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By @Kyle Packham

In what was an unexpected eleventh-hour turnaround, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, 335-91, Saturday morning a continuing resolution (CR) to fund federal government programs at Fiscal Year 2023 levels for another 45 days. The Senate approved 88-9.

The Continuing Appropriations Act of 2024 and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 5860) will keep government offices open and prevents federal grant and finance programs from pausing their administration until November 17. The CR also addresses other major issues Congress has been debating with no resolve ahead of a September 30 deadline for other programs.

Agencies across the federal government issued shutdown protocols outlining how agencies would operate through the shutdown. Expecting the shutdown to be a reality, the NSDC Advocacy Team released on September 29 a Special Report detailing local impacts of a federal government shutdown. In the event Congress cannot resolve major differences on across all 12 FY24 appropriations bills by November 17 without another CR, federal agencies will again issue shutdown guidelines with similar, if not the same, local impacts.

Aside from continuing appropriations for all federal departments and agencies, the CR also extends taxing authorities for the Federal Aviation Authority through December 31. Lapse of FAA authorities would have impacted a broad scope of programs special districts providing passenger and/or cargo aviation services leverage. Finally, the legislation also funds another $16 billion in emergency disaster relief for the Federal Emergency Management Agency - $15.5 billion of which will cover major disasters declared across the country. Additionally, the CR:

·        Extends the National Flood Insurance Program through November 17.

·        Ensures the National Telecommunications and Information Administration can continue to administer broadband programs.

·        Extends a base salary increase for federal wildland firefighters that was created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

·        Continues funding for USDA to provide direct and guaranteed farm loans and maintains funding for Rural Housing Rental Assistance and the Women, Infants, and Children program.

·        Does not include military aid to Ukraine to aid in its war efforts against Russia.

The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) provided the contents for this article. CSDA is a founding member of NSDC and all CSDA members receive free access to NSDC information and benefits. NSDC and CSDA will keep members updated as news develops.