Federal Updates March 2024

Congress Avoids Government Shutdown

Lawmakers returned to Washington this week to another pending government shutdown. A partial government shutdown would have occurred today at midnight if lawmakers did’t act, with a full government shutdown possible on March 8th.

However, last night Congress passed a stop gap measure to fund the government through March 22. Congress further announced an agreement on the 6 appropriations bills whose funding would end on March 8th at the expiration of the continuing resolution. Leaders said there will be a package with a full-year of funding passed prior to the March 8th deadline. Health Center funding is included in the the bills expected to pass next week. Both the House and Senate currently increase funding to health centers; details of the negotiation were not yet available. 

President Biden’s State of the Union will take place on March 7