2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2020 Minibus Spending Bill That
Represented 4 Of The 12 Appropriations Bills, Which Established A Sixth
Armed Service For Space And Provided Only $1.375 Billion For The Border
Wall, $3.6 Billion Less Than Trump Requested. In December 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted for the FY 2020 minibus appropriations bill. According
to Congressional Quarterly, the bill would "would provide $860.3
billion in discretionary spending for four of the twelve fiscal 2020
appropriations bills: Defense, Homeland Security,
Commerce-Justice-Science, and Financial Services. It would provide
$695.1 for the Defense Department, $68 billion for the Homeland
Security Department, $73.2 billion for the Commerce and Justice
departments and science and related agencies, and $23.8 billion for the
Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, and other agencies. Among
other provisions, it would provide $70.7 billion in overseas
contingency operations funding, primarily for ongoing military
operations in Afghanistan and other counterterrorism operations; $42.4
billion for military aircraft, including over $9 billion for the
procurement of 98 F-35 planes; and $40 million for the operation and
maintenance of the Space Force. It would provide $1.38 billion in
funding for Customs and Border Protection for the construction of
physical barriers along the U.S. southwest border. It would provide
$22.6 billion for NASA activities and programs; $32.6 billion for the
Justice Department, including $502.5 million to support state and local
law enforcement activities under the Violence Against Women Act; and
$7.6 billion for the Census Bureau. It would provide $425 million for
Election Assistance Commission grants related improving federal election
security. It would provide a 3.1% pay increase for all members of the
armed forces and for federal civilian employees." The vote was a motion
to concur in the Senate Amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a
vote of 280-138. The Senate then passed the bill and the President
signed the bill into law. [House Vote 690,
12/17/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/17/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.1158]
The FY 2020 Minibus Provided $1.375 Billion For A Border Wall,
Over $3 Billion Less Than What Trump Requested. According to
Washington Post, "At the crux of a new deal, the White House will
get $1.375 billion in Homeland Security funds for the wall ―
significantly less than the $5 billion Trump sought ― and no money
to backfill the $3.6 billion in military construction funds the
administration moved this year for the project. Democrats, in
exchange, abandoned language to lower limits on the amount the
military can shift between accounts, from $9.5 billion to $1.5
billion." [Washington Post,
12/19/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Provided $40 Million To Establish A New,
Sixth Armed Service For Space But Authorized $32 Million Less Than
The Administration's Request. According to the Washington Post,
"The defense bill dedicates $40 million to establish a new, sixth
armed service [sic] for space, which was $32 million less than
the administration's request. Even as Congress approved a sweeping
defense policy bill this week that re-designates Air Force Space
Command, it included language to prohibit any new billets, meaning
the organization must be built with existing forces." [Washington
Post,
12/19/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Included A 3.1% Federal Pay Raise, The Largest
In A Decade. According to Federal News Network, The bill "includes
a 3.1% federal pay raise, the largest in a decade for the civilian
workforce. Specifically, it includes a 2.6% across-the-board
increase in base pay with an additional 0.5% in locality
adjustments, for a total average of 3.1%." [Federal News Network,
12/19/19]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2020 Minibus Spending Bill That
Represented 8 Of The 12 Appropriations Bills, Which Repealed The ACA
Cadillac Tax And Raised The Tobacco Age Of Sale To 21. In December
2019, Fitzpatrick voted for the FY 2020 minibus appropriations bill.
According to Congressional Quarterly, the bill would "would provide
approximately $540 billion in discretionary funding for eight of the
twelve fiscal 2020 appropriations bills: Labor-HHS-Education,
Agriculture, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Legislative Branch,
Military Construction-VA, State-Foreign Operations, and
Transportation-HUD. It would provide $184.9 billion for the Labor,
Health and Human Services, and Education departments and related
agencies; $23.5 billion for the Agriculture Department and related
agencies; $48.3 billion for the Energy Department and federal water
projects; $36 billion for the Interior Department, Environmental
Protection Agency, and related agencies; $5 billion for legislative
branch operations; $110.4 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department,
military construction, and related agencies; $54.7 billion for the
State Department and related agencies; and $74.3 billion for the
Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments and related
agencies. It would also include a number of other legislative provisions
related to taxes, health care programs, and various federal program
extensions." The vote was a motion to concur in the Senate amendment.
