HOUSE AND SENATE PASS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION; PRESIDENT EXPECTED TO SIGN

Yesterday, House and Senate lawmakers passed a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown on October 1 through both chambers, sending the bill to the President. President Biden is expected to sign the measure. The bill, (H.R. 9747) will maintain fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding levels through December 20. 

The fate of the December omnibus appropriations bill (or another CR) will also be locked up in the results of the election and who controls the Senate, House, and the Administration. The balance of power in the government will determine whether lawmakers finish budget work in a lame-duck session, or hand an incoming administration its first funding fight. 

The Congressional Appropriations schedule. However, the last time Congress passed all 12 bills on time was in 1996.

Speaker Mike Johnson vowed not to package all 12  FY2025 funding bills together in a major omnibus package before the December 20 deadline. This could potentially result in smaller “minibus” spending bills rather than an omnibus bill. But with such a short turn-around between when lawmakers return to Washington and the December 20 deadline, this option seems untenable.

For reference, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bills have not been passed in either chamber. To see details on the Senate and House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bills, vist ECA's Budget Tracker on our website.

ECA looks forward to providing further updates on the budget process as it develops. For more information on the appropriations and budget process, see ECA’s website.