Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017
Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017
Long title
An Act to Making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes.
In November 2016, shortly after the 2016 presidential election, the incoming Trump administration advocated for a second continuing resolution funding the government only until the end of March, to allow the incoming administration influence over the 2017 budget. The House Republican leadership acceded to this plan, although some lawmakers expressed concern that delaying the final appropriations legislation would distract Congress from other priorities during the beginning of Trump's administration.[5]
The text was again stricken and replaced with the continuing resolution on December 8, 2016, where it was passed 326–96.[1] The United States Senate passed the legislation the following day 63-36 just an hour before the midnight deadline, averting a potential government shutdown.[7][8] The passage of the bill in the Senate was delayed after Democrats objected to the fact that an extension of health benefits for retired miners would not last until the end of the year, but a compromise was made to take up the matter in January.[9]
The bill includes $170 million for drinking water safety grants and a lead exposure registry in order to address the Flint water crisis, and a $4.1 billion flood relief package including community rebuilding grants, storm damage prevention programs, and repair of damaged highways. Also, the bill funds the 21st Century Cures Act with $872 million toward medical research, Food and Drug Administration reforms, and state grants to address the opioid epidemic.[1]
It contains a provision making it easier for the incoming 115th Congress to temporarily reduce the amount of time after retirement a general must spend to be appointed Secretary of Defense, indirectly allowing James Mattis to assume office in 2017.[10]