The House Appropriations Committee approved a $24.1 billion spending bill that includes a provision giving the Central Liquidity Facility about $40 billion in borrowing authority, which will not be subject to a cap.

A similar measure is working its way through the Senate and once the Senate passes its version, the two chambers will reconcile the differences.

Last year, Congress lifted the artificial cap on the CLF's borrowing capabilities. It had been capped at $1.5 billion (as it has been since 2001) and the change granted a higher limit of $41.5 billion for the current fiscal year, which runs through September. If Congress approves the subcommittee's recommendation, the CLF borrowing authority would be about $40 billion. The borrowing authority is based on a formula of 12 times the subscribed capital stock and surplus of the CLF.