The window is closing fast for Congress to agree on funding the government for fiscal 2021 as well as providing more coronavirus assistance to farmers, schools and sectors of the economy hammered by the pandemic.
Lawmakers headed into the weekend with reasons for optimism that they could get to vote on a massive package that would include both the FY21 funding and COVID-19 aid measures. A continuing resolution that has been funding since the fiscal year began Oct. 1 expires on Friday, but Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., has been saying negotiators would need more time than that, and there were reports on Friday the deadline would be moved back with new one-week CR to keep the government funded through Dec. 18. Read more