Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018

Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 was a federal law passed by the 115th United States Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 9, 2018. The law was the result of a bipartisan effort between Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader, and Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, as well as House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The act aimed to provide a two-year budget agreement, increasing spending caps and avoiding a United States federal government shutdown. It also included provisions related to Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Introduction

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Chuck Schumer on February 7, 2018. The bill was a result of negotiations between Congressional leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, to reach a budget agreement. The act was designed to provide a two-year budget framework, increasing spending caps and avoiding a United States federal government shutdown, which had occurred in January 2018. The bill also included provisions related to Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 and Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Legislative History

The legislative history of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 began with the introduction of the bill in the United States Senate on February 7, 2018. The bill was then passed by the Senate with a vote of 71-28, with Senator John McCain and Senator Susan Collins voting in favor. The bill was then sent to the United States House of Representatives, where it was passed with a vote of 240-186, with Representative Kevin McCarthy and Representative Steny Hoyer voting in favor. The bill was then signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 9, 2018, at the White House, with Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin in attendance.

Provisions

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 included several key provisions, including a two-year budget agreement, which increased spending caps for fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019. The act also included provisions related to Medicare, including the extension of the Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Program and the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program. Additionally, the act included provisions related to Medicaid, including the extension of the Medicaid Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program. The act also included provisions related to Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), including the extension of funding for the program through fiscal year 2027. The act also included provisions related to National Institutes of Health (NIH), including increased funding for cancer research and Alzheimer's disease research.

Impact and Reception

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 had a significant impact on the United States federal budget and the economy of the United States. The act was praised by Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Chuck Schumer as a bipartisan achievement, which would help to avoid a United States federal government shutdown. The act was also praised by House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as a step towards providing stability and certainty for the United States economy. However, the act was criticized by some Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul and Representative Mark Meadows, who argued that the act increased spending and added to the national debt. The act was also criticized by some Democrats, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who argued that the act did not do enough to address issues related to income inequality and access to healthcare.

Implementation and Amendments

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 was implemented by the United States federal government on February 9, 2018. The act was amended by the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 23, 2018. The act was also amended by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 20, 2018. The act has been implemented by various federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Education. The act has also been subject to review and oversight by Congressional committees, including the Senate Committee on the Budget and the House Committee on the Budget. Category:United States federal legislation