Congress Clears Bill to Fund Government Through December 21
The House and Senate quickly passed legislation today extending the Continuing Resolution (CR) funding NASA, NOAA and many other government agencies for two more weeks, until December 21. President Trump has indicated that he will sign it into law.
Seven of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills have not passed Congress yet, including the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) bill that funds NASA and NOAA. FY2019 began on October 1.
Congress earlier passed a CR that kept all government agencies funded through tomorrow, December 7. The main obstacle to clearing the remaining appropriations bills is funding for President Trump’s border wall, which is part of the Homeland Security bill. The President wants $5 billion in FY2019, much more than either Republicans or Democrats are willing to provide in a single fiscal year.
This week was expected to be the showdown over how to resolve that issue, but the death of President George H. W. Bush and memorial services for him in Washington disrupted the congressional schedule and agreement was reached to enact a two-week extension until December 21.
Congress followed through today by passing H. J. Res. 143. It passed the House by unanimous consent and the Senate by voice vote.
The President had not signed it by press time, but is expected to do so before midnight tomorrow (Friday) when the current CR expires.
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