November 28, 2006

Lame Duck Congress May Defer Appropriations

According to media reports from the week of November 21, 2006, Congressional Republican leaders are considering exercising their option to defer, until the 110th Congress begins next year, the passage of any spending bills for the fiscal year 2007. When Congress reconvenes on December 5, GOP leaders may pass a continuing resolution (CR) in lieu of addressing appropriations legislation. A CR would extend current levels of funding into January and thereby frustrate efforts at positive immigration reform by immigration advocates. Because they would need to be enacted as part of an appropriations bill, provisions such as H-1B visa and employment-based greed card relief, which advocates insist are vital to American businesses, would not be addressed during the lame duck session. Fortunately, appropriators from both parties oppose the deferral of appropriations bills and support the completion of appropriations legislation during December. Immigration advocates may still have a chance to lobby for positive immigration measures if these legislators are met with success and are able to bring one or more spending bills to the floor.