Cramer: Omnibus Spending Bill Approved in House of Representatives

Statement

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today Congressman Kevin Cramer voted with a bipartisan majority of 359 to 67 in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the omnibus spending bill for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill sets total discretionary spending at $21 billion below the Fiscal Year 2013 level, marking the first time spending has been cut four years in a row since the Korean War.

Cramer said the bill contains a number of priorities important to North Dakota including protections for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) fleet in Minot, increased hiring flexibility for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), protections for ranchers from EPA regulations, and Army Corps feasibility funds for Red River flood control.

"While it does not accomplish every goal, this bill continues to address runaway federal spending by adding a fourth consecutive year of spending reductions for the first time since the Korean War. I am pleased it includes my amendment from the House appropriations bill supporting the ICBM fleet in Minot, and many protections for North Dakota ranchers exercising great stewardship of federal lands. It cuts spending significantly in large agencies including the IRS and the EPA in order to focus on supporting national priorities including job creation, veterans benefits, and defense. Most importantly, it begins to restore regular order in Congress by returning to a budgeting process which allows for a more open debate on spending priorities," Cramer said.

Agriculture

Funding for rural development programs is increased by $180 million. $2.6 billion is included for research in crop disease, invasive species, and herbicide resistance, along with continuing investments in land-grant universities.

Defense

Includes a Cramer amendment from the House defense appropriations bill passed in July prohibiting the Obama Administration from going forward with an environmental impact study on deconstructing ICBMs, the first step toward reducing or eliminating the fleet. The bill also prevents the Air Force from retiring the Global Hawk Block 30, in the same aircraft family as the Global Hawk Block 20s and 40s employed in Grand Forks.

Savings resulting from the privatization of military family housing allow for a spending reduction of $133 million on the construction, operation, and maintenance of military family housing.

Healthcare

Provides no new funding for Obamacare, and reduces its "slush" fund by $1 billion. Increases medical research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $1 billion over the 2013 level.

Homeland Security

Includes an amendment from the House passed appropriations bill preventing flood insurance rate increases for one year as a result of remapping under the 2012 Biggert-Waters Act, and requires FEMA to brief House and Senate Committees on the steps it is taking to address drastic flood insurance premium increases affecting policyholders.

The bill also continues to prohibit the study or collection of a border fee at all land crossings including those shared with Canada. After urging Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to reconsider the proposal in April 2013, Cramer was thanked by Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer for his strong stand in opposition to the fee.

Ensures the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) will retain responsibility for monitoring passenger exit points from sterile areas at airports already staffed by the TSA as of December 1, 2013, relieving major North Dakota airports of this additional staffing burden. At the same time, the bill cuts $200 million from the TSA budget and increases privatized airport screening activities by $5 million to find long-term savings.

Overall, the bill reduces the Department of Homeland Security budget by $376 million compared to 2013, including a $42.8 million cut in administrative overhead costs and the denial of construction funding for three new headquarters buildings.

Interior and Environment

Provides for higher rates of pay for petroleum engineers and technicians to encourage hiring at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and increase permit processing capability. Cramer has stressed the importance of increased hiring flexibility since his meeting with employees at the BLM Field Office in Dickinson last October.

Provisions supporting livestock producers include an exemption from EPA greenhouse gas regulations mandating the reporting of emissions from manure management systems and a prohibition on $6.5 million in new grazing fees proposed by the Obama Administration and the U.S. Senate. The bill also continues to make it easier for ranchers to renew their grazing permits on public lands and challenge any resulting decision from the BLM.

Reduces overall funding of the EPA by $143 million from 2013 levels. Since 2010, EPA funding has been reduced by $2.1 billion and its number of full time employees is at the lowest level since 1989.

Provides $69 million in grants from the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) to allow states to implement their own programs without increasing fees on the mining industry, and allows the Secretary of the Interior to conduct online oil and gas leasing. Additionally, the bill provides funding for local drinking water and sewer construction projects and technical assistance to rural and urban communities to ensure or improve water quality.

IRS

The IRS will see funding reduced $526 million from the previous year, bringing the agency back to 2009 spending levels. The bill also addresses the recent scandal at the agency by expressly prohibiting the targeting of groups or individuals for regulatory scrutiny based on their beliefs.

Justice

Increases funding for the FBI by $232 million to provide for the hiring of additional agents, meet increased demand for National Instant Criminal Background Checks, and address terrorism and cyber intrusion.

Nutrition Assistance

Increases funding for elderly nutrition programs including Meals on Wheels by $41 million, and fully funds child nutrition programs, Women, Infants, Children (WIC), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Reduces waste, fraud, and abuse in the SNAP program by banning food vendors engaged in fraud, and prohibiting advertisements or outreach with foreign governments.

Veterans

Reinforces an exemption to ensure disabled military veterans will not be affected by future adjustments to retired pay for veterans under the age of 62 in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. Addresses the backlog in disability claims processing at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by funding overtime pay, IT upgrades, and the board of Veterans' Appeals. Provides $323 million to continue the development of a seamless electronic transfer of medical information between the Department of Defense and the VA.

Water

Continues $433,000 for feasibility studies on the Red River of the North and adds $4 million for Garrison Dam construction funding relating to rehabilitation efforts at the hydro power plant.

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