Inside (the Beltway) Scoop

By: Ellen Kuo
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Biden Signs Continuing Resolution Through December 16

On the final day of the fiscal year (FY) 2022,  President Joe Biden signed into law H.R. 6833, the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023. This continuing resolution (CR) will temporarily extend FY 2022 spending levels until December 16. A summary of the bill is here. A one-page factsheet on the bill is here. The CR provides additional time for Congress to agree on FY 2023 funding levels. 

FASEB sent a letter to appropriators urging them to complete the FY 2023 spending bills and reiterated the need for robust funding for the National Institutes of Health of at least $50 billion and the National Science Foundation of at least $11 billion. A democratic push to continue to seek additional money for COVID-19 did not make it into the CR. However, a fall surge is expected based on the dynamics of waning natural and vaccine-induced immunity, according to a report. COVID funding is another legislative item FASEB believes is important for the country based on our letter in the spring to Congress calling for $10 billion for COVID to maintain the nation’s preparedness as the pandemic continues. 

Meanwhile, the Senate adjourned on October 7 in observance of Yom Kippur and reconvened on October 11. According to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Senate will consider the 2023 National Defense Reauthorization Act upon its return from the holiday. Senators expressed anxiety about returning after the break since many would rather remain on the campaign trail as they seek re-election. Therefore, instead of all the senators returning, the chair and ranking member of Armed Services returned to offer a substitute amendment to the House-passed defense authorization bill. With a filed substitute, senators will return in November to finalize this bill. The House is scheduled to return on November 14 for votes. 

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