releases: http://barletta.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/barletta-details-highlights-of-cromnibus-spending-bill
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://barletta.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/barletta-details-highlights-of-cromnibus-spending-bill | Barletta Details Highlights of Cromnibus Spending Bill | 2014-12-12 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Republican | House | PA | Lou Barletta | B001269 | barletta.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta, PA-11, today detailed highlights of the so-called “Cromnibus” spending bill, which is a combination of a Continuing Resolution funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 27, 2015 and an omnibus spending package funding the rest of the federal government through September 30, 2015. Most importantly, Barletta said he will now assume a prominent role as the House of Representatives moves forward with efforts to block President Obama’s amnesty plan for illegal immigrants. “A huge majority of voters in my district and across America are opposed to the president’s amnesty plan, which we will now be able to combat when the new House and Senate majority arrive in January,” Barletta said. “Speaker Boehner personally promised that I will be at the table when our new policies are set, so for all citizens who are rightly concerned about amnesty, I will be serving as their eyes, ears, and voices.” Given the current makeup of the Senate, Barletta said the House was limited on its options of what to include in the spending package. Key in the legislation was the fact that DHS only received short-term funding, meaning Congress will be able to revisit the issue early in the new year to defund the president’s amnesty program. “There is no immigration language of which I would approve that would stand a chance of passing the Senate while Harry Reid is still in charge,” Barletta said. “We had to get the best bill that we could at this very moment, and then come back to the battle when our reinforcements have arrived with the new Congress in January.” The bill adheres to existing spending caps, but includes a number of important policy improvements, including the protections for national security and members of the military. It also improves public safety and gang prevention, and increases funding for Community Development Block Grants. The package also curtails overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency, political targeting by the Internal Revenue Service, and includes no new money for Obamacare. National Security & Military Includes $521 billion in defense spending. Includes a 1% pay increase for military personnel and cost-of-living adjustment. Includes additional $900 million to address military funding shortfalls, including depot maintenance at facilities such as Tobyhanna Army Depot. Prohibits the transfer or release of Guantanamo detainees into the U.S. Increases funding for VA programs by $1.8 billion. Provides $2.5 billion for processing VA disability claims to end the backlog. Rescinds $41 million in performance bonuses at the VA. Public Safety Restores funding zeroed out under President Obama’s budget request for State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which reimburses localities who house criminal illegal immigrants in local jails (increases funding from $180 million to $185 million rather than president’s request of $0.) Increases funding for gang prevention efforts, while providing resources to address drug trafficking (particularly methamphetamine and heroin), human trafficking, and an update of the National Gang Survey. Through COPS and JAG funding, increases gang prevention and methamphetamine prevention efforts. Provides $20 million to combat prescription drug abuse. Communities Funds Community Development Block Grants at $200 million more than original budget request. Increases funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) by $75 million. Increases funding for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Increases funding for flood prevention under the Streamflow Information Program. Coal Requires the Department of Defense to use anthracite coal to heat the Army and Air Force Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Health Provides $5.4 billion to Fight Ebola in the US and abroad. Increases funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by $43 million. Increases funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $150 million – specifically increases for Alzheimer’s, cancer, brain research, and the Gabriella Miller Kids First Act pediatric research initiative. Transportation Provides almost $41 billion in obligation limitation funding for the Federal Highway program (the same level authorized in the MAP-21 transportation authorization legislation). Protects small business from over regulation related to commercial trucking, driver hours, and hazmat permitting. Obamacare Provides no new funding for Obamacare. Requires Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Treasury to report to Congress on improper payments of ObamaCare tax subsidies. Reduces funding to the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Maintains all existing pro-life policy and funding provisions. Three new pro-life provisions: Obamacare Transparency - requires Obamacare healthcare plans to inform customers if they provide abortion services. Conscience Protection - requires HHS Office of Civil Rights to address complaints of violations. Provides $12 million in unused abstinence education funds. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Cuts IRS funding by $345.6 million ($1.5 billion below the president’s request and below Fiscal Year 2008 levels). Prohibits IRS targeting of organizations based on their ideological beliefs or for exercising their First Amendment rights. Prohibits the White House from ordering review of tax-exempt status. Prohibits use of IRS funds for inappropriate videos and conferences. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cuts EPA by $60 million, representing the 5th consecutive year of cuts – a total reduction of 21 percent since Fiscal Year 2010. Reduces EPA staffing by 2,000 positions, which is equivalent to 1989 levels. Prohibits regulation of farm ponds and irrigation ditches. Protects Second Amendment rights and prohibits EPA from regulating lead content in ammunition or fishing tackle. “As with any spending bill, the end result is not perfect, but this makes important strides in many key areas,” Barletta said. “I look forward to working with our new partners in the Senate in the new Congress, when we can finally work to stop the president’s amnesty plan.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |