On March 17, the Senate passed (87-13) a sixth resolution (H.J. Res. 48) which will keep the government running through April 8. The measure is identical to the one passed by the House (271-158) on March 15. The President is expected to sign the bill into law before the current continuing resolution (CR) expires on March 18.
In addition to funding government operations and programs, the CR also includes spending reductions totaling $6 billion.
Included in the $6 billion is $3.5 billion in program cuts and terminations. They range from $50 million at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to $276 million for flu funding to $200 million for Wildland Fire Suppression. Another $2.6 billion in savings was found by eliminating earmark account funding that was automatically renewed in the CR approved last December. The earmarks were within the Agriculture, Commerce/Justice/Science, Financial Services/General Government, and Interior subcommittee jurisdictions.
The House Appropriations Committee’s March 11 news release includes a summary of the program reductions and terminations in H.J. Res. 48.