Stopgap government funding measure includes census money, military pay raise
The four-week stopgap government funding measure Congress is expected to pass this week includes a 3.1 percent military pay raise and money for the 2020 census.
“With a government shutdown deadline just days away, this continuing resolution is necessary to keep government open as we work towards completing the appropriations process,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.).
The measure, which the House is expected to take up Tuesday, followed by the Senate, will put off a funding deadline from Nov. 21 until Dec. 20 as appropriators continue haggling over how to spend $1.37 trillion in federal funding, with particular attention to President Trump’s requested border wall.
Trump is expected to sign it into law, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Because the stopgap measure, called a continuing resolution, simply extends previous funding levels, special provisions had to be included to allow the 2020 census to ramp up.
The legislation also adds funding for responding to an Ebola outbreak in Africa, extends several key government health programs, and provides a traditional honorarium to the widow of Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) following his October death.
Last year, disagreements over funding the wall led to a 35-day government shutdown that began just before the Christmas holiday.
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