Congress Passes Government Funding Measure

Bill Includes NAIFA Priorities

On April 14, Congress voted to pass a compromise plan to fund the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. The House of Representatives approved the compromise bill (H.R. 1473) by a vote of 260-167 and the Senate advanced the measure by a vote of 81-19. The bill will be sent to President Obama for his signature today.

The bill is the product of long negotiations between the White House and House Republican and Senate Democratic leaders. While liberal Democrats and Tea Party Republicans share outrage about various provisions from its roughly $40 billion in additional spending cuts to the details of its policy riders, the legislation was approved. The bill addresses two NAIFA priority issues:

The Free Choice Vouchers – which would have been damaging to employer group plans -  are eliminated CO-OP program’s  budget cut by $2.2 billion from an initial $6 billion in funding.

These two modifications to the health law join the repeal of the expanded 1099 reporting requirement which became law on April 14.

The bill will fund the government through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. The first half of the government’s fiscal year has been funded by a series of continuing resolutions. Learn more about the FY 2012 budget.

NAIFA Staff Contact: Diane Boyle, Vice President – Federal Government Relations, at (703) 770-8252.