Legislative Update: House Approves FY 2015 Omnibus Spending Bill; Congress Extends Agency Funding through Short-Term Continuing Resolution

On December 11, 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an omnibus appropriations bill providing funding for most government agencies for the rest of fiscal year (FY) 2015. The bill contains $90 million for ARC, including $10 million to continue a program of broadband deployment in Central Appalachia and $10 million for a workforce development program in Southern Appalachia focused primarily on the automotive sector. Senate action on the legislation is pending.

The House, followed by the Senate, also passed a short-term continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 130) on December 11 extending agency funding through December 13. The previous continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 124) was set to expire at midnight December 11.