Appropriations Battle Ahead: House and Senate Disagree on funding levels for Law Enforcement Programs

摘要

July was a busy month in Congress as representatives rushed to wrap-up several items fore the current month-long August recess. The appropriations process was in full swing in both chambers, and the Senate was busy passing comprehensive immigration overhaul legislation and confirming presidential nominees. Congress returns from recess on September 9 and will be tasked with completing the appropriations process; however, the prospects of doing so before the start of the fiscal year on October 1 are grim. With so many bills left unfinished, the vast difference between the House and Senate spending levels due to the House remaining steadfast on adhering to its $967 billion spending cap, which reflects the sequester cuts, and the Senate using $1.058 trillion as a cap and ignoring the sequestration cuts, it is anticipated that Congress will pass a continuing resolution (CR) in order to keep the government running beyond the start of the new fiscal year.