Further Continuing Approp Act (H.R. 6363)

Summary

Keeps the government running by providing temporary money and continues important farm, health, and other federal programs to avoid a shutdown.

What problem does this solve?

The government was about to run out of money, which would have caused a shutdown of many services. This law provides short-term funding to keep federal agencies open and operating.

What does this law do?

Establishes two new government funding deadlines

Extends funding for some government agencies until January 19, 2024, and for all other agencies until February 2, 2024, to prevent a government shutdown.

Extends farm bill programs for one year

Continues authorities and funding for agricultural programs from the 2018 Farm Bill, such as commodity support and conservation programs, through September 30, 2024.

Continues funding for key health programs

Provides short-term funding until January 19, 2024, for community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, and special diabetes programs.

Delays cuts to hospital payments

Postpones scheduled reductions in Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, which help hospitals that serve many low-income patients, until January 20, 2024.

Extends Compacts of Free Association provisions

Continues certain provisions and financial assistance for the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands until February 2, 2024.

Provides funding for Columbia Class Submarine

Allows the Department of Defense to spend money at a faster rate, up to $3.3 billion, for the Columbia Class Submarine program to avoid delays.

Appropriates death gratuity for Senator Feinstein

Approves a payment of $174,000 to the beneficiary of Dianne Feinstein, the late Senator from California, a standard practice for members of Congress who die in office.

Who does this affect?

Federal government employees and contractors
Farmers and agricultural businesses
Recipients of federal health services

What is the real world impact?

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Prevents a government shutdown

Provides temporary funding to federal agencies, ensuring government services continue without interruption while lawmakers negotiate a full-year budget.

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Extends important programs

Continues authorization for key agricultural, health, and national security programs that were set to expire, preventing a lapse in services for farmers, patients, and others.

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Buys more time for budget negotiations

Acts as a temporary fix, pushing the deadline for a full-year spending agreement into the future. This avoids immediate political conflict but creates future deadlines and uncertainty.

When does this start?

This law sets two different deadlines in early 2024 for government funding and extends various other programs through different dates.

First government funding deadline

Funding for agencies covered by the Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD appropriations bills expires on January 19, 2024.

Second government funding deadline

Funding for all other federal government agencies and operations expires on February 2, 2024.

Health program extensions

Funding for community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, and special diabetes programs is extended through January 19, 2024.

Agricultural program extensions

Most programs authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill are extended until September 30, 2024.