Senate Faces July 19 Deadline on House-Passed $9.4 Billion Rescissions Package

Washington D.C. – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) intensified calls today for the Senate to swiftly approve a House-passed rescissions package, urging his colleagues to act before a critical July 19 deadline. The legislation, which seeks to cancel $9.4 billion in previously appropriated federal funds, cleared the House of Representatives last month and now awaits a vote in the upper chamber.

The proposed rescissions primarily target $8.3 billion from various foreign aid programs and $1.1 billion allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports entities like NPR and PBS. Proponents argue these cuts are essential to reduce what they deem wasteful spending and to align federal expenditures with fiscal conservative principles.

The House passed the measure on June 12 with a narrow vote of 214-212, sending it to the Senate. Under the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, Congress has 45 days to act on a presidential rescission request. If the Senate fails to approve the package by July 19, the administration will be legally required to release the withheld funds.

Senator Lee, a vocal advocate for reining in federal spending, emphasized the urgency of the matter. "It’s time for the Senate to pass the House-passed rescissions package," he stated in a recent tweet, underscoring the need for legislative action. His push comes amidst broader debates over federal budget priorities and the ongoing efforts to control government outlays.

The package has faced significant opposition from Democrats, who view it as an attack on critical programs. Some Republicans have also expressed reservations; Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), for instance, has voiced concerns over proposed cuts to programs like PEPFAR, a global HIV/AIDS initiative, which are part of the larger foreign aid reductions. The vote on this package is seen as a key indicator of the Senate's willingness to pursue aggressive spending cuts ahead of the next fiscal year.