House members returned to Washington this week after spending the month of August in recess. Congress only has a few legislative days remaining before the end of the fiscal year.
The House and Senate are working quickly to approve a new federal budget for Fiscal 2019, but Congress is not expected to pass new budget before current funding expires after Fiscal 2018 ends on September 30, 2018. Congress would therefore pass a stopgap spending measure, known as a Continuing Resolution, to keep the government funded temporarily and avoid a government shutdown.
The Senate approved nine of 12 spending bills while the House adjourned for the month of August. The House and Senate spending bills contain significant differences and the two chambers are anticipating a lengthy negotiation process to reach agreement on the final versions of the appropriations bills.