H.R. 133, the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, includes about $1.4 trillion in discretionary appropriations and another $900 billion in coronavirus aid. Among other discretionary provisions, it includes $696 billion for the Department of Defense, including $77 billion for overseas military operations. It also includes $590 million in aid to developing countries. The coronavirus aid provisions include $600 checks per adult or dependent child, $300 per week in federal unemployment benefits through March 14, 2021, $325 billion in loans and grants to small businesses, $81.9 billion in Education Department grants, $25 billion in rental assistance, and $13 billion in agricultural assistance.
The Senate passed H.R. 133 on December 21, 2020 by a vote of 92 to 6 (Roll Call 289). We have assigned pluses to the nays because spending, which yielded an annual federal deficit of $3.1 trillion in fiscal 2020, is courting fiscal disaster. Additionally, Congress is minimizing its accountability to voters by combining all discretionary federal spending and coronavirus aid into one gigantic “take it or leave it” bill. Furthermore, most of the coronavirus aid provisions, including direct checks, federal unemployment benefits, and subsidization of the economy, exceed the federal government’s authority. These and other matters are reserved for the states and the people under the 10th Amendment.
