House Approves Short-Term Continuing Resolution to Maintain Government Operations, Prevent Shutdown, Authorize Actions in Syria
Washington,
Sep 17 -
The U.S. House today approved a short term Continuing Resolution (CR) (H.J.Res. 124) to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2014.
The legislation continues funding for government programs and services at the current annual cap rate of $1.012 trillion until December 11, 2014. This rate of funding will remain in place for the length of the CR, or until Congress approves annual Appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2015.
In addition, the bill includes an amendment, adopted on the House floor, to authorize the training and equipping of Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as requested by the President.
“This is a critical measure that ensures that hard-working Americans continue to have access to the government programs and services they rely on, and helps avoid the unnecessary uncertainty and economic harm caused by the threat of a government shutdown,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers said.
“In addition, the House included an amendment to provide authority to train and equip Syrian rebels to fight ISIL. This amendment is of great importance to our national security, and attaching it to this Continuing Resolution will allow its enactment within a swift timeframe.”
“However, this is merely a temporary, Band-Aid funding measure, and it does not make the necessary, line-by-line budget decisions that occur in full-year, regular Appropriations bills. But at this point, it is our best, most clear path forward – allowing time to draft bicameral pieces of legislation that reflect our real and urgent budgetary requirements and utilize our nation’s taxpayer dollars in the most responsible way. I applaud its passage today, and I urge the Senate to pass this bill and submit it to the President for his signature as soon as possible.”
For the full text of the legislation, please visit: https://beta.congress.gov/113/bills/hjres124/BILLS-113hjres124ih.pdf
For a summary, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392934
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