The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 297-120. The Senate later
passed the bill and the President signed the bill into law. [House Vote
689, 12/17/19;
Congressional Quarterly,
12/17/19; Congressional
Actions,
H.R.1865]
Politico: Repealing The Cadillac Tax "All But Guts The Funding
Provisions" For The ACA. According to Politico, "Congress
preserved a moratorium on the 'Cadillac' tax until 2022 [...] The
move all but guts the funding provisions for the Affordable Care
Act, with the Cadillac tax repeal alone projected to cost nearly
$200 billion." [Politico,
12/16/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Raised The Age Of Sale For Tobacoo To 21,
Which Will Be Implemented Over The Three Years. According to
Reuters, the bill "[raised] the U.S. tobacco purchasing age to 21
[...] The crackdown on youth smoking, by changing the minimum age
for cigarette and other tobacco purchases to 21 from the current 18,
would give the U.S. food and Drug Administration six months to
develop regulations. The agency would then have three years to work
with states on implementing the change." [Reuters,
12/16/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Was The First Time In Over 20 Years That
Congress Had Appropriated Money For Gun Violence Research.
According to The Hill, "It's the first time in more than 20 years
that Congress has appropriated money for gun violence research
[...] Congress stopped funding gun violence research in 1996 after
an amendment passed blocking agencies from using federal funds to
advocate for gun control [...] While Democrats had tried for years
to end the amendment, they shifted their strategy this year, pushing
for $50 million in funding while leaving the amendment in place in
an attempt to allay concerns that the money could be used
inappropriately." [The Hill,
12/16/19]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For A Continuing Appropriations Bill To Fund
The Government Through December 20, 2020. In November 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted for a continuing appropriations bill, which would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide funding for federal
government operations and services through Dec. 20, 2019, at fiscal 2019
levels." The vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment. The
House agreed to the motion by a vote of 231-192. The bill was then
passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President. [House Vote
631, 11/19/19;
Congressional Quarterly,
11/19/19; Congressional
Actions,
H.R.3055]
The Bill Would Serve As A Stopgap Measure To Fund The Government
Until The 12 Annual Spending Bills Are Passed. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The temporary funding bill is designed to
give appropriators more time to decide how to divvy up $1.37
trillion in discretionary spending among the 12 annual spending
bills needed for the fiscal year that is already more than seven
weeks old. That task has been stymied mostly over funding for a wall
along the U.S. southern border." [Congressional Quarterly,
11/21/19]
The Stopgap Bill Increased Funding For The 2020 Census.
According to Congressional Quarterly, the continuing resolution
included "A provision allowing the Census Bureau to spend at a $7.3
billion annualized rate in order to ensure adequate funding for the
2020 decennial count. That includes $90 million for special mobile
questionnaire assistance centers to replace brick-and-mortar
locations, an effort that has run into skepticism from some
lawmakers as well as the bureau's external advisory board."
[Congressional Quarterly,
11/19/19]
The Stopgap Bill Provided Funding To Extend Numerous Programs
Until A Complete Budget Could Be Passed. According to
Congressional Quarterly, the continuing resolution included
"Provisions extending numerous expiring health care programs that
were temporarily renewed in the most recent stopgap law, such as
funding for community health centers and teaching hospitals, as well
other miscellaneous programs ranging from the higher education
reauthorization law to the Export-Import Bank." [Congressional
Quarterly, 11/19/19]
The Stopgap Bill Ensured A 3.1% Pay Raise For U.S. Troops To Take
Effect Jan. 1." According to Congressional Quarterly, "The stopgap
bill [...] also would specifically ensure a 3.1% pay increase for
U.S. troops that's supposed to take effect Jan. 1." [Congressional
Quarterly, 11/19/19]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For A Continuing Appropriations Bill To Fund
The Government Through November 21, 2020. In September 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted for a continuing appropriations bill, which would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide funding for federal
government operations and services through Nov. 21, 2019, at fiscal 2019
levels." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of
301-123. The bill was then passed by the Senate and signed into law by
the President. [House Vote 538,
9/19/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/19/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.4378]
The Bill Would Give Lawmakers More Time To Agree On FY 2020
Spending Bills. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The Senate
on Thursday cleared legislation to fund federal agencies through
Nov. 21, giving lawmakers and the White House more time to reach
agreement on the annual appropriations process." [Congressional
Quarterly,
9/26/19]
The Stopgap Bill Does Not Address Partisan Fighting Over
Immigration And Abortion Policies, Including Funding For The Border
Wall. According to Congressional Quarterly, "the short-term
funding, which Trump is expected to sign, does nothing to resolve
the partisan fights over funding levels, immigration and abortion
policies that have stalled spending bills for months. And the
increasingly bitter deadlock over funding for a wall along the
southern border still threatens to blow up the appropriations
process, as it did last year. [Congressional Quarterly,
9/27/19]
The Bill Was Delayed Several Days To Do Disagreements Over Payouts
For Farmers Affected By Presidennt Trump's Trade War With China.
