Continuing Resolution

Work continues in Congress to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded and open after September 30 less than a week out from the end of the fiscal year.  A deal on the CR content and length was reached between House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday and the House passed that package on Tuesday evening. This CR will keep the government open until December 11 and also includes pandemic-related nutrition assistance and farmer trader relief payments.  The Senate will take up the measure on Tuesday, when it is expected to pass and be signed into law by the President.

COVID-19 Relief Package

While it seemed that further Congressional action on additional COVID-19 relief was stalled, this week the House has made movement to restart negotiations on a $2.4 trillion package, which is a smaller package than they had previously passed. Sectary Mnuchin has indicated support for a “targeted pandemic relief package,” but it is unclear if the Senate would have the votes to pass such a package, given that they had previously stalled on a package totaling under $1 trillion. Discussions and debate will likely continue.