The House passed a continuing resolution on Dec. 11, which would keep the government funded through Dec. 16.
As negotiations continue on the fiscal 2016 omnibus spending bill, the House passed a five-day continuing resolution Dec. 11 that would keep the government funded through Dec. 16.
The measure, once signed by President Obama, will avert a lapse in appropriations when the current continuing resolution expires on Dec. 11.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said at a Dec. 8 press conference that it's more important to get the $1.1 trillion omnibus bill done right than to get it done fast.
The omnibus, like most must-pass legislation, is an appealing vehicle for largely unrelated provisions. Some of the policy riders that have extended negotiations relate to the environment, immigration and foreign policy, including the Syrian refugee crisis.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) said on the House floor today that "while I had hoped that we would be done by this point, there are still many moving pieces. It is my hope and expectation that the final omnibus legislation will be completed by this new deadline."
Rogers said he is "not the biggest fan of continuing resolutions. [But] at this point, I see this as the best way forward."
The Senate passed the stopgap spending measure on Dec. 10.