What changed between these versions
A complete substitute amendment. v5 transforms the bill from a narrow extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and customs user fees into a comprehensive continuing appropriations act for fiscal year 2027. It also includes numerous other authorizing extensions across various federal programs, including surface transportation and veterans' affairs, fundamentally altering the bill's scope.
Overview
Extensive changes throughout the bill, with the original content of v4 being entirely replaced. · v5 represents a fundamental restructuring and massive expansion of the bill's scope, transforming it from a specific trade and customs fee extension into a broad continuing appropriations and general extensions act.
The most significant change is that v5 completely replaces the original text of H.R. 6500, which focused solely on extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and customs user fees. The new version, titled the "Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027," establishes a comprehensive continuing resolution for fiscal year 2027, extending funding for numerous federal departments and agencies until December 11, 2026. Additionally, v5 introduces extensive authorizing extensions across various policy areas, including surface transportation programs, Department of Veterans Affairs programs, and a wide range of other federal authorities, some of which were not present in v4.
Major additions
This entire division provides continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for various federal departments and agencies. It authorizes funding at fiscal year 2026 rates and conditions for continuing projects and activities until December 11, 2026, with specific exceptions and adjustments for certain programs.
This addition is highly significant as it establishes the temporary funding mechanism for the entire federal government for the initial part of fiscal year 2027, ensuring operational continuity for numerous agencies and programs.
This division introduces extensions for a wide array of federal statutes and programs not present in v4. Examples include extensions for the United States Grain Standards Act, Forest Service ACES Program, Food for Peace Act, Defense Production Act of 1950, Toxic Substances Control Act Fee Authority, Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, Technology Modernization Fund, USPTO Fee Setting Authority, US Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Passport Fees.
This significantly broadens the bill's scope by ensuring the continuity of numerous critical federal authorities and programs across diverse policy areas, impacting agriculture, national security, environmental protection, technology, and international relations.
This entire division extends federal surface transportation programs, including those related to highways, mass transit, and rail, along with the Appalachian Regional Commission and sport fishing programs. It also extends the expenditure authority for the Highway Trust Fund, Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund until December 11 or 12, 2026.
This is a major addition that ensures the continued operation and funding of essential transportation infrastructure and related environmental programs, impacting states, local governments, and various industries.
This entire division extends various authorities and funding provisions for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) across health care, benefits, and housing. These extensions include provisions for copayments, nursing home care, rural access networks, suicide prevention grants, mental health support for caregivers, ambulance cost reimbursement, resource sharing incentives, regional office maintenance, educational assistance, homeless veterans programs, adaptive sports, advisory committees, plot allowances, vendee loan programs, and real property transfers, generally until December 11 or 12, 2026.
This is a highly significant addition that ensures the continuity of a wide range of critical services and benefits for veterans and their families, maintaining essential support programs.
This new section provides temporary disaster relief for the Northern Mariana Islands, increasing the total amount determined under the Social Security Act for the period beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026, by $21,400,000.
This provides substantial additional financial assistance for disaster relief efforts in the Northern Mariana Islands, directly benefiting the affected population and supporting recovery.
This new section amends the Medicare Improvement Fund by striking "$2,062,000,000" and inserting "$2,041,000,000", effectively reducing the fund by $21,000,000.
This results in a reduction of funds available for Medicare improvements, potentially impacting future initiatives or adjustments within the program.
Deletions
The original bill's structure and content, focused narrowly on extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and customs user fees, have been entirely deleted and replaced. This includes the specific short title 'AGOA Extension Act' and the detailed retroactive application provision for AGOA.
The deletion of the entire original text signifies a complete legislative pivot, where the narrow intent of v4 has been superseded by a much broader, multi-faceted legislative package. This means the specific mechanisms and dates for AGOA and customs user fee extensions as outlined in v4 are no longer the primary focus, and the retroactive application for AGOA, specifically, is removed.
Modifications
This modification reflects the fundamental shift in the bill's overall purpose and scope, indicating it is no longer solely focused on AGOA but encompasses a wide range of appropriations and extensions.
Before
The Act was to be cited as the "AGOA Extension Act."
After
The Act is now cited as the "Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027."
The preferential trade treatment for African countries under AGOA is continued, but the legislative mechanism and the specific 'from' date for the extension have been updated, likely due to an intervening extension or the passage of time. The regional apparel program's extension phrasing is now more explicit about its end date.
Before
v4 extended AGOA provisions (Trade Act of 1974, AGOA general, Regional apparel article program, Third-country fabric program) by striking "September 30, 2025" and inserting "December 31, 2028."
After
v5 extends AGOA provisions (Trade Act of 1974, AGOA general, Regional apparel article program, Third-country fabric program) by striking "2026" and inserting "2028." Specifically, for the regional apparel article program, clause (i) changes "21 succeeding" to "each succeeding 1-year period until December 31, 2028."
The collection of customs user fees will continue for an additional three months beyond the extension proposed in v4, impacting importers and contributing to government revenue for a longer duration.
Before
v4 extended customs user fees (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act) from "September 30, 2031" to "December 31, 2031."
After
v5 extends customs user fees by striking "December 31, 2031" and inserting "March 31, 2032."
This deletion eliminates the mechanism for importers to claim retroactive duty-free treatment for entries made between the lapse of AGOA (September 30, 2025) and the enactment of the extension. This could have significant financial implications for businesses that imported goods during that gap period, as they may not be able to recover duties paid.
Before
v4 included a provision for retroactive application of duty-free treatment for covered articles entered after September 30, 2025, and before the date of enactment of v4. This allowed for liquidation or reliquidation upon request within 180 days of enactment.
After
This entire subsection is absent in v5.
Scope
Complete substitute — Changes are scattered throughout the bill, as v5 is a complete replacement with multiple new divisions covering diverse policy areas. — Yes, v5 represents a fundamental change in policy direction. While v4 was a narrow extension of specific trade and fee provisions, v5 transforms the bill into a broad continuing appropriations measure and a vehicle for numerous other short-term statutory extensions. — The changes in v5 are so extensive that they effectively create a new legislative framework, interacting with and superseding the original intent and scope of v4. The inclusion of continuing appropriations impacts all federal agencies and programs funded by annual appropriations, and the numerous extensions affect a wide array of existing federal laws and programs.
Impact analysis
Federal government agencies and programs funded by annual appropriations
Procedural change, providing temporary funding and operational continuity.
Instead of specific trade and fee extensions, these entities are now subject to a continuing resolution for fiscal year 2027, maintaining operations at fiscal year 2026 levels until December 11, 2026.
Importers of goods from AGOA beneficiary countries
Mixed effect; continued benefit from AGOA extension, but potential loss from removed retroactivity.
Preferential duty-free treatment under AGOA is extended, but the specific dates for the extension are updated, and the retroactive application provision present in v4 is removed.
Entities paying customs user fees
Negative, as fees will be collected for a longer period.
The expiration date for customs user fees is extended further, from December 31, 2031 (as proposed in v4) to March 31, 2032 (in v5).
Beneficiaries and administrators of various federal programs (e.g., surface transportation, veterans' affairs, grain standards, food for peace, cybersecurity, etc.)
Positive, ensuring continuity of operations and benefits.
Numerous programs and authorities across various federal domains, not mentioned in v4, are now extended until December 11 or 12, 2026.
Northern Mariana Islands
Positive, providing additional financial assistance.
Receives an additional $21,400,000 for disaster relief for fiscal year 2026.
Medicare program
Negative, reducing available funds.
The Medicare Improvement Fund is reduced by $21,000,000.