Stalled Appropriations Process Starts to Move Forward

Stalled legislation may make some progress next week, with the scheduled markup of the FY 2009 Defense appropriations bill and the Military Construction/VA appropriations bills. The senior appropriators in both parties have agreed to put both measures on the President's desk for signature before the start of the 2009 fiscal year (1 October 2008). It is widely expected that many of the other ten FY 2009 annual spending bills will not be passed by Congress this calendar year due to significant disagreements between House and Senate leadership and the White House. As a result, passage of FY 2009 appropriations bills will probably be delayed until after the November elections and possibly until after the next administration is sworn in on 20 January 2009. A Continuing Resolution (CR) is required to keep the government funded at FY 2008 levels until new spending bills are enacted into law.

FRA closely monitors the appropriations process, particularly these two funding bills that impact compensation and benefits for active, Reserve and retired personnel, and veterans. Of particular importance are proposed drastic military retiree TRICARE fee increases and Wounded Warrior provisions enacted in the FY 2008 Defense Authorization, along with adequate funding for the Defense and VA Health Programs.