Appropriations Update: Continuing Resolution to fund the government through March 2025

Update: Dec. 21, 2024. After a hectic week that included a carefully negotiated deal falling apart, and then another possible continuing resolution (CR) falling apart, the House and Senate both passed a new CR late into the hours of this morning by bipartisan votes, avoiding a government shutdown. The CR that passed (HR 10545) keeps some of the initial bipartisan accord detailed in the blog below, including funding the government at current levels through March 14, more than $110 billion in disaster aid and a one-year farm bill extension of agriculture and food policy. The disaster relief provision does include $500 million for child care with $250 million for renovation and repairs of child care facilities that were damaged by natural disasters, as well as temporary services for children in affected areas; and a separate $250 million for the Child Care and Development Block Grant to increase access to quality child care for working families. Not included in CR that passed is the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act reauthorization, therefore Congress will have to start anew on that next year.

Update: The appropriations update below reflects the status of the FY25 spending process as of December 18, 2024. There is still a possibility the continuing resolution (CR) described below could pass, keeping the government open. However, two other scenarios are also possible: a new pared down, clean CR could pass in the next few days funding the government into 2025; or an agreement might not be reached, resulting in at least a short term federal government shutdown until a new compromise can be reached. 

A tumultuous end to the 118th Congress played out this week as Congress worked to prevent a government shutdown by making progress on a second continuing resolution (CR), extending federal government spending through March 14, 2025. The new continuing resolution, expected to pass before the current CR expires on December 20, would continue to fund the government at FY 2024 levels. The extension gives the new 119th Congress about 10 weeks to reach a final spending deal for FY 2025.

Text of the CR was delayed repeatedly but was released midweek after House leaders struck a compromise on legislation unrelated to the spending bill. The CR text includes several other provisions in addition to extended funding, such as assistance for farmers, about $100 billion in disaster aid – including $250 million in additional child care funding through CCDBG, funding to replace Baltimore’s Key Bridge, and other provisions lawmakers and advocates sought to attach to one of the last bills that will make it to President Joe Biden’s desk.

Included in the 1,500-page measure was a bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) Act reauthorization - largely reflective of the bipartisan WIOA (HR 6655) bill that passed the House in the spring. The “A Stronger Workforce for America Act” sets new authorization levels and requirements for workforce boards and adult and youth activities, including Job Corps and adult literacy programs. House Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) and ranking member Bobby Scott (D-Va.) jointly released a statement praising the inclusion of this reauthorization in the continuing resolution. The WIOA bill includes several measures that would better allow afterschool and summer programs to provide older youth with the necessary foundational skills.

This continuing resolution, presumably passing the House and Senate by week’s end, will last until March 14, almost halfway through FY 2025. Next year, the Republican-led 119th Congress is expected to start the process all over, setting total defense and non-defense discretionary levels for FY 2025 likely in line with the caps set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Those caps would require steep cuts for non-defense funding. The main reason Congress hasn’t yet enacted full-year funding for FY 2025 is because Democrats and Republicans (in the House and the Senate) cannot agree on defense and non-defense funding totals. That difference in opinion will continue next year, and while control of the Senate will change, a final FY 2025 spending bill will need bipartisan support and 60 votes to pass. Afterschool and education advocates will rely on Senate Democratic allies in this important debate.

While Congress works to end the 118th Congress, planning has begun for the 119th. Last week, House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) announced that five Republicans will join the Committee next year (four are leaving, and the Committee will grow by one Republican and one Democrat next year). The new Republican members are Representatives Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Dale Strong (R-Alaska), Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), and Riley Moore (R-W.V.). Subcommittee assignments have not yet been announced. Democrats are still choosing ranking members for some committees and will then appoint their panel members. The House Education and the Workforce Committee will have a new Chair, with Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) selected by the Republican Steering Committee to chair the House Education and the Workforce Committee. Walberg, an eight-term congressman with over a decade of experience on the committee, defeated Congressman Burgess Owens (R-Utah) for the position. Representative Walberg's priorities reportedly include strengthening the relationship between education and work, enhancing school choice, improving college affordability, expanding apprenticeships and internships, and passing a short-term bipartisan Pell Grant bill.

As the holiday season comes into focus, it is a good time to reach out to members of Congress to thank them for past support and to emphasize the importance and value of afterschool and summer learning programs – and the need for continued federal funding to ensure more students can access quality programs when school is out.