Jim Nussle: “I rise to speak on H.R. 220, providing appropriations to the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban…”

“I rise to speak on H.R. 220, providing appropriations to the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and various independent agencies. While I have some concern about several provisions in the bill, the bill is technically consistent with the Budget Resolution and complies with the Budget Act. H.R. 2620 provides $85.4 billion in budget authority and $88.1 billion in outlays for fiscal year 2002. The bill does not exceed the VA-HUD subcommittee's adjusted 302(b) allocation. Accordingly, the bill complies with section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, which prohibits measures that exceed the reporting subcommittee's 302(b) allocation. This bill designates $1.3 billion in emergencies, which triggers an automatic increase in the corresponding levels in both the Budget Resolution and the statutory caps. The appropriation is for FEMA Disaster Relief Operations in response to the recent tropical storm in Houston, Texas. It is not entirely clear that the designation is necessary because the Budget Resolution provides ample resources for emergencies. With this said, the emergency designation is clearly permitted under existing law. H.R. 2620 also provides $4.2 billion in advanced appropriations for the Section 8 Housing Certificate Program, which will be counted against the levels established in next year's Budget Resolution.”