This week the Senate will continue consideration of a stopgap spending bill (HR 933) to fund federal government operations for the rest of fiscal 2013. The chamber hoped to approve the bill by the end of last week, but dozens of filed amendments delayed its progress towards passage. If and when the Senate clears the bill, which it is expected to do early this week, the measure will then be sent back to the House for consideration. The House passed its version of the continuing resolution (CR) on March 6. The House measure had included spending bills for Defense and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, along with a straightforward CR for other federal agencies. The Senate’s amended version expands on the House bill, adding spending bills for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science and Homeland Security, as well as making additional funding adjustments to the CR for other agencies. Both chambers’ CR measures set total fiscal 2013 discretionary spending levels in line with the Budget Control Act cap of $1.043 trillion (before applying the sequester). The White House released a statement indicating support for the Senate version of the CR, saying that the measure improves upon the House CR “by strengthening funding for transportation infrastructure, manufacturing, research and development, early childhood programs, and housing programs.” The current CR runs through March 27, which means that the new CR will need to be enacted by Congress before that date in order to avoid a federal government shutdown. At this time, House and Senate leaders have signaled a commitment to reaching agreement to pass the spending measure by the end of this week.

In addition, the House and Senate are scheduled to take up their chambers’ respective fiscal 2014 budget resolutions this week. Congress is scheduled to adjourn March 22 for a two-week recess.

Links: House CR; Senate CR; Administration Statement on HR 933; House FY2014 Budget Resolution; Senate FY2014 Budget Resolution