09/15/2022

Congress Intent on Passing Stopgap Government Funding Bill

Current funding expires on Sept. 30

House and Senate leaders are working to pass a short-term funding patch to keep government agencies open past Sept. 30, when current funding expires.

While a government shutdown appears unlikely, Senate leaders are still working to build support for including energy permitting reforms in the continuing resolution to fund the government, likely into mid-December. The energy permitting provisions are part of a promise Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made to secure Senator Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) support for the big reconciliation package. Manchin and other centrist Democrats are concerned about new climate and infrastructure projects getting held up by red tape.

A group of House progressives, led by Natural Resources Chair Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), oppose the Schumer-Manchin deal and want to separate the energy permitting provisions from the must-pass CR.

“I think more time to negotiate is a good thing,” Grijalva told POLITICO. “You avoid the drama. You avoid the pressure that members are going to be under. You avoid splitting our caucus. And you avoid a messy situation before the midterms.”

The White House has also requested about $47 billion in emergency funds for COVID-19 and monkeypox, as well as Ukraine-related aid. Republican leaders have said they would prefer to see the CR as “clean” as possible, without additional spending.

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.