"Nobody thinks we're going to do anything before Sept. 30,," stated Rep. Tom Cole, Oklahoma, who is the top Republican responsible for the Labor-HHS Education bill which provides the largest percentage of non-defense spending.Cole stated that Congress will "certainly" use a continuing resolution to temporarily increase current funding in order to prevent a shutdown of government when the new fiscal year begins on October 1.The Senate appropriators have announced that they will start committee work on their spending bills next week. This leaves little time for a compromise between the bicameral and Senate.Apart from the benefits of avoiding a shutdown, a temporary spending plan would allow congressional leaders to keep their eyes on the task at hand. They could use the time to find a way to fund a bipartisan infrastructure plan that the Democrats want to pass, which is $3.5 trillion, without Republican support, and also a solution for the debt limit.The Labor-HHS-Education package, which was approved by the House on Thursday, makes the historic move to eliminate a federal ban on abortion funding. This promise was made by Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Appropriations Chair. It is almost certain that it will not be accepted by moderates in Senate.The bill would increase the Education Department's budget by 41 per cent, and provide $120 billion for HHS and $10.6 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill's earmarks would provide billions of dollars for education and training programs, medical facilities, and other areas.DeLauro described the funding increases as "transformative" and "historical," and said they would create good-paying jobs and grow opportunities for the middle class, small businesses, and provide a safety net for working families and the most vulnerable.The House approved Thursday's spending package that would also finance the Departments of Energy, Interior and Veterans Affairs as well as Housing and Urban Development and the EPA. It also funds the FDA, Water Infrastructure and the IRS.Democratic leaders still struggle to gain support for measures that would finance the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, and Justice Department. While progressives demand a reduction in military funding, issues such as immigration and reform of police continue to impede the caucus.Moderate Democrats favor a modest Pentagon budget increase, as is what House Appropriators sought to do with a near $10 billion increase in their Fiscal 2022 Defense bill.The August recess is fast approaching and House Democrats will likely forgo any potentially difficult votes on bills. Instead, they will wait to resolve any outstanding issues in eventual spending negotiations with the Senate.An aide to the House Democratic Party stated that they were continuing to work on the remaining bills and adding that the timing for floor consideration is fluid.Next week, Senate appropriators will markup their first three spending bills. This officially launches the appropriations process within the upper chamber. They will start with three more benign measures to finance the departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Veterans Affairs.According to a Senate aide, the funding bills for Energy and Agriculture are expected to contain billions of dollars to help with recent droughts and other agricultural disasters.
