Despite the House and Senate Appropriations Committees approving all 12 of their annual spending bills for the first time in six years, both legislative bodies have adjourned for summer recess without a budget agreement. In a July 14 press release, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) congratulated his committee on their achievement but noted that appropriators still have much to do this fall. Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), the ranking members of the Appropriations Committees issued a joint statement urging Republican leaders to “engage with Democrats to negotiate a new budget deal modeled after the bipartisan agreement of 2013 that removes the threat of a government shutdown and allows for responsible investments in America’s future.”

Going into the recess, Congress was preparing to enact a “continuing resolution” (CR) to keep the government open beyond September 30. At a press conference on July 23, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) acknowledged that a CR of some sort was all but certain. What is uncertain is the length of the CR and who will lead negotiations moving forward.

Last updated: August 17, 2015