WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TWO-STEP CR 

(Courtesy of Speaker Mike Johnson’s Office) 

Although Speaker Johnson inherited a budget mess, he and his colleagues remain committed to fighting wasteful Washington spending.He took office less than three weeks ago and immediately began considering appropriations bills through regular order. Still, with just days remaining before a shutdown, a continuing resolution is now required.

• The national debt of the U.S. now exceeds $33.6 trillion. Congress must face the fact that this trajectory is unsustainable and more reckless spending will further jeopardize our economy and our national security.
• Moody’s put the U.S. credit rating on downgrade watch. Moody’s Investor Service’s negative outlook for the U.S. credit rating is the latest reminder of the failure of “Bidenomics” and need for House Republicans to remain committed to restoring fiscal responsibility in Washington.

The Two-Step CR Solution: The House Republican bill extends government funding in two steps:

•  Step one: Four appropriations bills, MilConVA, T-HUD, Ag, and Energy & Water, are extended until January 19;
• Step two: The remaining eight bills are extended until February 2. 

This bill meets the three primary objectives set forth by the House Republican Conference:

• Prevent another irresponsible “Christmas omnibus” spending monstrosity;
• Separate the CR from the supplemental funding debates to allow conservatives to fight for fiscal responsibility, oversight of Ukraine aid, and substantive policy changes at our open Southern border; and
• Responsibly avoid a government shutdown. 

THE TWO-STEP CR WILL REFORM HOW WASHINGTON WORKS

This new model will finally change the long-established, unlawful dynamics of government funding. The Two-Step CR extending beyond the end of the calendar year will ensure that the House is no longer forced to vote on the eve of the holidays on trillions of dollars in federal spending encompassed within bloated, thousand-page spending bills that few people have read.

Eliminating Washington Democrats’ plan for a CR that extends to mid-December prevents a Christmas omnibus, and empowers House Republicans to fight for responsible appropriations bills and allows sufficient time to complete the full-year funding process in the light of day.   

Speaker Johnson’s pledge: NO more short-term CRs.

• A line in the sand against short-term Continuing Resolutions. House Republicans will no longer tolerate additional short-term CRs absent real progress on responsible full-year funding and substantial policy reforms.
• We will not waste time on a failed process. If Congressional Democrats and President Biden are unwilling to responsibly finish the important work of completing the FY24 funding bills on this timeline, House Republicans will refocus Washington on FY25, by implementing a full-year CR with appropriate adjustments to meet our national security priorities and demanding the Senate and White House get back to regular order on schedule and without gimmicks.

THE TWO-STEP CR CLEARS THE DECK TO FIGHT FOR CONSERVATIVE POLICY WINS 

House Republicans are now setting the stage for important fights on Emergency Supplemental issues: Israel, Ukraine, and our Southern border. By separating the CR from larger fights on supplemental funding, conservatives will be in better position to achieve these key policy victories.

•  Senate Democrats will not jam the House. The Senate majority is preparing to pass a $100 billion supplemental monstrosity that ignores the crisis at America’s Southern border and the only thing standing in its way are House Republicans.
• The House has already taken bipartisan action to fund our ally Israel. The CR also does not include funding for Israel, because the House has already done its job and funded Israel’s request while offsetting the spending by reducing funds for the administration’s army of IRS agents.

No FISA Reauthorization.

• Breathing room for FISA reform. The bill does not include an extension of FISA 702 authorities so that the House can continue to build momentum for a FISA reform package that protects the privacy of Americans from government overreach and protects our national security.