FY19 Funding Bills:

*As of 12/21/18 1:30pm EST*

A partial government shutdown is still looming as the President and Congress continue to debate funding for the border wall. As a reminder, the current continuing resolution (CR) expires on Friday, December 21 at midnight, and would have a potential consequence for the Indian Health Service and the Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA) program.

On Wednesday, December 19 a continuing resolution that would give Congress until February 8 to complete the seven remaining bills was introduced and passed by the Senate. This Senate passed CR did not include funding for a wall on the U.S. southern border. On Thursday, December 20 the House passed a CR that also gave Congress until February 8 to pass the remaining funding bills, but did include $5.7 billion for a border wall. The Senate took this bill up mid-Friday, but is not expected to pass it.

This impasse increases the likelihood of a partial government shutdown. If the Senate does pass the bill today it will be sent to the President for his signature.

Any government shutdown would only impact the appropriations bills for which Congress has not yet passed full-year FY19 funding.  Funding for the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC), along with funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) would not be impacted, as an FY19 full year funding bill for these agencies (the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations bill) was passed earlier this year. NCSD will keep you updated as the shutdown showdown continues.

ACA:

On December 15 a federal judge ruled on Texas v. United States which determined that the ACA is no longer constitutional. However, because the judge issued no order directing the government to take immediate action there is no impact on ACA coverage in 2019. NCSD will keep you updated on any future action.