House appropriator introduces new CR with defense exemption

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) introduced a bill Wednesday that would fully fund defense in fiscal year 2018, but would place the rest of government spending under a stopgap continuing resolution until Jan. 19.

The bill, which Senate Democrats have already warned would be dead-on-arrival, also includes full funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The government is currently operating under a stopgap CR set to expire Dec. 22.

Frelinghuysen's bill would fund the base defense budget at $587 billion and provide $75.2 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding.

The bill waives funding caps set by the 2011 Budget Control Act that would limit base defense spending to $549 billion. 

Democrats say they will only support lifting the BCA caps for defense if the same amount is granted in non-defense spending.

"Funding national defense is a top priority, especially in these uncertain times of instability around the globe," Frelinghuysen said in a statement. "Our troops and commanders must have the resources they need right now to advance peace and our nation’s interests abroad. This Continuing Resolution will fund national defense for the entire fiscal year and provide additional funds for missile defense."

It remains to be seen if Democrats will support the bill because of its continued funding for CHIP, or stay the course in their opposition to spending bills that do not allow "parity" between defense and non-defense.

Frelinghuysen said the CR is not the "preferred way to do business."

"However, this resolution will allow time for the leadership of the House and Senate and the White House to come to agreement on a topline spending level for this fiscal year," he said.