Congress has passed a Continuing Resolution (CR)
to fund the government at FY 2008 levels through March
6, 2009
and the President is expected to sign it.
The current fiscal year expires September 30, and no individual FY 09
appropriations bills have yet been approved.
While most of the CR sets spending at FY 08
funding levels, the bill includes language to fund the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance (LIHEAP) program at $5.1 billion - an increase over the FY 2008
level of $2.57 billion. It also includes
FY 09 funding for defense and military related appropriations.
Despite the fact that Congress has acted,
through the CR, to fund federal agencies and programs through March, 2009,
there is a growing expectation that Congress will return for a lame-duck
session after the election.