Paul Ryan’s Budget Passed. Now What?

April 11, 2014 By Meghan Simonds

 src=The House passed Chairman Paul Ryan’s FY 2015 Budget Resolution yesterday on a tight 219-205 vote. This Budget represents an 11 percent cut from current year funding (FY 2014) for the International Affairs Budget.

Numerous other proposals from Democrats, the Republican Study Committee, the Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus were voted down.

So what does House passage of the budget mean?

Most years, the House and Senate pass their own Budget Resolutions, but in December Chairman Ryan and Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray negotiated an agreement to set the numbers for both this year and next. Since the number was already set, the Senate decided not to introduce a budget.

Now the real work begins as appropriators in both chambers figure out which accounts get what amounts, including the “State-Foreign Operations” account, which makes up 95 percent of the International Affairs Budget. Once lawmakers return from the April recess later this month, it will be full steam ahead on appropriations.

The House and Senate will undoubtedly propose different numbers that will have to be hammered out before the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.