Location: 114th

(December 14, 2016) – The 114th Congress has adjourned after approving a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through April 28, 2017.  The continuing resolution, which was signed by President Obama on December 12th, became necessary when Congress failed to complete work on 11 of the 12 annual spending bills that fund programs and activities for the federal government (funding for military construction and veterans’ programs was including in an earlier continuing resolution).

Now that the 114th Congress has adjourned, completion of the Fiscal Year 2017 spending bills will be left to the 115th Congress when it convenes on January 3, 2017.  In addition to completing work on the current fiscal year’s spending measures, lawmakers will also need to begin work on the Fiscal Year 2018 spending bills, conduct hearings on President-Elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations, and fill the current vacancy in the Supreme Court.  Of particular importance to the fire service, Congress will also need to begin consideration of the reauthorization of the Assistance to Firefighters and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Programs and the United States Fire Administration.