…And Yet Another Continuing Resolution

The Senate continues to debate the larger FY 1996 appropriations and budget bill, H.R. 3019, adopted by the House on March 7 by a vote of 209-206.³ The House-passed bill contains administrative provisions included in the budget reconciliation (H.R. 2491, the Balanced Budget Downpayment Act) that was vetoed by the President December 6, 1995. Some of those provisions were repeated in the FY 1996 appropriations bill, H.R. 2099, vetoed on December 18. They contained extension of the administrative provisions in the FY 1995 Rescissions Act, including repeal of the one-for-one replacement requirements for public housing, as well as other reforms of the Section 8 program and the FHA single-family assignment program, and authority for the FHA Multifamily Demonstration program.

On Tuesday, March 19, the Senate, by a vote of 79 to 21, adopted an amendment, "Making Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1996, and for Other Purposes," in the form of a substitute to H.R. 3019. The conferees — the chairperson and ranking member of each of the appropriations subcommittees — began informal meetings on March 22 to resolve differences contained in the two versions. The next issue of the Bulletin will review changes made by whatever budget agreement is reached or provide an update on this protracted process.

1. 142 CONG. REC. H2578 (Mar. 21, 1996).
2. 142 CONG. REC. S2621 (Mar. 21, 1996).
3. 3 H.R. 3019, Making Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1996 to Make a Further Downpayment Toward a Balanced Budget, and for Other Purposes.