WASHINGTON: US House of Representatives Republicans on Thursday (Jun 15) adopted government spending targets for the next fiscal year below the level agreed by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic President Joe Biden, setting up a fight with the Democratic-led Senate that could again risk a government shutdown.
The House of Representatives Appropriations Committee voted 33-27 along party lines to adopt a discretionary spending level of US$1.47 trillion for fiscal year 2024, which starts on Oct 1.
That is about US$120 billion below the US$1.59 trillion set out in the debt ceiling bill negotiated by Biden and McCarthy.
The targets would maintain defence spending at the US$866 billion level agreed in the debt ceiling legislation. But the plan would slash spending for the environment, public assistance and foreign aid.
It would also increase spending for border security, drug enforcement and countering China.
Democrats say that the lower levels renege on the debt-ceiling agreement. Republicans counter that the deal only capped spending.
“The debt ceiling bill set a ceiling, not a floor, for fiscal year 2024 bills. The allocations before us reflect the change members on my side of the aisle want to see,” said Appropriations Committee chair Kay Granger.
Congress will try to pass 12 appropriations bills before October, covering everything from law enforcement to scientific research.
On Wednesday, the panel adopted a bill that would cut spending on agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration by 30 per cent from current levels.
Republicans on the committee unveiled another bill for energy and water development that Democrats said cuts spending on domestic programs like green energy incentives by 22 per cent.
Democrats also objected to policies that Republicans attached to the spending bills, such as one that would prevent an abortion drug from being distributed through pharmacies.
Lower spending levels could make it harder for the House to reach agreement with the Democratic-led Senate.
Federal agencies could have to shut down if the two chambers are unable to agree to spending levels by October.
“They’re moving toward a shutdown. That’s what they seem to want to guarantee,” Representative Rosa DeLauro, the top House Democratic appropriator, told Reuters.
Republican Representative Steve Womack also expressed concern about a shutdown. “I worry about what’s going to happen on Oct 1,” he said.
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