HJRES-66 : Still Just a Bill

Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 - Makes continuing appropriations for FY2014.

Appropriates amounts for continuing projects or activities that were conducted in FY2013 and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in:

• the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 (division A of P.L. 113-6);
• the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 (division B of P.L. 113-6);
• the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2013 (division C of P.L. 113-6);
• the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2013 (division D of P.L. 113-6);
• the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 (division E of P.L. 113-6); and
• the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (division F of P.L. 113-6).

Requires the rate for operations for each account to be calculated to reflect the full amount of any reduction required in FY2013 pursuant to:

• any provision of division G of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-6); and
• the presidential sequestration order dated March 1, 2013, except as attributable to budget authority made available by: (1) the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 (P.L. 112-175); or (2) the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-2).

Bars the use of Department of Defense (DOD) appropriations or funds made available or authority granted in this joint resolution for: (1) the new production of items not funded for production in FY2013 or prior years; (2) the increase in production rates above those sustained with FY2013 funds; (3) the initiation, resumption, or continuation of specified projects, activities, or operations for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during FY2013; or (4) the initiation of multi-year procurements utilizing advance procurement funding for economic order quantity procurement unless specifically appropriated later.

Provides funding under this joint resolution until whichever of the following first occurs: (1) enactment of an appropriation for any project or activity provided for in it, (2) enactment of the applicable appropriations Act for FY2014 without any provision for such project or activity, or (3) December 15, 2013.

Declares that this joint resolution shall be implemented so that only the most limited funding action permitted shall be taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and activities.

Continues funding through December 15, 2013, at the FY2013 level, for entitlements and other mandatory payments whose budget authority was provided in FY2013 appropriations Acts, as well as for activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

Authorizes amounts made available under this joint resolution for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each department and agency to be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid furloughs, consistent with the applicable FY2013 appropriations Act. Prohibits use of this authority until after the department or agency has taken all necessary actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related administrative expenses.

Continues designation of each amount incorporated by reference in this joint resolution that was previously designated by Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism or for disaster relief, respectively.

Applies to funds made available under this joint resolution for FY2014 certain requirements and prohibitions of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, namely:

• the requirement that the head of any executive branch department, agency, board, commission, or office funded by this or any other appropriations Act report annually to the Inspector General (IG) (or senior ethics official for any federal entity without an IG) regarding the costs and contracting procedures related to each conference held by any such entity during FY2014 for which the cost to the federal government was more than $100,000;
• the requirement that the head of any federal entity, within 15 days of any conference it held for which the cost was over $20,000, notify the IG or the senior ethics official of the date, location, and number of employees attending such conference;
• the prohibition against the use of federal grants or contracts by an executive branch agency to defray the costs of such a conference not directly and programmatically related to the purpose for which the grant or contract was awarded, such as a conference held in connection with planning, training, assessment, review, or other routine purposes related to a project funded by the grant or contract; and
• the prohibition against the use of federal funds for travel and conference activities that are not in compliance with OMB Memorandum M-12-12 dated May 11, 2012.

Delays until 2015 the implementation of provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Public Health Service Act relating to: (1) basic health programs for low-income individuals not eligible for Medicaid, (2) the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP Exchange), and (3) limitations on cost-sharing under group health plans.

Amends the Food for Peace Act to extend through December 15, 2013, authority for agreements to finance sales or to provide other assistance.

Allows amounts made available for the "Department of Commerce--National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)--Procurement, Acquisition and Construction" to be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain the planned launch schedules for the Joint Polar Satellite System and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system.

Continues through the earlier of December 15, 2013, or the enactment of an authorization of FY2014 appropriations for Department of Defense (DOD) military activities, the DOD Secretary's authority to provide logistic support, supplies, and services for foreign forces, including the national military forces of Uganda, participating in operations to mitigate and eliminate the threat posed by the Lord's Resistance Army.

Delays until December 31, 2014, the implementation of PPACA and title I and subtitle B of title II of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, except for provisions of those Acts relating to the children's health insurance program under the Social Security Act, pre-existing conditions exclusions, and dependent care coverage for individuals up to 26 years of age.

Extends through December 15, 2013, specified federal law relating to Appalachian regional development.

Authorizes the District of Columbia to expend local funds for certain programs and activities.

Provides funding for "The Judiciary--Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services--Defender Services" at a specified rate for operations.

Continues through December 15, 2013, the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) issue interim final regulations establishing risk-based performance standards for the security of chemical facilities.

