Collins and McConnell Tell Air Force No Third Reconciliation Bill Is Likely, Despite Administration Request

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins and Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chair Mitch McConnell agreed Tuesday that Congress is unlikely to pass a third reconciliation bill this year. The two Republican senators made the assessment during a morning hearing on next year’s Air Force budget.

Collins questioned Air Force Secretary Troy Meink about programs the administration planned to fund through reconciliation rather than the regular defense appropriations bill.

“I would just suggest that it is taking a terrible risk and creates instability when you're counting on a third reconciliation bill for the bulk of the money rather than doing base funding through the defense appropriations bill,” Collins said. McConnell, who is retiring at the end of the year, cast doubt on the prospect of another reconciliation measure.

“I think it's safe to conclude there will not be another reconciliation bill, so it's really not an option,” he said.

The administration has formally requested that about $350 million, roughly a quarter of its total spending request for the Air Force, be achieved through reconciliation. Senate Republican leaders have passed two reconciliation bills since taking the majority, most recently a package funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol.

Some Republicans have expressed interest in a third bill focused on affordability and reducing fraud in social programs.

Appropriators had also expected the White House to submit a supplemental request for additional funding tied to the Iran military conflict, but no such request has been sent. Collins has long favored the regular appropriations process, which requires bipartisan agreement, over reconciliation, a procedure that allows the majority party to pass legislation with a 50-vote threshold by bypassing the Senate filibuster.