Two House Appropriations subcommittees on Thursday passed spending bills that defy President Trump’s requests to slash spending on agriculture, transportation and housing.
The subcommittees on agriculture and on transportation and housing and urban development each advanced their respective bills to the full committee, which is expected to take them up after the Memorial Day recess.
The $24.3 billion agriculture bill rejected Trump’s request to cut the Department of Agriculture budget by nearly 15 percent.
Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) said the bill rejects Trump’s “misguided budget and instead invests in important initiatives for the people.”
{mosads}“The bill would reduce hunger at home and abroad, support rural development and our farmers, and ensure the FDA is properly funded to meet the growing needs of regulating our food, medicines, and more,” she added.
The $137.1 billion bill for transportation and housing and urban development came out $17.3 billion above the president’s budget request.
Rep. David Price (D-N.C.), who chairs the transportation subcommittee, said the bill “makes forward-looking investments in our housing and transportation infrastructure, while ensuring concerted attention to safety, the needs of the most vulnerable, and resilience.”
Republicans on the Appropriations Committee raised concerns that the bills nix conservative policy provisions, as well as issues with overall spending levels.
“I am concerned about the overall funding level and that an important pro-life provision was removed from the bill,” said Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), the committee’s ranking member.
Thursday’s bills mark the ninth and 10th spending bills to pass through Appropriations subcommittees this year. Eight have already cleared the full committee. Democrats hope to complete all 12 bills next month.
The Senate, however, has stalled on appropriations, with Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) saying he is waiting for Democrats, Republicans and the White House to strike a deal setting new spending levels.
A deal seemed close on Tuesday, but chances of an agreement fell as the sides dug in over domestic spending.