to European Command operations mission support, and include deploying troops to the region, and intelligence support. Other agencies will receive funding for food assistance, enforcing sanctions, cybersecurity, and providing other humanitarian assistance. It will provide $25 million to bolster Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Voice of America coverage of the Russian invasion, potentially restoring shortwave broadcasts for the region. RFE/RL has had to suspend operations inside Russia following Putin’s attacks on the free media.
The COVID aid package provides $10.6 billion for the public health emergency fund to address current pandemic needs with antivirals, treatments, and vaccines, as well as $750 million in research and development to prepare for the variants that are inevitably coming. There’s $4.45 billion for global health initiatives, including beefing up vaccine distribution and access. It also includes humanitarian assistance and to respond to COVID outbreaks among the displaced population with $75 million for Migration and Refugee Assistance.
As of print time, however, that relief money is holding up the bill.
Republicans in the Senate have demanded the bulk of the funding be offset. According to Pelosi, “the Administration identified $8 billion from the American Rescue Plan programs that have expired with remaining funds available.” That funding is coming from state and local governments, and governors are also not happy, sending a letter to leadership Tuesday night to save the funds. Since they’ve been budgeting on the basis of that funding being available, they have a point.
As of midday Wednesday, that hadn’t been resolved and could blow up the entire deal, potentially forcing the House to vote just on the Russian oil sanctions and the four-day continuing resolution. Stay tuned.
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