On December 21, Congress passed H.R. 1370, as amended, a continuing resolution (CR) making additional appropriations for FY2018 to keep the government funded at FY2017 levels through January 19. The president signed the measure into law on December 22.
The measure includes extensions for several public health programs, including community health centers, the Prevention and Public Health Fund, and $2.85 billion to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program through March.
The CR is necessary while Congress completes negotiations on the eight remaining FY2018 spending bills: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (see The Source, 7/21/17); Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (see The Source, 7/28/17); Financial Services and General Government (see The Source, 7/14/17); Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (see The Source, 8/8/17); State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies (see The Source, 8/8/17); and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (see The Source, 7/28/17).
On December 7, Congress approved the previous continuing resolution (P.L. 115-90), which expired on December 22 (see The Source, 12/8/17).
