September 18, 2014

This September, Congress passed a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the federal government through December 11, 2014. Because Congress has not agreed on a budget for fiscal year (FY) 2015, the CR was necessary to prevent a government shutdown similar to the one that occurred in October 2013. The stop-gap spending measure ensures that federally funded agencies, including national parks, will have enough money to operate through the first couple months of FY 2015, which begins October 1.

The bill will continue to provide top-level funding of $1.012 trillion for the federal government. It includes a provision adopted on the House floor to authorize the training and equipping of Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The House approved its version of the CR (H.J. Res 124) on September 17, and the Senate approved the House bill on September 18. President Obama signed the bill on September 19.

Congress will take up the issue of funding the federal government for the remainder of FY 2015 again after the November elections.

Sources: House Appropriations Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee