H.J. Res. 143 passed unanimously in the House, and with a voice vote in the Senate, to amend the Continuing Appropriations Act, which would continue funding federal government agencies through Dec. 21.
The joint resolution originally stated that the funding would cease on Friday, which would cause a partial government shutdown of the agencies. That could still happen if President Donald Trump vetoes the bill.
The extension would continue funding nine cabinet-level departments and dozens of other federal agencies, while Congress works on a longer-term solution.
Some of the affected agencies that work on school bus- or school transportation-related issues include: the Environmental Protection Agency; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; National Transportation Safety Board; Office of Head Start, which is housed within the Administration of Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services; and the Transportation Security Administration.
