Congress Returns to Washington with Limited Time to Fund the Government

Lawmakers return to Washington this week with only 12 working days in the House and 15 in the Senate before Congress adjourns for the year. Finalizing fiscal year (FY) 2019 appropriations legislation will be a top priority for members, as the current continuing resolution (CR) funding many government functions, including key affordable housing and community development programs, expires on December 7. There are a number of controversial provisions still to be ironed out however, including President Trump’s interest in including $5 billion to fund a border wall and efforts from Democrats to protect FBI special counsel Robert Mueller. If Congress is unable to reach an agreement on final FY 2019 spending before the current CR expires, they will need to pass another CR or face a partial government shutdown on Dec. 8.