House Passes CR, Third Stopgap Bill Likely to Prevent Government Shutdown
On Monday, House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) unveiled a short-term continuing resolution that would avert a government shutdown when funding runs out on February 18, 2022. On Tuesday evening, the measure passed the House and heads to the Senate. The measure allows the government to remain funded through March 11, 2022.
As lawmakers have been signaling, they would consider another continuing resolution (CR) in lieu of passing a full year appropriations measure.
“I am pleased that we have reached agreement on a framework, which will allow our subcommittees to get to work finalizing an omnibus. We will now proceed with great intensity to enact legislation making transformative investments to create good-paying American jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class, support the vulnerable who work hard, and protect our national security,” Rep. DeLauro stated.
Earlier this week, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced the House would consider a CR to prevent a government shutdown as negotiators try to reach an omnibus agreement for the rest of the fiscal year. Likewise, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, asserted that Congress may need to pass another stopgap bill to keep the government funded after the current funding expires at the end of the month.
“Negotiations are very vigorous and I think that we're going to get agreement both on the top line, how much spending is going to be in, and how it will be spent—but it's not there yet,” Rep. Hoyer stated, “I expect to do a continuing resolution to continue the authorization for government to operate and be funded this coming week and hopefully the Senate will do the same.”
The lengthy appropriations stalemate stems from lawmakers' inability to reach a consensus on several issues, including a balance of defense and nondefense spending, a top-line number for the bill, and disagreements persist over legislative riders.
“Anytime we do a CR we’re saying we can't get down and do our actual work,” stated Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the Appropriations Chairman, “We ought to sit down and stay here all weekend. Write a bill, do the actual thing.”
In accordance with the current CR passed in December, the government will continue to operate under fiscal year 2021 spending levels until February 18. If there is a continuing resolution passed in the coming weeks, it will be the third passed for 2022 since the fiscal year began in October.
Federal agencies have expressed concerns about the consequences of failing to pass full year appropriations legislation. The Office of Management and Budget previously noted that failing to pass appropriations would create a staff shortage at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would lose $1.6 billion in funding, and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) would have difficulty maintaining enough Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) employees at its meat and poultry plants.
