Lawmakers Approve Stopgap Funding Bill

With just hours to spare before the midnight deadline that would have shut down much of the federal government, President Biden signed into law a short-term funding bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The stopgap measure, known as a Continuing Resolution, funds the government at current levels of spending until December 16. With the federal budget on autopilot, Members of Congress can now turn their attentions to the upcoming midterm elections.

In addition to continuing funding for most federal programs at current levels, the measure includes an additional $2 billion for Community Development Block Grants to support economic recovery in areas impacted by natural disasters, including those communities affected by Hurricane Ian. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program also received an additional $1 billion to assist low-income households with rising home energy costs.

The bill authorizes extensions of several important programs that were set to expire on September 30. Funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is extended through December 16 to continue benefits and services that help individuals and families in need. For veterans and military families, the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program, which supports organizations in connecting homeless veterans to training and employment opportunities, and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, a grant program for community organizations that provide assistance to low-income veteran families and veterans with special needs, are both extended until September 2024. Lawmakers will continue working toward a full-year FY23 funding package when Congress reconvenes in November following the elections.