WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 3, the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act, by a vote of 210-206.
H.R. 3 rescinds previously appropriated funds that have never been used or can no longer be applied because the spending authority has expired. Other administrations have sought to free these locked away funds, putting them back in the federal government’s pocket to help reduce our national debt.
Among the rescissions included in H.R. 3 are past appropriations to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which are either no longer needed or no longer usable. Previous rescissions packages have also sought to free up these outdated CHIP funds. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has determined that rescinding these funds will have no negative impact on the CHIP program.
“Congressional Republicans have championed and passed the longest and most generous extension in the history of CHIP. CBO’s thorough analysis shows these rescissions will not negatively impact the number of children who rely on the program, nor will it affect payments to state CHIP programs," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). “CHIP is a successful program that we’ve fully funded for the next decade to help more than 8 million low-income children across the country. The package considered today is simply an accounting exercise that will have no adverse effect on CHIP."
