On Sept. 29, the U.S. the Senate voted to limit debate on short-term agency spending through Dec. 11, clearing the way for a final vote Wednesday to avoid a partial government shutdown.
The 82-6 cloture vote signals that the continuing resolution is all but certain to clear the Senate and go to President Donald Trump's desk for his likely signature.
The House passed the stopgap bill by an overwhelming 359-57 vote last week. None of the dozen FY 2021 bills have become law, so this Continuing Resolution (CR) will keep the government running until lawmakers reconvene after the elections for a lame-duck session.
The temporary measure gives appropriators and congressional leaders until Dec. 11 to reach agreement on nearly $1.4 trillion in funding spread throughout the 12 bills. If they are unable to do that, it’s likely Congress will pass another temporary measure into the new calendar year.
The short-term bill, as is typical, includes add-ons that will continue programs and authorizations that were set to lapse at the end of the fiscal year. The National Flood Insurance Program and the surface transportation program are among those on the list.
It also includes several changes to spending levels and programs known as anomalies, such as $1.6 billion that will allow the Department of Defense to begin building a dozen new Columbia-class nuclear-missile submarines and offered an increase for the low-income food and nutrition program and provides an early replenishment for the Commodity Corporation Credit funds.
The President is expected to sign it into law before midnight.
