Shutdown Bill-H.R. 2775 - Senate Amendment: Senate Amendment to H.R. 2775, Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 - Legislative Digest - GOP.gov

The Senate amendment to H.R. 2775 maintains current funding levels of $986.3 billion for the five appropriations bills and the continuing resolution contained in the Senate amendment to H.R. 933 and extends both to January 15, 2014.  According to the House Committee on Appropriations, the amendment would address the following specific issues.  (Provisions in italics are new anomalies added in the pending Senate amendment.  Everything else has been voted on in previous CRs).

Sec. 115 – Ensures furloughed employees are compensated and ratifies obligations made during the shutdown similar to language used in past shutdowns

Sec. 116 – Compensates States and other Federal grantees for carrying out Federal programs or paying Federally-funded State employees

Sec.117 - Clarifies that spending under the Pay Our Military Act is charged to the applicable appropriation.

Sec. 118 – Provides that the effective date for this joint resolution is October 1, 2013

Sec. 119 – Continues restrictions and reporting requirements on federal employee training conferences and conventions (section 3003 of division G of PL 113-6)

Sec. 120 – Extends the authorization for section 408 of the Food for Peace Act

Sec. 121 – Provides apportionment authority for weather satellite programs

Sec. 122 – Extends authority for activities to counter Lord’s Resistance Army and non-conventional assisted recovery

Sec. 123 – Extends authorization for construction of Olmsted Locks and Dams included within the President’s FY 14 budget request, FY 14 House-passed and Senate-reported Energy and Water Appropriations bills and similar to language included in the Water Resources Development Act

Sec. 124 – Extends authority for the Appalachian Regional Commission

Sec. 125 –Provides a rate of operations for Judicial Services that includes an increase of $25 million to provide funding for court and probation operations

Sec. 126 – Provides a rate for operations of $1,012,000,000 for Judiciary, Defender Services (a $26 million increase) to address shortfalls in Federal Public Defender Offices  

Sec. 127 – Authorizes use of DC local funds for entire year

Sec. 128 – Extends the Universal Service Fund exemption to the Anti-Deficiency Act through life of CR

Sec. 129 – Provision deleted. Provides an increase in the rate of operations of $1.7 million for the Office of Special Counsel because of a backlog in whistleblower cases.

Sec. 130 - Provides an increase in the rate of operations of $2.2 million for the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which is in the initial phases of operation

Sec. 131- Extends authority for the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program

Sec. 132 - Extends authority for the Secret Service to apply proceeds from undercover investigations

Sec. 133 – Extends authority for “other transaction” contracting agreements for the Department of Homeland Security

Sec. 134 – Sustains CBP staffing and border security operations and ICE staffing and immigration enforcement functions, including the most recent modification to include air and marine activities

Sec. 135 –Extends authorization for recreation fees for one year for BLM, NPS, USFWS, Forest Service and Bureau of Reclamation

Sec. 136 – Provides an additional $36 million for Department of the Interior firefighting

Sec. 137 – Provides an additional $600 million for Forest Service firefighting

Sec. 138 – Extends stewardship contracting authority for the Forest Service

Sec. 139 – Extends authorization extension allowing the Eisenhower Commission to hold on to the site for the memorial added by the Senate, plus language prohibiting the Commission from construction added by the House

Sec. 140 – Provides funds for the continuation of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program

Sec. 141 – Provides the Mine Safety and Health Administration with discretionary authority to retain fees

Sec. 142 – Clarifies the LIHEAP formula for the distribution of funds to states to ensure funds are allocated consistent with previous years

Sec. 143 – Provides flexibility in the obligation rate for the Refugee and Entrant Assistance account

Sec. 144 – Provides transfer authority to permit continuation of funding for research and for salaries and expenses of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency that carries out these activities

Sec. 145 – Extends for 2 years authority for teachers working under alternative routes to certification to be considered highly qualified for purposes of complying with federal law

Sec. 146 – Provides a gratuity of $174,000 for the widow of Senator Lautenberg

Sec. 147 – Prohibits COLA for Members of Congress for FY 2014

Sec. 148 – Increases the appropriation for General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration to $2,455,490,000 (a $294 million increase) to adequately fund disability claims processing

Sec. 149 – Extends the authorization of HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration           program (carried in the FY 2012 THUD Act)

Sec. 150 – Sets an annual rate for Federal Aviation Administration $97 million higher than current rate to ensure FAA remains fully operational

Sec. 151 – Pushes back deadline requiring Washington Metropolitan Transit Administration to provide full wireless reception throughout underground system for life of CR

Sec. 152 – Increases rate of operation for MARAD’s Maritime Security Program for US Flagged ships to $186 million, an increase of $12 million

Sec. 153-155 – Extends authority for war risk insurance for civil/commercial aviation for the life of the CR

Sec. 156 – Raises ceiling on Highway Emergency Response Funds in the Sandy Supplemental for Colorado as a result of the recent floods

Sec. 158 –Requires DHS to submit a report/expenditure plan to HSGAC and the House Homeland Security Committee 14 days after the report is submitted to the Appropriations committees

NOTE:  The resolution stops an FY 2013 provision from carrying forward that allowed planting and harvesting of genetically altered crops to proceed during pendency of a court case.

The amendment requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify to Congress that the Exchanges authorized under Obamacare verify income eligibility prior to making premium subsidies and cost sharing reductions available and to report to Congress on the procedures employed to verify such information. The amendment also requires the Inspector General to submit a report to Congress on the effectiveness of the procedures.

Finally, the Senate amendment suspends the debt limit through February 7, 2014 upon the President’s request and continues to allow the Secretary of Treasury to employ extraordinary measures. The suspension is effective upon receipt of a written certification submitted within three days by the President that the Secretary of Treasury will be unable to issue debt to meet commitments. The Senate amendment authorizes an expedited process for Congress to vote on a joint resolution of disapproval of the debt limit suspension within 22 days of receiving the President’s certification. 

http://www.gop.gov/bill/113/1/hr2775-senateamendment