House appropriator introduces short-term CR

A senior House lawmaker wants to make sure the government doesn't shut down this coming weekend.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) has introduced a short-term continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded through May 5.

"This Continuing Resolution will continue to keep the government open and operating as normal for the next several days, in order to finalize legislation to fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year," Frelinghuysen said in a statement, adding: "I am optimistic that a final funding package will be completed soon. It is time that this essential work is completed so that critical programs and activities -- including national defense -- are properly and adequately funded for the year."

The CR would maintain the current budget cap level of $1.07 trillion put into place under the Budget Control Act of 2011, and continue policy and funding provisions included in currently enacted fiscal year 2016 appropriations legislation, according to Frelinghuysen.