House Passes Stop-Gap Measure to Avoid Government Shutdown
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (CR) that will keep the federal government funded at Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 funding levels through December 11. The stop-gap measure will afford Congress more time to finalize FY 2021 appropriations while avoiding a government shutdown and punts final spending decisions until after the November 3 election.
Included in the CR is a measure that will extend a pandemic-related emergency school food program through September 2021. The program, authorized through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, an early COVID-19 relief bill, provides eligible households a cash benefit in the form of a targeted debit card for every school day missed in person, to help with the purchase of food. The bill also extends provisions that make it easier for schools to distribute food to students when campuses are closed.
The Senate is expected to take up and pass the CR by early next week, and the President is expected to sign it into law.