House Passes Second Fiscal Year 2020 Continuing Resolution; Funds Government Through December 20

On November 21, the Senate passed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Continuing Resolution (CR) by a vote of 74-20 that will avoid a government shutdown which would have begun at midnight. The House of Representatives had approved the legislation by a vote of 231-192 on November 19. The CR funds government operations through December 20, 2019.  

Because Congress was unable to pass any of the 12 regular appropriations bills by the start of the fiscal year on October 1, the  government is currently funded under a CR that was signed into law on September 27 and expires November 21.

The intent is to buy time for appropriators and leadership to reach agreement over top-line funding levels and policy riders and negotiate and pass all 12 Appropriations bills.

The President is expected to sign the legislation this evening.