Hoeven: Congress Passes Omnibus Appropriations Legislation for 2015

Press Release

Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Senate and House have passed an omnibus appropriations bill, a bipartisan measure that will fund the U.S. federal government through September of 2015. The House of Representatives passed the measure by a vote of 219 to 206, with 162 Republicans and 57 Democrats voting for the bill. The Senate vote was 54 to 40.

"It's important that we passed this bill to keep the government funded," Hoeven said. "It actually reduces spending, which is very important to reduce the deficit and the debt, but at the same time, funds important priorities, like agriculture and aviation, as well as defense, to keep our military strong, and law enforcement. Importantly, too, we begin to reduce regulatory overreach by directing the EPA to withdraw the interpretive rule for the Waters of the U.S., which is a step toward rescinding the entire rule."

The total discretionary spending level for Fiscal Year 2015 is consistent with the level provided in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. It reduces spending compared to FY 2014 from just over $1.1 trillion to under $1.1 trillion, and by almost $400 billion below 2009 levels, from $1.5 trillion to $1.1 trillion.

The legislation funds all federal agencies for Fiscal Year 2015 except for the Department of Homeland Security, which is funded only through February 27, 2015. That will give lawmakers in the new Congress time to address President Obama's executive action on immigration and work to strengthen border security.

Priorities that Senator Hoeven pushed for North Dakota include measures to bolster America's military strength and support veterans services; strengthen law enforcement in western North Dakota and on tribal lands; advance aviation; and support our farmers and ranchers.

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