Congress to Take Up Six-Month CR After the August Recess

Legislative Update
July 31, 2012

As Congress prepares to recess at week’s end, Congressional leaders have announced a deal to take up a six-month Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 (which begins on October 1) when it returns in September. The CR, which is expected to fund the government at the FY2012 level through the first quarter of 2013, takes pressure off of Congress to finalize the spending bills in a potential lame-duck session after the November elections.

As in past years, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will provide guidance to agencies regarding spending during the CR. With respect to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Eye Institute (NEI), this often means that non-competitive grants are funded at a level below 100 percent until a final Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) or omnibus spending bill is enacted and final budget guidance is issued.