Continues through December 15, 2013, the authority of the United States Secret Service to use appropriated funds and proceeds from undercover investigative operations for specified purposes.

Delays until 2015: (1) the employer mandate to provide health care coverage for employees under PPACA, and (2) PPACA reporting requirements for employers and insurance providers.

Continues through December 15, 2013, the DHS Secretary's authority to carry out a pilot program for: (1) basic, applied, and advanced research and development projects for response to existing or emerging terrorist threats; and (2) defense prototype projects.

Requires any amounts made available pursuant to this joint resolution for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of DHS for salaries and expenses and for Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of DHS for salaries and expenses to be obligated at a rate for necessary operations to respectively sustain:

• the staffing levels of CBP Officers, equivalent to the staffing levels achieved on September 30, 2013, and comply with specified requirements of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-6);
• border security operations, including sustaining the operation of Tethered Aerostat Radar Systems; and
• the staffing levels of ICE agents, equivalent to the staffing levels achieved on September 30, 2013, and comply with specified requirements of P.L. 113-6.

Requires the DHS Secretary to notify congressional appropriations committees on each use of such authority.

Appropriates additional funding for FY2014 for wildland fire management programs of the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, to remain available until expended for urgent wildland fire suppression activities.

Continues through December 15, 2013, the authority of the Forest Service to:

• enter into up to 28 contracts with private persons (of which Region One of the Forest Service shall have authority to enter into 9) to perform services to achieve land management goals for national forests that meet local and rural community needs; and
• apply the value of timber or other forest products removed as an offset against the cost of services received under a contract.

Extends through December 15, 2013, activities authorized by part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) in the manner authorized for FY2013. Makes appropriations for such purpose. Excludes from this extension, however, activities otherwise authorized for: (1) the Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs in the Treasury; and (2) funding of certain TANF research, evaluations, national studies, and demonstrations.

Applies to funds made available under this joint resolution for FY2014 certain authority granted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (CAA-2012) to: (1) collect and retain up to $2.499 million (currently, only retain up to $1.499 million) from fees collected for approval and certification of equipment, materials, and explosives for use in mines; and (2) use the funds for such activities.

Applies to funds made available under this joint resolution for FY2014 the treatment of funds for low-income home energy assistance payments for FY2012 under the CAA-2012 which requires that all but a specified portion of such funds be allocated as though the total appropriation for such payments for FY2012 was less than $1.975 billion.

Provides funding for "Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)--Administration for Children and Families--Refugee and Entrant Assistance" at a specified rate for operations. Allows obligation of such amounts up to a rate for operations necessary to maintain program operations at the FY2013 level to accommodate increased demand.

Authorizes, during the period covered by this joint resolution, any unobligated amounts available in the "Nonrecurring expenses fund" established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 to be transferred to the HHS Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for an additional amount for FY2014, to remain available until expended, for expenses necessary:

• to support advanced research and development pursuant to the Public Health Service Act, and other administrative expenses of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency;
• for procuring security countermeasures; or
• to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic and other emerging infectious diseases, including activities such as the development and purchase of vaccine, antivirals, necessary medical supplies, diagnostics, and other surveillance tools.

Allows products purchased with amounts made available by this joint resolution for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to be, at the discretion of the HHS Secretary, deposited in the Strategic National Stockpile.

Provides funding for "Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)--Departmental Administration--General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration" at a specified rate for operations.

Amends PPACA to extend the requirement for participation in an American Health Benefit Exchange (a state health insurance exchange created by PPACA) to the President, Vice-President, executive branch political appointees, and employees of congressional committees and leadership offices of Congress (currently, this requirement applies to Members of Congress and congressional staff). Prohibits any government contribution to or subsidy for the health insurance coverage of such officials and employees.

Continues through December 15, 2013, the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 to waive or alter certain project-based assistance requirements for owners of certain properties assisted under the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965, the National Housing Act, or section 8 (voucher program) of the United States Housing Act of 1937. (Makes such owners, under specified conditions, eligible for conversion of tenant-based vouchers to project-based vouchers.)

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, until December 15, 2014, to issue obligations to pay principal and interest on obligations of the United States held by the public or by the Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Disability Insurance Trust Fund, in the event that the debt of the United States reaches the statutory limit. Prohibits the issuance of obligations to pay compensation for Members of Congress. Requires the Secretary to submit a weekly report to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on the principal and interest that is due or accrued and any obligations issued by the Secretary.