For fiscal year 2024, the Senate has passed its third continuing resolution trying to avoid a government shutdown which could have began on Saturday at midnight. Twelve appropriations bills were necessary in order to fund the government and the House and Senate could not pass any of them leading to numerous continuing resolutions which would fund the government at the same levels as 2023.  This is now the third continuing resolution passed but still awaits final passage in the House. In the new resolution, it would allow continued funding for the government until the beginning of March.
The continuing resolution the Senate has passed would also include funding for public health programs, child and family programs,  fund a new effort in combating drone-based national security threats, and would delay any cuts to Medicaid payments. The Senate passed the continuing resolution by adding it as a substitute amendment to a bill called the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Modernization Act which has already passed the House and would now be kicked back to the House for passage with the added amendment. The Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement defending the resolution because it “will avert a shutdown and give Congress the time it needs to finish our work to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year.” Of course the Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries supports the bill, but the Republicans are mixed. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson originally stated he would not support any more continuing resolutions but said “Because the completion deadlines are upon us, a short continuing resolution is required to complete what House Republicans are working hard to achieve: an end to governance by omnibus, meaningful policy wins, and better stewardship of American tax dollars." Many other Republicans are desperate for an immigration amendment to curb the flow of illegals into the country.  Republican Senator Mike lee wrote, “DO NOT vote for any spending bill without tough border-security provisions. The continuing resolution (CR) contains no such language. Demand an amendment adding it to the CR. If that’s denied, vote it down!”