Committee approves bill to cut unauthorized programs

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved legislation Tuesday that would cut spending for unauthorized programs.

Democrats spoke out against H.R. 143, the “Unauthorized Spending Accountability Act” from Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), which would gradually reduce funding for federal programs without an explicit congressional authorization.

The legislation would affect numerous programs, including on energy and the environment, that have been kept alive only through the spending process. It passed 25-19.

Ranking member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) said the legislation’s impacts would be “severe.”