Congress Reaches CR Deal to Fund Government thru Mid-March
by Gabriel Smith, Legislative Affairs Analyst
Congress released text for a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that will extend current government funding levels through March 14. The bill comes just before a December 20th funding deadline lawmakers hope to clear before leaving Washington for the Holidays. Negotiations on the bill evolved over the weekend as additional funding provisions were added on top of what lawmakers anticipated would be a simple extension of current funding levels. Headlining the agreement is nearly $100 billion in disaster relief for Southeastern communities recovering from a devastating hurricane season.
Many House Republicans are taking issue with the bill due to the last-minute additions to the bill mostly incorporating Democrat priorities in exchange for their support. Republicans also take issue with the 1500+ page bill coming just as lawmakers prepare to depart D.C., Republicans have consistently opposed this process in the past arguing that it forces them to vote for things they don’t know are in the bill. Some of the bill’s additional provisions include,
- Transfer of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium to be transferred to the city of Washington D.C. to build a new stadium for the NFL’s Washington Commanders Franchise.
- Transfer of an Air National Guard Fighter Squadron from D.C. to the State of Maryland.
- Sets aside $30 billion to aid Farmers.
- Extends a program for duty-free imports of Haitian textiles and imports in the U.S.
- Reauthorizes and funds U.S. workforce programs.
The bill has been criticized strongly by conservatives on the House Rules Committee which could lead to Speaker Johnson relying again on Democrats to pass the bill and avert a partial shutdown of the government. As he has done before, Speaker Johnson will likely attempt to pass the bill Thursday under suspension of the rules, sending the bill directly to the Floor where Democrat and Republican votes will be needed to meet the two-thirds threshold to pass the bill. After passage in the House, the Senate will have a shortened window to pass the bill before sending it to President Biden’s desk.