Last-minute disagreements on the temporary spending bill largely
related to certain agriculture related payouts for tariff-affected
farmers and ranchers had delayed work on the bill for several days.
But lawmakers ultimately agreed on billions of dollars more to
support agricultural losses that were incurred as a result of
President Donald Trump's trade war with China and other countries.
[Congressional Quarterly,
9/19/19]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The FY 2020 Minibus Spending Bill That
Funded The Treasury Department, IRS, SEC, White House, And Other
Government Agencies. In June 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against the FY
2020 minibus appropriations bill, which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "provide $24.95 billion in discretionary
funding for the Treasury Department, the federal judiciary, the office
of the president, a number of executive agencies such as the Federal
Communications Commission, and other government operations. Among other
provisions, the bill would provide $12 billion for the Internal Revenue
Service, including $5.2 billion for enforcement activities and $2.6
billion for IRS taxpayer services. It would provide $7.9 billion for
the federal judiciary, $1.9 billion for the Securities and Exchange
Commission, $996 million for the Small Business Administration, $741
million in federal payments to the District of Columbia, and $178
million for the White House executive office of the president. It would
prohibit the use of funds made available by the bill for the IRS to
'target' any group for regulatory scrutiny based on ideological beliefs
or for the reorganization or transfer of any function or authority of
the Office of Personnel Management to another federal agency." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 224-196. The bill
was never taken up in the Senate. [House Vote 424,
6/26/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/26/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.3351]
The Bill Prevented The Trump Administration To Use Money From The
Treasury Forfeiture Fund To Build The Border Wall. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The White House has threatened to veto the
bill, calling it too expensive and objecting to Democratic
provisions blocking appropriated funds from being used to build a
wall on the U.S.-Mexican border. The bill would appropriate $355
million more than the White House budget requested, and $1.4
billion more than enacted in fiscal 2019. The bill would prevent the
administration from using money from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund to
build a wall along the southern border." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/26/19]
The Bill Blocked The Implementation Of The SEC's Regulation Best
Interest, Which Customer Advocates Have Rebuked. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The measure included amendments offered by
House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif.,
regarding Securities and Exchange Commission policies. One Waters'
amendment would keep the SEC from implementing its new Regulation
Best Interest, which sets a code of conduct for investment advisers'
and broker-dealers' communications with customers. Consumer
advocates have decried Reg BI, saying it does more harm than good by
setting a behavior standard based on disclosing conflicts of
interests to clients rather than forcing advisers to act in the
clients' best interests, as fiduciaries." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/26/19]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The FY 2020 Minibus Spending Bill That
Represented 4 Of The 12 Appropriations Bills, Which, Amongst Other
Provisions, Blocked A Question On Citizenship In The 2020 Census. In
June 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against the FY 2020 minibus appropriations
bill, which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide
$321.9 billion in discretionary spending for five of the 12 fiscal 2020
appropriations bills, including $73.9 billion for the Commerce and
Justice departments and science and related agencies, $24.3 billion for
the Agriculture Department and related agencies, $39.5 billion for the
Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency, and related
agencies, $108.4 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department, military
construction, and related agencies, and $75.8 billion for the
Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments and related
agencies. It would also provide $61 billion in obligations from highway
and aviation trust funds for associated Transportation Department
programs." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 227-194. [House Vote 408,
6/25/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/25/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.3055]
The FY 2020 Minibus Prohibited The Justice Department From Arguing
That The ACA Is Unconstitutional. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "the House adopted an amendment to stop the Justice
Department from using funds to argue in court that the Obama
administration's health care law is unconstitutional or invalid."
