House Appropriators Unveil Three-Month CR, Extends Ex-Im Bank Through June
Republican leadership on the House Appropriations Committee released on Sept. 9 a stopgap funding measure to allow the federal government to continue to operate at current levels for three months, as Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year, approaches and lawmakers only have a few working days left before that date. The draft bill provides some additional measures, including an extension of the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank charter through June 30, 2015. The House Rules Committee will hold on Sept. 10 a hearing on the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015, H.J. Res. 124 (here), and the bill could come to the House floor later this week.
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Following the chamber's consideration of the legislation, the Senate will then have to approve the measure and President Barack Obama will have to sign it in order to avoid a government shutdown. "This bill is free of controversial riders, maintains current levels, and does not seek to change existing federal policies," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers in a statement (here), referring to additional provisions tacked onto legislation.
The Ex-Im extension, however, comes in the wake of months of conflict over the credit agency's reauthorization. House Democratic leaders urged a long-term extension of the bank during a Sept. 9 press conference, hours prior to the bill's release (here). “I want at least a seven-year extender on the Ex-Im Bank,” said Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., the vice chair of the Democratic caucus. “I’d like to see it in the CR to take this issue off the agenda.” Chair of the House Democratic caucus Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., said Democrats are likely to support a clean resolution.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House John Boehner reportedly said on Sept. 9 House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, is willing to support a short-term extension of the Export-Import Bank. Hensarling has been one of the bank's harshest critics on Capitol Hill, and Boehner has deferred to him on reauthorization. "[Hensarling] thinks that a temporary extension of the Export-Import Bank is in order," Boehner said, according to a number of outlets (here). A House Financial Services spokesman did not respond for comment. Leading conservative organizations in recent days warned lawmakers against supporting any extension of the bank's charter (see 14090820).