Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) endorsed a short-term continuing resolution spending measure Monday to avoid a looming partial government shutdown, Politico reported.
The proposed measure is acknowledgement that lawmakers will need several weeks of work to craft a final fiscal 2020 spending bill. The proposal would also have the support of House Democratic leaders who have said the lower chamber will vote next week on a bill to fund the government past Sept. 30, according to the report.
In the Senate, their September focus will be on working out yearlong funding bills based on the two-year budget agreement forged before the August recess.
“A major focus of the Senate this month will be moving forward as many of the regular appropriations bills as possible and then passing a temporary continuing resolution for the outstanding parts of the government before the end of September,” McConnell said Monday on the Senate floor.
Congressional leaders have not determined the duration of the proposed continuing resolution, but House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has suggested until Nov. 22 leading to the Thanksgiving break, according to the report.
Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tia Dufour