[Congressional Quarterly,
6/25/19]
Democrats Blocked A Republican Amendment In The FY 2020 Minibus
That Would Allow A Question On Citizenship In The 2020 Census.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "House Democrats backed a ban
on a citizenship question in the 2020 census Tuesday, as the
Oversight and Reform Committee released new details from its probe
into the Trump administration's decision to include the question
[...] Democrats have opposed the citizenship question, arguing it
will depress noncitizen response rates and is intended to help
Republicans in post 2020 redistricting." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/25/19]
Democrats Blocked A Republican Amendment In The FY 2020 Minibus
That Would Have Thwarted The Implementation Of The Clean Power
Plan. According to Congressional Quarterly, "the House rejected a
Republican amendment that would have prohibited the EPA from
enforcing the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan, which aimed
to cut carbon emissions. But the EPA last week finalized a more
lenient replacement, which they've dubbed the Affordable Clean
Energy rule, which sets no limits on power plant emissions and seeks
to prop up the struggling coal industry." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/25/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Included Amendments To Provide Additional
Funding For Preventing Homelessness. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The House adopted three amendments that would boost
funds to prevent homelessness [...] one [...] would move $1
million from the HUD executive office budget to pay for transitional
housing. Another amendment [...] would move $5 million from the
$521.5 million administrative support budget to boost a homeless
assistance grant program." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/24/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Included Provisions To Curb Activities By
Secretary Elaine's Chao To Use Her Position For Private Gain.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The house adopted an
amendment [...] that would forbid federal funds from being used to
break a federal ethics rule against using public office for private
gain. The amendment is aimed at [Secretary Elaine] Chao, who has
been accused of using public appearances as Transportation secretary
to help her family's international shipping company."
[Congressional Quarterly,
6/24/19]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The FY 2020 Minibus Spending Bill That
Represented 4 Of The 12 Appropriations Bills, Which Would Increase
Domestic Funding And Block Monet For A Border Wall. In June 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted against the FY 2020 minibus appropriations bill, which
would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide $984.7 billion in
discretionary spending for four of the twelve fiscal 2020 appropriations
bills, including $690.2 billion for the Defense Department, $191.7
billion for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
Departments, $56.4 billion for the State Department and related
agencies, and $46.4 billion for the Energy Department and federal water
projects. Within total funding, the bill provides $76.1 billion in
overseas contingency operations funding not subject to discretionary
spending caps." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 226-203. The bill was never taken up in the Senate. [House Vote
367, 6/19/19;
Congressional Quarterly,
6/19/19; Congressional Actions,
H.R.2740]
Congressional Quarterly: While The Defense Bill "Typically
Receives Bipartisan Support," All House Republicans Voted Against
The Minibus Despite The $690.2 Billion Appropriated For Defense
Spending. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The display of
party unity by Republicans was striking, particularly given
inclusion of the Defense bill which typically enjoys broad support
on that side of the aisle. The version written by Democrats clocks
in at a robust $690.2 billion, just 1 percent below levels sought
by the Pentagon for fiscal 2020." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/19/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Would Increase Spending By 6.9 Percent More
Than The Trump Administration's Request. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The measure would spend 6.9 percent more
than President Donald Trump requested for the coming fiscal year,
amounting to a $63.4 billion increase. It would exceed this year's
enacted spending levels by $31.5 billion, according to a Statement
of Administration Policy." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/19/19]
The FY 2020 Blocked Pentagon Funding For A Wall On The Southern
Border. According to Defense News, "the White House has threatened
that President Donald Trump would veto the massive bill. Beyond the
above provisions and others, the administration strongly objected to
language meant to block Pentagon funds being applied to a wall on
the southern border." [Defense News,
6/19/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Included An Amendment To Block The Trump
Administration's Ban On Transgender People Serving In The
Military. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The House adopted
an amendment blocking the Pentagon from enforcing Trump's ban on
transgender people from serving openly in the military. The
provision, authored by Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., is sure to be
contested in the Republican-controlled Senate whenever compromise
legislation is considered." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/19/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Prohibited The State Department From Spending
Money At Hotels And Golf Resorts Affiliated With The Trump
Organization, Which Cost Taxpayers $80,000 Since 2017. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "House Democrats offered another rebuke
to Trump [...] by voting to block the State Department from
spending taxpayers' money at his domestic and overseas golf clubs
and hotels. The House voted 231-187 to adopt an amendment that would
prohibit the department from spending funds at any of the Trump
Organization's hundreds of hotels, golf resorts and other
properties [...] The department since 2017 has paid nearly
$80,000 to properties owned, managed or branded by the president's
private company, The Trump Organization, according to data tabulated
by the investigative news site ProPublica. The tab for American
taxpayers includes a nearly $11,000 payment to the president's golf
club in Doonbeg, Ireland. ProPublica said it was not clear when that
specific payment was made." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/19/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Blocked The U.S. From Providing Discounts To
Saudi Arabia On The Purchase Of U.S. Weapons Systems. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-Va., won
passage of an amendment he sponsored that would block Saudi Arabia
from receiving discounts on the purchase of U.S. weapons systems by
tapping International Military and Education Training funds.
