Status of Budget Authority That Was Proposed, but Rejected, for Rescission

GAO reported on the status of a budget authority that was proposed for rescission, but was rejected. In the President's tenth special message, four rescissions totalling $114.1 million in budget authority were proposed. The funds had been appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. However, the Impoundment Control Act requires that funds proposed for rescission be made available for obligation, unless Congress completes action on a rescission bill within a 45-day period. Since the 45-day period expired without Congress having passed the bill, the subject budget authority was apportioned by the Office of Management and Budget to the agencies involved.