U.S. Congress passes continuing resolution to fund the government until March 14, 2025

Key Takeaways

On December 20, the U.S. House and Senate passed a second Continuing Resolution (CR; H.R. 10545) to extend federal spending and avert a government shutdown through March 14, 2025. The bipartisan CR passed the U.S. House and Senate by bipartisan votes of 366-34 and 85-11 respectively just hours before midnight when the first stopgap measure was set to expire. A prior version of the CR included some county priorities such workforce and reentry services, but the House ultimately rejected that bill and Congress instead enacted a pared down stopgap.

What’s in the CR?

The CR text includes the following policy highlights of interest to counties. 

• Over $100 billion in supplemental funding for critical federal disaster programs including $29 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund.
• Year-long extension of the 2018 Farm Bill through September 30, 2025, and $10 billion in economic assistance for agricultural producers facing hardship due to rising input costs and decreasing prices. 
• Delays payment reductions for the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Program, preserving a critical source of supplemental funding for county-owned hospitals, particularly in rural areas.

Notably, the CR does not reauthorize Secure Rural Schools (SRS), which has provided funding to counties impacted by reduced timber harvests since 2000.  

For more information on the status of specific FY 2025 spending bills and county funding priorities, access NACo’s FY 2025 Appropriations Tracker.