Funding the Gov't & Allowing Sec. 702 Surveillance Until Mid-January While Providing Short-Term CHIP Funding (H.R. 1370)

What is H.R. 1370?

(Updated June 25, 2019)

This bill was enacted on December 22, 2017

(Updated 12/21/17): This bill has been amended from its original form to serve as the legislative vehicle for a continuing resolution to fund the government through January 19, 2018 at current levels; create a special rule allowing funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Community Health Centers programs from the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 to be redistributed to states experiencing an emergency shortfall on a prorated basis; and reauthorize surveillance activities under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through January 19, 2018. Originally, the bill required the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue agency-wide guidelines as part of the Dept. of Homeland Security Blue Campaign to combat human trafficking, which passed both chambers of Congress on voice votes. Subsequent versions included a continuing resolution plus a five-year reauthorization of CHIP, $81 billion in disaster relief, and defense spending for the entirety of 2018 but those provisions were removed, with the disaster relief bill getting a standalone vote . Details on the current bill can be found below.

This section of the bill would extend funding for all federal programs through January 19, 2018 at current levels except for defense and some public health programs which are funded separately below. The government is currently funded through Friday December 22, 2017.

Argument in favor

Extending government funding into mid-January will give lawmakers more of the time they need to negotiate a longer-term spending agreement. There's no need for priorities like CHIP funding or the government's ability to use surveillance program to be lost to a shutdown.

Argument opposed

It’s irresponsible for Congress to have to repeatedly resort to funding the government on a short-term basis, and if a long-term deal can’t be struck now then there should be a partial government shutdown.

Impact

The federal government; the military; state CHIP programs and other public health programs; and Congress.

Cost of H.R. 1370

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) offered the following statement on the introduction of this bill:

Lastly, this resolution extends current levels of funding for government operations through January 19, 2018 – preventing a government shutdown. This funding is critical to our nation’s stability, our economy, and for the wellbeing of the American people. It is essential that Congress maintain the programs and services that all Americans depend on.

This CR is not the preferred way to do the nation’s fiscal business. It is vital that all 12 Appropriations bills be negotiated with the Senate and signed into law. However, this resolution will allow time for the leadership of the House and Senate and the White House to come to agreement on a topline spending level for this fiscal year. Once this agreement is made, my Committee will promptly go to work with the Senate to complete the final legislation.”

Media:

• House Appropriations Committee Press Release