"Don't expect Congress to quickly wrap up fiscal 2020 Interior-EPA funding, despite the Senate overwhelmingly backing a broad package yesterday.

House and Senate lawmakers won't begin negotiations over any spending bills until they have a bipartisan deal on 302(b) allocations — the specific top lines for all 12 annual funding bills.

An agreement has been elusive largely because of vast differences between the parties over funding for a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and serious negotiations are only now beginning.

"The next thing that I want to do is try to move forward on the 302(b)s," said Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who called passing the first Senate spending package "progress" but blamed the House for not being willing to go to conference until there is a deal on 302(b)s."

George Cahlink reports for E&E Daily November 1, 2019. [2]