Mr. Harkin — who chairs a subcommittee that oversees health, labor and education spending — said lawmakers have almost completed the spending measure, which will appropriate the $1.01 trillion top-line budget approved by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama last month. The budget provides $63 billion in sequestration relief — split evenly between defense and nondefense programs — by increasing discretionary spending limits in FY 2014 and 2015.
Republicans have advocated for eliminating all discretionary funding for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the bill, although they have indicated they want to avoid another government shutdown because of the controversial issue, according to the report. This past October, the government shut down for the first time in 17 years after House Republicans and the Senate failed to complete a budget, largely because of GOP demands to defund, alter or delay portions of the PPACA.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) were due to meet yesterday to ensure the bill is on track for completion, according to the report.
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