GC senator to lead Appropriations

WASHINGTON – Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby is the new leader of the U.S. Senate’s appropriations committee. He takes over from retiring Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran. The move will likely impact upcoming FY 2019 budget debates for the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments. Shelby was named chairman of the appropriations committee for the rest of 2018, and will also serve as head of the subcommittee on defense spending. Administration and congressional negotiators have set a framework for FY-19 defense spending at $716B, but Shelby’s committee will be charged with working out the specifics in the next several months. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) will take the helm of Shelby’s former position as chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee; and giving up his former job of Military Construction and VA subcommittee leadership role to Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.). Both also serve on the VA committee. The VA has requested an FY-19 budget of nearly $199B (6 percent above FY-18 levels). The VA’s budget has grown by nearly 500 percent over the last 20 years. FY-19 begins Oct. 1. It’s unclear whether lawmakers will meet that deadline because of political bickering. Lawmakers are likely to pass a temporary budget extension in September amid mid-term elections in November. Source: Military Times 04/10/18)