House Approves Six-Month Continuing Resolution, Preventing Government Shutdown and Fulfilling Bipartisan Agreement

The U.S. House today approved H.J.Res. 117, the Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government until March 27, 2013. The temporary funding measure continues funding at the current rate of operations for federal agencies, programs and services, and provides funding for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, for relief and recovery following disasters such as the recent Hurricane Isaac.

The bill makes minimal changes to fiscal year 2012 spending levels, except in cases that would cause catastrophic, irreversible, or detrimental changes to government programs, and to ensure good government and program oversight.

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers applauded its passage.

“This CR is a good-faith effort to provide limited but fair funding for government programs. It fulfills the responsibility of Congress to maintain the continuity of our government and its vital programs and services – for our people, nation, and for the stability of our economy,” Rogers said.

“However it is essential that we move away from relying on these short term funding Band-Aids. We must return to passing critical funding legislation in the way the Constitution intended – as individual, regular Appropriations bills that provide oversight of government programs and respond to our national needs and financial realities.”

Although the House passed seven of the 12 Appropriations bills, the Senate failed to bring any Appropriations bills to the floor. With the fiscal year ending on September 30 and no Appropriations bills signed into law, the Continuing Resolution is necessary to keep the government operating.

For the text of the legislation, please visit: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hjres117ih/pdf/BILLS-112hjres117ih.pdf

For a summary of the legislation, please visit: /news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=307883