Senate Approves Stopgap Funding, Avoiding Another Government Shutdown Through Next Month 

On Thursday November 21st, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved H.R. 3055 by a 74-20 vote, effectively avoiding another government shutdown at midnight. This continuing resolution provides funding through December 20th. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law later today. 

This bill provides FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 4 of the 12 regular FY2020 appropriations bills:

• the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
• the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
• the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020; and
• the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020.

The departments and agencies funded in the bill include

• the Department of Commerce;
• the Department of Justice;
• science-related agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA);
• the Department of Agriculture;
• the Food and Drug Administration;
• the Department of the Interior;
• the Environmental Protection Agency;
• the Forest Service;
• the Department of Transportation;
• the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
• several additional related and independent agencies.

The bill also specifies restrictions and requirements for using funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts.