Appropriations Process Grinds to a Halt
It was only a matter of time before the fiscal year (FY) 2017 appropriations process ground to a halt in anticipation of the extended summer recess. Tensions came to a head last week with a Democratic sit-in on the House floor in demand of a vote on gun safety legislation, and a 15-hour Democratic filibuster of the FY 2017 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill in the Senate to force votes on gun violence-related amendments, which were allowed late in the week. In light of the renewed focus on gun control in the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy, any bipartisan progress made so far on the annual spending bills has evaporated. In addition, the total number of working days in July can be counted on two hands, leaving no time to push on any further. Both sides are already talking about the need to enact a continuing resolution to keep the government operating into the new fiscal year on October 1 when Congress returns from the summer recess in September.
You can stay up to date on the status of FY 2017 funding proposals on the COSSA website.