[Press Release] Post Election Appropriations Outlook

from The Food Research and Action Center

As election results continue to come in, the advocacy community has refocused its attention to the “Lame Duck” session (set to start the week of Nov. 13th) and the organization of the 110th Congress. Federal government programs (including all food and nutrition programs funded in the Agriculture Approps bill and human needs programs funded in the Labor-HHS-Education Approps bill) continue to operate through funding via a continuing resolution (CR) that expires on Nov. 17th, and decisions must be made as to how to proceed with all remaining spending bills. With the leadership change in the House shifting to the Democrats, many predict that the Lame Duck session will not last till late December (as previously predicted by Majority Leader John Boehner, R-OH), but that Congress will rather quickly pass another (long-term) CR to fund programs well into the 110th Congress to allow for the organization of the new Congress. Other options remaining on the table include attempts to pass each spending bill separately prior to the end of the calendar year, or consolidating all remaining spending bills into one omnibus bill prior to year’s end (possibly with an across-the-board cut in overall spending).

Appropriations Message: Regardless of the manner in which the funding bill gets passed, advocates should urge adoption of the Senate Committee-approved bill (H.R. 5384) which expands the Simplified Summer Food Program (SFSP) to Minnesota. Advocates also should urge adoption of the House-passed funding of $118 for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) (Senate committee funding for CSFP is $108.3).

Congressional Reorganization Note: When the House and Senate convene in January for the start of the 110 th Congress, advocates should note that in addition to committee vacancies due to election losses and retirements, the ratios of each of the House and Senate committees will also change to reflect the new Republican and Democrat ratios in the two chambers. Overall House leadership will change with Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) assuming the position of Speaker of the House, in addition to new committee chairmen (e.g., Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), formerly the Ranking (minority) Member will become the new Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee). At press time with the Virginia Senate vote still undecided, it is not known which party will control the Senate. However, committee ratios will still change to reflect the change in the balance of the Senate.