Replies

I could be way wrong here. This is what I am seeing.

I still haven't figured it out. maybe the legislative experts here can shed some light.

For instance, here is the SNAP section. (78 billion for 4-5 months?)

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

For necessary expenses to carry out the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $78,480,694,000, of which $3,000,000,000, to remain available through December 31, 2018, shall be placed in

May 1, 2017 (12:49 a.m.)

U:\2017REPT\Final\CPRT-115-HPRT-RU00-SAHR244-AMNT.xml

59

reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations: Provided, That funds provided herein shall be expended in accordance with section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $998,000 may be used to provide nutrition education services to State agencies and Federally Recognized Tribes participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be subject to any work registration or workfare requirements as may be required by law: Provided further, That funds made available for Employment and Training under this heading shall remain available through September 30, 2018: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading for section 28(d)(1), section 4(b), and section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 shall remain available through September 30, 2018: Provided further, That none of the funds made available under this heading may be obligated or expended in contravention of section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1183A): Provided further, That funds made available under this heading may be used to enter into contracts and employ staff to conduct studies, evaluations, or to conduct activi-

May 1, 2017 (12:49 a.m.)

U:\2017REPT\Final\CPRT-115-HPRT-RU00-SAHR244-AMNT.xml

60

ties related to program integrity provided that such activities are authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

You seem to have set up something that you can search pretty regularly. I was going through the 1,600-page document looking to see if the restrictions on spending ANY funds on building a border wall extended beyond September 2017. But, given my limited time available, couldn’t find that. If you get a chance can you check to see if that PROHIBITION in the legislation is “open ended”?

I think that there are a lot of booby traps and snares for President Trump in this bill. For example, on the bottom of page 603 (Section 208a), I saw this:

SEC. 208. (a) Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall not—

(1) establish, collect, or otherwise impose any new border crossing fee on individuals crossing the Southern border or the Northern border at a land port of entry; or

(2) conduct any study relating to the imposition of a border crossing fee.

(b) In this section, the term ‘‘border crossing fee’’ means a fee that every pedestrian, cyclist, and driver and passenger of a private motor vehicle is required to pay for the privilege of crossing the Southern border or the Northern border at a land port of entry.

This section has a beginning date (Date of Enactment) but no ending date so it goes on past September 30th. This is not needed in a continuing resolution but, as best as I can tell, means Congress is TAKING AWAY ONE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CHIPS THAT HE COULD PLAY IF MEXICO DOES SOMETHING SIMILAR. If he signs this bill into law, Trump will be forbidden to take a similar measure if Mexico sets up a border crossing fee for Americans entering Mexico. MY INTERPRETATION IS THAT OUR FRIGGIN’ CONGRESS IS RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR MEXICO. Bastards!!

Here’s the link for the details that I searched in this MONSTROSITY.

https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules.house.gov/files/115/OMNI/CPRT-115-HPRT-RU00-SAHR244-AMNT.pdf