On September 26, the House approved, 370-1, a continuing resolution (H. J. Res. 111) to fund government programs at their FY2002 levels from October 1 through October 4. The same day, the Senate approved the extension by unanimous consent. Although FY2002 ends on September 30, none of the 13 annual spending bills have been enacted. To date, the House has approved five spending bills, while the Senate has approved three.
Additionally, H. J. Res. 111 would extend through December 31, the programs of the 1996 welfare reform law (P.L. 104-193) that are set to expire on September 30. The extension would allow states to continue receiving federal funding at the FY2002 level for programs, including child care subsidies and cash assistance grants.
On May 16, the House passed a bill (H.R. 4737) to reauthorize welfare programs through FY2007 (see The Source, 5/17/02). While the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee have approved bills to reauthorize welfare programs, the Senate has not considered the legislation. Lawmakers are hoping the extension will give them time to work out a compromise.
