The House approved a 10-week continuing resolution (CR) late last night, by a vote of 342-85. This vote followed the CR’s passage in the Senate yesterday afternoon by a vote of 77-21. Members of Congress are now on recess until after the November 8th election.
The bill was able to garner support from Democrats after House Republicans agreed to address the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan through another piece of legislation, the House Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA. WRDA, which was also passed yesterday, includes $170 million in Flint relief.
The CR extends current government funding levels until early December minus a 0.5% across-the-board cut (as a result of the 2011 Budget Control Act). It also provides $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus and $500 million in emergency flood relief for Louisiana and other states. Appropriators will use the next 10 weeks to negotiate longer-term 2017 spending measures.