Spending Authority Extended Temporarily

A temporary extension of government spending authority (Public Law 109-77) has been approved through November 18, preventing any potential disruptions in operations since most funding bills for fiscal 2006, which started October 1, still have not been enacted. Leaders hope to enact those bills individually, although some might end up being lumped together as a package. November 18 is the target date for Congress to adjourn for the year, although that is far from a firm deadline. The stopgap measure in general funds agency operations at the lowest of either the fiscal 2005 levels or the levels in the House or Senate versions of the fiscal 2006 spending bills in progress.