Upton Expecting Extended Continuing Budget Resolution

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money-safe-262-37

A continuing budget resolution that has kept federal spending frozen at fiscal year 2021 levels will expire on the 18th of this month. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News if the resolution isn’t extended, there could be a government shutdown. However, he’s not expecting that to happen and says the continuing resolution will probably be kept in place with a vote next week. Does that mean there are problems for implementing the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package?

“That’s right,” Upton said, “There is because when you have a budget freeze, that means you can’t add or subtract. Everything has to stay the same. So, in the case of the infrastructure bill – in essence, $1.2 trillion for roads and bridges and ports and broadband – you’ve got new spending, but to do those contracts, you probably have to hire more folks to actually implement those contracts, and that can’t be done under a continuing resolution.”

Upton says the issue is a priority of the Problem Solvers caucus, and they would be discussing that this week. He believes simply pursuing an additional continuing resolution would be detrimental to the country’s budget.