THE DAILY WHIP: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2016

H.Res. 783 – Rule providing for consideration of amendments to H.R. 5293 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (Rep. Frelinghuysen – Appropriations)(One hour of debate).  The Rule provides for consideration of seventy-five amendments, each debatable for 10 minutes, equally controlled by the proponent and opponent of the amendment.  The Rule allows one motion to recommit, with or without instructions, and waives all points of order against the legislation.

The Rule also provides the authority to offer amendments en bloc, consisting of amendments not previously considered. All en bloc amendments are debatable for 20 minutes equally divided between a proponent and opponent.

In addition, the Rule also allows for Suspension Authority through the legislative day of June 16, 2016.

The Rules Committee rejected a motion by Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts to provide appropriate waivers for the amendment offered by Rep. Sean Maloney of New York, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, Rep. Peters of California, and Rep. Hanna of New York which prohibits the use of funds from being used to contravene the President’s Executive Order pertaining to equal employment in Federal government contracting.  The Rules Committee also rejected a motion by Mr. Hastings to make in order every amendment that would have otherwise been in order under an open Rule.  Members are urged to VOTE NO.

Continue Consideration of H.R. 5293 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (Rep. Frelinghuysen – Appropriations).  H.R. 5293 appropriates $517.1 billion in FY 2017 base discretionary budget authority for the Department of Defense – plus an additional $58.6 billion in discretionary budget authority designated for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO).

House Republicans added $15.7 billion to the Administration’s base, non-war funding request and used the OCO ("emergency war funding") designation to exempt this spending from the defense portion of the discretionary budget cap agreed to in last fall's Bipartisan Budget Act.  The total funding level would meet the President’s request of $576 billion, including the $58.6 billion designated OCO, and likewise conforms with the BCA firewall cap.  However, unlike the President's request, it uses $15.7 billion of the OCO-designated funding amount to pay for non-emergency base budget funding needs. In doing so, the bill underfunds expected warfighting costs and does not provide funding to pay for salaries or provide mission support for men and women serving abroad past the end of April 2017.  This funding cliff will force a new president to submit a request for emergency supplemental funding within weeks of being sworn into office. 

The measure includes a military pay raise of 2.1% (0.5% above the President’s request) and does not block the Administration’s request for a 1.6% raise to DOD civilian employees.  Also, the bill continues provisions prohibiting the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the U.S or closure of the facility. It also includes funding for sexual assault prevention and response programs in the military and suicide prevention and outreach programs.

Lastly, despite repeated promises of openness and transparency, House Republicans are reversing course and bringing H.R. 5293 to the Floor under a structured rule to avoid votes on tough issues, after their Members voted down their Energy and Water appropriations bill because it banned discrimination against LGBT Americans.  Just two weeks ago House Republicans brought H.R. 5055 – Energy and Water Appropriations, 2017 to the Floor, only to have less than 1/3 of the House vote in favor.  That vote can be found here.  Instead of having to vote again on this issue and show the American people where they stand, Speaker Ryan has chosen to shut down the process.

In the Statement of Administration Policy, the President’s senior advisors stated that they would recommend he veto this bill. 

The Rule provides for no further general debate and makes in order seventy-five amendments.  The full list of amendments made in order can be found HERE.

Bill Text for H.R. 5293:
PDF Version

Background for H.R. 5293:
House Report (HTML Version)
House Report (PDF Version)

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Thursday, June 16: The House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to complete consideration of H.R. 5293 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (Rep. Frelinghuysen – Appropriations). The House is also expected to consider H.R.      – Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act (Rep. McCaul – Homeland Security) – under suspension of the Rules.