Appropriations Update: House Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund Government Until Dec. 20

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed a temporary funding measure, or continuing resolution (CR), to fund the government until December 20. House members voted Tuesday with the hopes of moving the legislation to the Senate for a vote later in the week and onto the president’s desk for signature before the current CR expires at midnight on Thursday.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, said Monday, "With a government shutdown deadline just days away, this continuing resolution is necessary to keep government open as we work towards completing the appropriations process.”

The CR is said to extend current funding levels for most agencies and boost funding for the 2020 census. The bill also includes a 3.1 percent pay raise for the military.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voiced his support for the measure on Monday as well.

“While the House and Senate continue negotiations on setting the allocations, we need to buy more time. The House and Senate need to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 20 and allow these talks to continue," Senator McConnell said from the Senate floor. “This is what we need, a CR as clean as possible through Dec. 20. ... A clean CR to Dec. 20 would pass the Senate, and the White House has indicated President Trump would sign it.”

The House has passed 10 out of 12 appropriations measures on the floor in predominantly party line votes.

The Senate has passed a package of appropriations measures to fund the departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Interior, Commerce, Justice, and other agencies.

Border wall funding remains the principle issue delaying compromise between the majorities in the two chambers.