Funding the Government Between October 1 and December 14 if Appropriations Lapse (H. Joint Res. 108)

What is H. Joint Res. 108?

(Updated April 12, 2018)

This joint resolution would fund the federal government for any period between October 1, 2017 and December 14, 2017 in which appropriations lapse at levels approved for fiscal year 2017. September 30, 2017 marks the last day of fiscal year 2017, which the federal government is currently funded through.

As a joint resolution, this legislation would have the force of law if passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the president.

Argument in favor

This legislation ensures that the federal government won’t shut down in case Congress fails to fund the government beyond the end of fiscal year 2017.

Argument opposed

If Congress can’t reach a deal to keep the government funded and open for business then there should be a shutdown, not a blanket continuation of funding.

Impact

The federal government.

Cost of H. Joint Res. 108

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) has indicated that a short-term continuing resolution (not necessarily this one) will likely be needed to fund the federal government beyond September 30, 2017 because the Senate won’t have time to process appropriations bills passed by the House before a shutdown would begin:

“I don’t think a government shutdown is necessary, and I don’t think most people want to see a government shutdown, ourselves included. And Congress, in the House, has already done its work on this issue… The fact is though, given the time of year it is and the rest of the appropriations we have to do, we’re going to need more time to complete our appropriations process, particularly in the Senate… I think [a continuing resolution] will probably be necessary, yes, because I can’t imagine the Senate will be able to process the appropriations bills as quickly as the House.”

Of Note: In recent years Congress has frequently had to rely on stopgap continuing resolutions to buy time to finalize negotiations over government funding.

Media:

• Politico (Context)