Congress Grapples With Continued Delays Over Funding Bill

Policy Department, AIDS United 

Friday, September 16, 2016 

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Congress has until September 30th, the end of the fiscal year, to wrap up its Fiscal Year 2017 (FY 17) funding priorities. Despite early progress on a stopgap funding measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), talks have begun to stagnate. Given that we are at the edge of an election season, with control of the White House and Senate in the balance, lawmakers—particularly Republicans—are unlikely to allow a government shutdown to occur. The majority of members from both major parties and chambers of Congress will be pushing for a short term continuing resolution (CR) that runs through December 9th, with the conservative Freedom Caucus campaigning for a longer term CR extending through March 2017. A CR into March would postpone critical investments that Congress is duty bound to make for numerous federal programs Level funding would negatively impact vulnerable populations and the programs that serve them. For example, the Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) program recently underwent a funding formula modernization and needs an additional $21 million to adequately meet the housing needs for people living with HIV. Under a CR, this additional funding isn’t possible.

With general agreement on the timeframe a CR might cover, members are grappling with the usual arguments regarding divisive policy riders. Disputes over ideological issues such funding for organizations combating Zika in Puerto Rico that have been linked to Planned Parenthood and permit waivers for pesticides continue to be central issues surrounding the holdup. As the time runs short and delays build, more issues are being added to the docket. On Tuesday night the Obama Administration asked that an emergency funding request be passed, providing $2.6 million in relief for flood victims in Louisiana by providing funds for four housing and infrastructure Community Development Block Grants.

Despite the delays, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn remains confident that the Senate could complete its funding bill by the end of next week, with some senators expressing belief that compromises could be reached over the weekend. The Senate’s first vote on their proposed CR is expected to take place on Monday evening. In the House, the 2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5325) has passed and will be moved to the Senate for a cloture. The 2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill has been described as a vehicle for reaching an agreement on the CR. When Congress reconvenes after the election, they are expected to pass long term funding measures through a series grouped appropriations bills known as minibuses.

As HIV advocates we urge you to take action and join us in telling congress to do their jobs, pass a short term CR with no divisive policy riders. When Congress returns for the lame-duck session we will be demanding they:

•   Restore proposed cuts, including cuts that would eliminate the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS), the Title X Family Planning Program and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, while also reducing funding to Ryan White Part C, the HHS Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative Fund (SMAIF), and the STD Prevention Program.

•   Expand resources for the recently updated Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs, so that no person living with HIV who receives support will lose access to safe, affordable housing.

•   Eliminate funding for the abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) grant program, aka “sexual risk avoidance,” as they fail to educate young people about their sexual health.

•   Increase funding for domestic HIV programs.

•   Oppose any ideological riders being part of any final spending package

Through the above actions-- the restoration of proposed cuts, maintaining of vital programs, bolstering of effective programs like HOPWA and adherence to a commitment to evidence based interventions we can and will make meaningful progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and for healthier communities. 

For questions please reach out to Director of Government Affairs, Carl Baloney at cbaloney@aidsunited.org 

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