Funding the Government Thru December 18th to Prevent a Shutdown & Extending Expiring Programs (H.R. 8900)

What is H.R. 8900?

(Updated June 19, 2021)

This bill — the Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, and Other Extensions Act — would extend funding for the federal government at prior levels for one week from the current deadline of midnight on Friday, December 11, 2020, to midnight on Friday, December 18, 2020. In addition, the bill would extend the authorizations of several healthcare programs that would otherwise expire through December 18th as well.

Public health programs that would be extended by this bill include Community Health Centers, National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Centers; the Special Diabetes Program and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians; the Personal Responsibility Education Program and the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education program; and the Rare Pediatric Priority Review Voucher.

This section would extend funding price and quality requirements under Medicare, in addition to funding for outreach and assistance within low-income programs. It would also extend funding under Medicaid for the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration and protections against spousal impoverishment, and delay reductions for Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals. 

Argument in favor

In an ideal world, Congress would pass funding for FY2021 on time without needing a second continuing resolution in two and a half months to do its job and approve appropriations bills. In reality, Congress needs another week to continue negotiations on FY2021 appropriations and other pressing matters like coronavirus relief, and lawmakers need to avoid a partial government shutdown.

Argument opposed

This bill may be bipartisan, but it kicks the can down the road for another week, at which point Congress will either need to pass an omnibus spending bill for the rest of FY2021 or enact yet another short-term stopgap package. Lawmakers should pass FY2021 funding before the current stopgap ends on December 11th, or work through the weekend to get a deal during a partial shutdown.

Impact

The federal government.

Cost of H.R. 8900

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced this continuing resolution to extend government funding for one week after the current stopgap expires:

“With a government shutdown just days away, this continuing resolution is necessary to keep government open as we work to complete the appropriations process and deliver meaningful coronavirus relief to the American people. As we enact this temporary extension, we will continue to negotiate in good faith to complete our important work this month.”

Media:

• House Appropriations Committee Press Release

• Bill Text