Another FY18 Continuing Resolution?

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-WI) said that the House is considering extending the continuing resolution (CR) past its current expiration date of December 8, but they are not talking about extending it into next year. Ryan said the extension is a possibility to give appropriators more time to write and negotiate their bills. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) is also ruling out a new CR that extends into the new year. Extending the CR into CY2018 could lead to some issues (per CBO), as the spending levels would trigger sequestration.

The House has already passed an omnibus FY18 appropriations bill. The Senate has passed eight of their 12 FY18 spending bills out of committee, but hasn’t considered any of the bills on the Senate floor. The four remaining bills are Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security, and Interior. The Senate Appropriations Committee plans to unveil the four remaining bills next week as chairman’s marks. The bills will not be marked up in full committee.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows said he would oppose a short-term stopgap spending bill that ends just before the winter holidays. He is instead pushing for a temporary spending measure lasting into the new year.

Status of FY18 Appropriations Spending Bills