Congress Intent on Passing Stopgap Government Funding Bill

House and Senate leaders are working to pass a short-term funding patch to keep government agencies open past Sept. 30, when current funding expires.

While a government shutdown appears unlikely, Senate leaders are still working to build support for including energy permitting reforms in the continuing resolution to fund the government, likely into mid-December. The energy permitting provisions are part of a promise Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made to secure Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) support for the big reconciliation package. Manchin and other centrist Democrats are concerned about new climate and infrastructure projects getting held up by red tape.

A group of House progressives, led by Natural Resources Chair Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), oppose the Schumer-Manchin deal and want to separate the energy permitting provisions from the must-pass CR.

“I think more time to negotiate is a good thing,” Grijalva told POLITICO. “You avoid the drama. You avoid the pressure that members are going to be under. You avoid splitting our caucus. And you avoid a messy situation before the midterms.”

The White House has also requested about $47 billion in emergency funds for COVID-19 and monkeypox, as well as Ukraine-related aid. Republican leaders have said they would prefer to see the CR as “clean” as possible, without additional spending.