In recent years, the process of passing the 12 annual government funding bills, also known as appropriations, has grown increasingly difficult. When Republicans regained majority of the U.S. House of Representatives this year, one of our top priorities was to restore regular order by passing appropriations bills to provide full government funding at more sensible spending levels and with priorities that address the crises our nation is facing. Although the fiscal year lapsed this past weekend without completing this process, Congress managed to avoid a dangerous government shutdown by passing a Continuing Resolution (CR) and allow House Republicans to finish the funding process before the end of this year.
A clean CR is not ideal, and by simply putting the federal government on autopilot, these funding resolutions cause a great deal of inconvenience to our federal agencies, our military and ultimately, to the American taxpayer. Passing all 12 bills and striking a deal with the Senate before the September 30 deadline is certainly the more ideal scenario, but the truth of the matter is that we are not there yet.
However, a government shutdown in the interim is not the answer and it never works as a negotiation tactic to get what you want. A government shutdown only punishes the American people, our service members and civilian workforce. And given the vast number of civilian workers and service members located in the Fourth District of Oklahoma, a shutdown is not something I could support. I am glad the House did the right thing this weekend to keep the government open while Congress works toward finishing the job.
Funding levels set by Democrats previously in control of both chambers of Congress are unsustainable. Republicans have already passed four bills to send to the Senate that would fund roughly 70 percent of our government. These bills would cut wasteful spending, support our service members and military retirees, secure the border and strengthen our national defense. We will also remain in Washington, D.C. for the rest of this month to finish these funding bills so we can begin to work with the Senate on a final agreement.
It is crucial that we complete the appropriations process before January 1, 2024. At that point, if all 12 bills have still failed to be enacted, a new law will automatically enact a CR to fund the government until the end of the next fiscal year, September 30, 2024, with a one percent across-the-board cut to all programs and agencies. While this reduction may initially seem like a good outcome, an across-the-board cut would lock in unfavorable funding levels and policies from a Democratic majority and be an abdication of House Republicans’ ability to adjust spending to reflect the country’s priorities.
In Article I, section 7, clause 1 of the United States Constitution, our Founding Fathers laid out the framework for the Congressional “Power of the Purse.” Funding the government is Congress’s most essential duty and a job we must complete. House Republicans can enact real policy changes and spend our dollars more wisely through full year appropriations, and that is just what we should do.
