By Larry Jones
October 18, 2004

Before adjourning for the upcoming November elections, Congress was only successful in passing two (Defense and District of Columbia appropriations) of the 13 regular appropriations bills that fund federal agencies and programs for fiscal year 2005, which began on October 1 and runs through September 30 of next year. Partisan disagreement as well as disputes between the House and Senate over funding levels for various programs made it difficult for members to agree on final appropriations measures.

To keep federal agencies and programs operating, Congress approved a continuing resolution, which the President signed into law on September 30. Under the measure, federal agencies and programs that have not yet been funded through a regular appropriations bill will continue to be funded at their current levels until November 20 or until a regular or another funding measure is adopted by Congress.

After the November election, members plan to return to Washington for a lame duck session to complete work on the unfinished appropriations bills and agree on funding for the remainder of the fiscal year. The outcome of the November elections could have a huge influence on final funding levels, particularly if there is a change in leadership in the White House and the new Congress. If there is a change, some in Washington speculate that members will use the lame duck session to adopt another short-term continuing resolution to fund programs until the new leadership takes office. If there is no change in leadership members may decide to approve a long-term measure to fund programs through the remainder of the fiscal year.