By Jamal Nelson, CSG National Director of Federal Affairs
Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) Sept. 25 to extend federal funding through Dec. 20, 2024, successfully averting a government shutdown. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 341-82, followed by a Senate vote of 78-18, just ahead of the Oct. 1 funding deadline. This measure, now signed by President Joe Biden, maintains fiscal year 2024 spending levels, giving lawmakers additional time to negotiate a comprehensive funding agreement for fiscal year 2025.
In addition to extending federal funding, the CR includes several key provisions:
- $231 million for the Secret Service Uniformed Division following a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
- Temporary extensions of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
- Health care provisions, including funding to implement the 2020 surprise billing law, continued Medicaid funding for the Northern Mariana Islands, and a delay of pending Medicare payment cuts for clinical laboratories.
- Extensions of U.S. Department of Homeland Security authorities to operate interagency task forces combating drug trafficking and countering drone threats at large public events.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture funding to replace stolen food stamp benefits.
- Measures to prevent pay cuts for U.S. diplomats and overseas aid workers.
Missing from the bill are:
- $10 billion in additional funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster relief fund. However, the CR allows FEMA to use existing funds more quickly over the next three months for disaster response.
- The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a proof-of-citizenship voting bill that was included in a previous House plan but failed to pass the floor.
- The White House requests for increased funding for Social Security Administration expenses and expanded loan guarantees for Ukrainian purchases of U.S. military equipment.
The CR also includes $47 million for the District of Columbia emergency planning and security costs associated with presidential inauguration activities.
For a detailed summary of the bill’s provisions, click here.