Washington, D.C. – House Republicans on July 21, 2026, brought H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027, to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in an effort to prevent a federal government shutdown. The legislation, sponsored by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma, would extend current federal funding levels through the end of December 2026, covering the period after the current fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026. Party leaders positioned the bill as a short-term step to keep federal agencies operating while Congress works through its regular appropriations process. The push for the continuing resolution comes as Congress faces a compressed schedule ahead of the planned August 2026 recess and has not yet passed any of the twelve full-year appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2027. H.R. 9770 is structured as a “clean” bill that largely maintains existing spending levels across federal departments and agencies, including defense, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also preserves funding for key safety-net programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and continues support for ongoing federal disaster relief efforts nationwide.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.