WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats controlling the House are promising to freeze the budgets of most Cabinet departments in a massive measure wrapping Congress’ unfinished annual spending bills into a single, catchall measure.
The 423-page bill, unveiled overnight, would cap agency operating budgets passed each year by Congress at the $1.2 trillion level of the budget year that ended Sept. 30. That’s about 4 percent less than the amount requested by President Barack Obama.
There are many exceptions to the freeze. Health care programs for veterans and the military would get a boost, as would the Pell Grant education program for low-income college students.
The bill also would provide $159 billion to fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Senate Democrats are working on a different approach.
