On Monday, the Senate took the first step toward approving a continuing resolution (CR) to fund federal government through December 11, 2015. They will take a final vote on the measure on Wednesday – the last day of the current fiscal year – and then send it to the House for consideration at before current budget authority expires Wednesday night at midnight.
Senators voted 77-19 in favor of limiting debate on an amendment containing the text of the so-called “clean” CR (HR 7190. The CR would fund federal agencies for 90 days and keep federal dollars for Planned Parenthood in place despite opposition from conservatives.
The House must pass the stopgap before the end of the day Wednesday in order to avert a shutdown and appears on track to do so with relatively little drama. Legislative obstacles in the chamber seemingly evaporated after Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced his retirement Friday.
The stopgap provides funding for federal agencies at an annualized rate of $1.017 trillion, which is roughly flat compared to current funding levels. The CR notably includes $700 million in emergency funding to suppress Western wildfires, flat funding for the non-capped war account, and a reauthorization of the E-Verify program and the Internet Tax Freedom Act.
The Obama administration said in a Statement of Administration Policy issued Monday night that it would support the CR.