Senate backs House's stopgap measure to avert shutdown

By Tony Bertuca / September 30, 2020 at 6:14 PM

The Senate voted 84-10 to pass the House's stopgap continuing resolution, thereby staving off a government shutdown until Dec. 11.

Among other things, the CR would extend the period by which contractors can be reimbursed for remaining in a "ready state" during the COVID-19 pandemic, though it provides no funding to do so.

The stopgap measures would also exempt the Navy’s Columbia-class submarine program from normal CR restrictions that prohibit spending on new programs.

President Trump is expected to sign the measure before midnight deadline.

The CR agreement comes as Congress is embroiled in high-profile fights over a nominee to the Supreme Court and continued stimulus spending intended to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.

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