Lawmakers have expressed concern about Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen
and the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi."
[Congressional Quarterly,
6/19/19]
The FY 2020 Minibus Blocked A Trump Administration Rule That
Allowed The Sale Of Short-Term Health Insurance Plans That Don't
Comply With The ACA. According to Congressional Quarterly, "the
House adopted bill language blocking the administration from
enforcing a rule that allows the sale of short-term health insurance
plans that don't comply with all requirements of the 2010 health
care overhaul. Republicans have offered such plans to help lower
costs, but Democrats have criticized them as "junk insurance" that
don't provide needed coverage." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/19/19]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment To The FY 2020 Minibus
That Would Have Cut Discretionary Funding By 14 Percent For Labor,
Health and Human Services, And Education. In June 2019, Fitzpatrick
voted against a bill that would, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"decrease by 14 percent all discretionary funding made available under
the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Title of the bill."
The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The House rejected the
amendment by a vote of 150-273. [House Vote 289,
6/13/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/13/19;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
306;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2740]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For The Bipartisan Budget Act. In July 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted for the Bipartisan Budget Act. According to
Congressional Quarterly, the vote would "establish enforceable budget
levels in the House and Senate for fiscal 2020 and 2021 and suspend the
public debt limit through July 31, 2021. It would increase discretionary
budget caps for defense and non-defense spending, and would provide a
total of $1.37 trillion for fiscal 2020 and $1.38 trillion for fiscal
2021 in discretionary budget authority, including for overseas
contingency operations." The vote was on passage. The House passed the
bill by a vote of 284-149. [House Vote 511,
7/25/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/25/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.3877]
The Budget Bill Lifted Spending Caps From The 2013 Budget Control
Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The latest deal signed
by Trump (HR 3877) lifts the last of the law's old caps, governing
discretionary spending levels for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. That
deal, which provided an extra $324 billion over two years, means
that policymakers will have erased nearly all of the additional
automatic cuts to agency budgets that took effect in early 2013,
according to a CQ Roll Call analysis." [Congressional Quarterly,
8/5/19]
The Budget Bill Could Add $1.7 Trillion To The Deficit In The
Next Decade. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The new budget
deal could add another $1.7 trillion to deficits in the coming
decade, since lawmakers are unlikely to return to lower spending
limits, according to an estimate from the Committee for a
Responsible Federal Budget, an independent watchdog. That projection
comes despite a warning from the Congressional Budget Office that
the U.S. was already headed for record debt, which "poses
substantial risks for the nation and presents policymakers with
significant challenges[...]in what amounts to a silver lining, the
CQ Roll Call analysis also found that deficits are much lower since
2011 than the law had projected at the time, despite the lifting of
spending caps. The law was projected to cut $2.1 trillion from
deficits over 10 years." [Congressional Quarterly,
8/5/19]
The Bill Increased The Defense Cap For FY 2020 By $90 Billion.
According to CSIS, "The deal increases the defense cap for FY 2020
by approximately $90 billion above the previous cap of $576
billion and raises the FY 2021 budget cap of $590 billion by
approximately $81 billion. BBA 2019 also specifies the funding
levels for the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account for FY
2020 and FY 2021. The original purpose of OCO was to fund the
incremental costs of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; however,
due to its exemption from the budget caps under the BCA, the account
has been used as a loophole to supplement funding for normal base
budget defense activities and, to a lesser extent, nondefense State
Department activities. The bill provides $71.5 billion in OCO for
FY 2020 and $69 billion for FY 2021, bringing total national
defense discretionary spending (050) to $738 billion and $740.5
billion, respectively." [CSIS,
8/5/19]
The Bill's Republican Proponents Pointed To The Increase In
Defense Spending. According to Politico, "The bill's proponents on
the Republican side have been touting the increase in defense
spending as worth the compromise with Democrats over domestic
spending." [Politico,
8/1/19]