The Senate is debating a key funding bill today, as leading appropriators hope to keep on schedule and fund the government fully by October 1, the beginning of fiscal year 2019.
The bill houses funding measures for the Interior Department, EPA, Financial Services and numerous programs operated by the Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.
“As we begin debate this week, we can leverage our recent success in passing appropriations bills,” Sen. Richard Shelby, who serves as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a speech on Tuesday.
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Three appropriations bills have already passed the Senate, funding Energy and Water, the Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.
Shelby led his committee to a historic accomplishment this year by passing all its appropriations bills through committee by the July 4 recess, which hasn’t been achieved since 1988.
“What changed was the mindset of appropriators on both sides of the aisle who embraced a willingness to sacrifice partisan riders and priorities outside the committee’s jurisdiction for the good of the process,” Shelby said in his speech.
@jeremywbeaman is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News
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