Funding the Federal Government Through December 9 (With Money for Zika) (H.R. 5325)

What is H.R. 5325?

(Updated December 18, 2018)

This bill was enacted on September 29, 2016

Update September 27, 2016: This bill was co-opted through the amendment process from its original form to serve as the legislative vehicle for a short-term funding package to keep the federal government open through December 2016. Originally the bill provided $3.48 billion in funding for the operations of Congress, the Capitol Police, the Library of Congress, and other federal entities that assist the legislative branch.

Currently, this bill would fund the federal government through December 9, 2016 by keeping spending at the levels agreed to under the Bipartisan Budget Act for fiscal year 2016 reduced by 0.496 percent. All federal programs or activities that weren’t funded under that legislation wouldn’t be able to receive funding under this bill. The bill also contains $1.1 billion in emergency funding to fight the Zika virus, and $500 million in additional emergency spending to go toward funding relief for Louisiana.

There are also a number of provisions in this bill specific to certain agencies, including:

• The Dept. of Defense (DOD) would be prohibited from starting new programs, entering into multi-year contracts, or increasing production rates.

• The Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) would have extra operational funding to implement opioid addiction legislation.

• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would be able to continue to receive and approve permits for drilling on federal lands.

Additionally, the agency tasked with controlling the internet’s domain name system would give up control of the DNS to the international community as planned. The District of Columbia would be authorized to continue spend locally-generated revenues.

Argument in favor

Congress needs additional time to reach an agreement on a budget for fiscal year 2017, and providing a stopgap funding package that runs through December will give lawmakers the ability to produce one after the election is over.

Argument opposed

A short-term deal to keep the government open for a little over two months is just going to create more chaos down the road. Congress should either agree on a longer-term budget or allow the government to shutdown in the short-term.

Impact

The entire federal government.

Cost of H.R. 5325

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would authorize spending at an annual level of $1.2 trillion, although spending would only be authorized for a little over two months.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced this continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded and operational beyond the election and into Congress’ lame duck session:

“There have been broad requests for a clean continuing resolution. So that’s what I’ve just offered. It’s the result of many, many hours of bipartisan work across the aisle.”

This bill has faced opposition from Democrats, who prevented it from advancing in the Senate on September 27 because it excluded funding for dealing with the Flint, Michigan water crisis. Following an agreement in the House later that day to provide $170 million in funding for Flint in a separate bill, they relented, with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) voicing his support:

“I’m convinced that there’s going to be help for Flint in the lame duck. Now I feel very comfortable.”

• CBO Cost Estimate
• Heritage Action (Opposed)