The post Congress Readies CR to Avoid Government Shutdown appeared first on Parkinson's Action Network.
With just one week until the new fiscal year begins on October 1, Congress is scrambling to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government funded and avoid a potential government shutdown.
The CR is necessary because Congress has yet to pass any of the 12 annual appropriations bills and send them to the president’s desk. Ongoing policy disagreements continue to complicate the debate, threatening the long-term future of medical research for programs and agencies important to the Parkinson’s community, including the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense Parkinson’s research program, and the Food and Drug Administration.
The CR would keep the government funded at current levels only through the beginning of December, likely setting up another contentious fight over spending at the end of the year. A 0.21 percent across the board cut in funding for all discretionary programs would also be triggered during this period because current funding would slightly exceed the budget caps set for next year.
A short-term solution is not enough, and even the smallest reduction in funding could have serious consequences for ongoing research and critical programs. We must hold our elected leaders accountable to their commitment of supporting medical research.
Contact your Members of Congress today and urge them to reach an agreement on FY 2016 spending that preserves and protects medical research funding and provides greater certainty for agencies and programs important to the Parkinson’s community.