Continuing resolutions (CRs) have become a September ritual on Capitol Hill. The pattern rarely varies. Congress spends the summer working on its appropriations bills, falls short, and passes a stopgap in the last days before funding runs out on September 30. This year, lawmakers skipped the suspense. The House passed a CR on July 21 and the Senate on August 8, before either chamber left town for the August recess.
Why Congress Needs Continuing Resolutions
A CR may fund the government - or parts of the government that haven’t received a regular appropriation - for a few days, several months, or an entire year. A “clean” CR extends funding without significantly adjusting program levels and does not include policy language (i.e., riders). A CR may also include so-called anomalies that adjust funding levels significantly or make legislative changes, such as extending expiring authorizations.
