1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov November 15, 2021“Plus-Minus” Amendments to Regular Appropriations Measures“Plus-Minus” Amendments In current practice, the House of Representatives typically provides for Members to offer amendments during the initial consideration of regular appropriations bills. Am
2、ong the various types of amendments that Members may offer are so-called “plus-minus” amendments. These amendments are typically drafted in such a way that no substantive changes would be made to the text of the bill. Instead, such amendments provide for an amount of funding to be both added to and
3、subtracted from a specified account or activity. By offering an amendment of this type, Members can obtain floor time to speak during the consideration of an appropriations measure. Many Members use their remarks to signal informal support for an agency to use its existing discretion to allot funds
4、in a particular manner or to highlight a particular issue related to the appropriations measure. In recent years, Members have offered an increasing number of plus-minus amendments. This In Focus addresses the changing role that these amendments play in the Houses consideration of regular appropriat