10/17/2013

Congress Passes Spending Deal to Raise Debt Limit, End Government Shutdown

NMMA Update

On Wednesday night, October 16, the U.S. Congress struck a deal to end the 16 day government shutdown. Work affecting recreational boating will resume at agencies including the Department of Interior, EPA, and NOAA.

The Senate overwhelmingly ratified the deal, 81 to 18 with more than half of Senate Republicans voting yes. A few hours later, the House followed suit, approving the measure 285 to 144. Obama signed the measure into law shortly after midnight, reopening parks and monuments across the nation, restoring government services and putting furloughed federal employees back on the job. Major elements of the final plan include:

• Immediate reopening of the government and funding through January 15, 2014
• Debt limit extension until February 7, 2014, with Treasury retaining its right to “extraordinary measures” that should put off the next default threat until mid- to late-March
• Income verification for Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy recipients
• Back pay for furloughed federal employees for the full period of the shutdown
• Budget resolution conferees to be appointed as soon as tonight with a direction to report back to Congress by December 13, 2013

NMMA will continue to update readers on any lingering effects of the shutdown. For questions, contact Jeff Gabriel at jgabriel@nmma.org or Nicole Vasilaros at nvasilaros@nmma.org.