Yesterday, in a 79-16 vote the Senate passed HR 3082, a short-term continuing resolution (CR) for FY 2011 appropriations which authorizes continued government operations through March 4, 2011. This CR replaces the previous CR which expired on December 21. The House followed the Senate in approving the CR extended through March 4 with a 193-165 vote. The bill will be sent to President Obama for him to sign into law.
The CR freezes most discretionary spending at FY 2010 enacted levels–including spending for Head Start/Early Head Start and childcare. The passage of this latest short-term CR means it will be up to the next (112th) Congress to take up and determine FY 2011 spending levels after it convenes in January 2011. It is likely that Head Start and childcare will face funding cuts below FY 2010 levels in the new Congress.
