The House and Senate cleared a one-week FY17 continuing resolution (CR) funding the federal government through next Friday, May 5. The new CR also extends the December CR provision for health care benefits for retired coal miners and their dependents. President Trump said earlier this week that he would sign a one-week CR
The House passed the measure this morning by a vote of 382 to 30 (16 Republicans and 14 Democrats voted against the CR), and the Senate followed soon after passing it by a voice vote. On Thursday evening, the Senate had attempted to deem the measure passed by unanimous consent once approved by the House, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) objected. His move forced the Senate to stay in session on Friday to vote on the CR by voice vote.
House and Senate Republicans and Democrats continue to negotiate the details of an FY17 omnibus appropriations bill. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said that Speaker Ryan plans to have the FY17 omnibus spending bill introduced by Monday night with the goal of a House floor vote on Thursday, May 4.
One sticking point in the negotiations is a shortfall in Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico. Democrats are pushing for a funding fix as part of the FY17 omnibus spending deal, but the Trump Administration has resisted. Without the fix, Puerto Rico could exhaust its entire $6.4B Medicaid allocation by this fall. It was supposed to last through FY19.
Another issue holding up the measure was the potential for a vote in the House this week on a measure to repeal the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). Democrats in the House had warned that they would vote against the one-week CR if Republicans revived their health care bill.
President Trump made two concessions this week to get negotiators closer to a final agreement on the FY17 spending bills. The President said he would forgo FY17 funding for construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and instead would pursue the funding in the FY18 appropriations process. He also agreed to continue to make payments for health insurance subsidies created under Obamacare that help reduce out-of-pocket costs for those in the individual marketplace. The subsidies face a court challenge, so it is unclear how long the President will continue to provide them.
FY17 Continuing Resolution:
https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hjres99/BILLS-115hjres99ih.pdf