September 19, 2006

Continuing Resolution Inevitable as Time Runs Out for Spending Bills

The Defense and Homeland Security bills are the only FY07 bills expected to reach the president's desk before the end of the fiscal year. So as FY06 comes to a close, Congress will adopt a continuing resolution (CR) for many agencies and programs in lieu of appropriations. A continuing resolution (CR) is enacted by both houses of Congress when the new fiscal year is about to begin (or has begun) and regular appropriations have not yet been enacted. The CR provides budget authority for federal agencies and programs to sustain operations until spending bills are enacted. This CR, which will be attached to the Defense spending bill, will keep the government running from Oct. 1 thru Nov. 17 at FY06 levels.

Members of Congress will turn their attention to appropriations when they return from the election recess in mid-November. At that time, it's expected that Labor-HHS-Education funding will be folded into an omnibus package, which wraps several bills into a single bill. The last spending omnibus was in 2004.

For more information on the funding levels passed by the House and Senate appropriations committees, and funding levels recommended by Coalition, visit the Coalition's Funding Chart.

____________

Archives