Continuing Resolutions: Overview of
November 5, 2020
Components and Practices
Kevin P. McNellis,
The program activities of most federal agencies are generally funded on an annual basis through
Coordinator
the enactment of regular appropriations acts. When those annual appropriations acts are not
Analyst on Congress and
enacted by the beginning of the fiscal year (i.e., by October 1), one or more continuing
the Legislative Process
appropriations acts (commonly known as continuing resolutions or CRs) may be enacted to

provide temporary funding to continue certain programs and activities until action on the regular
James V. Saturno
appropriations acts is completed.
Specialist on Congress and
the Legislative Process
There are six main features of CRs addressed in this report. First, CRs have provided funding for

certain activities (coverage), which are typically specified with reference to the prior fiscal year’s
appropriations acts. Second, CRs have provided budget authority for a specified duration of time.
Bill Heniff Jr.
This duration may be as short as a single day or as long as the remainder of the fiscal year. Third,
Analyst on Congress and
CRs have provided funds based on an overall funding rate. Fourth, the use of budget authority
the Legislative Process

provided in the CR has been prohibited for new activities not funded in the previous fiscal year.
Fifth, the duration and amount of funds in the CR, and purposes for which they may be used for
Justin Murray
specified activities, may be adjusted through anomalies. Sixth, legislative provisions—which
Senior Research Librarian
create, amend, or extend other laws —have been included in some instances.

This report provides detailed information on CRs beginning with FY1977, which was the first

fiscal year that began on October 1. Congress has enacted one or more CRs in all but three of the
last 44 fiscal years (FY1977-FY2020). In addition, in 11 of the last 19 fiscal years, the initial CR—and in some years
subsequent CRs—provided continuing appropriations for all the regular appropriations acts.
After FY1997—the most recent fiscal year that all regular appropriations bills were enacted before the start of the new fiscal
year—an average of at least five CRs were signed into law for each fiscal year before the appropriations process was
completed for that year. During this period, CRs provided funding for an average of almost five months each fiscal year.
For some fiscal years, a CR has provided continuing appropriations (i.e., at a rate of operations) through the end of that ye ar
(often referred to as a full-year CR). Most recently, a full-year CR was enacted for most of the regular appropriations acts for
FY2007, FY2011, and FY2013. In the 1980s, in contrast, some “full-year CRs” actually included the full text of certain
regular appropriations acts (i.e., in the form of an omnibus appropriations act rather than a typical CR).

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Introduction
The program activities of most federal agencies are general y funded on an annual basis through
the enactment of 12 regular appropriations acts.1 When those annual appropriations acts are not
enacted by the beginning of the fiscal year (i.e., by October 1), one or more continuing
appropriations acts may be enacted to provide temporary funding to continue certain programs
and activities until action on regular appropriations acts is completed. Such funding is provided
for a specified period of time, which may be extended through the enactment of subsequent
continuing appropriations.
A continuing appropriations act is commonly referred to as a continuing resolution or CR because
it has typical y been in the form of a joint resolution rather than a bil . But there is no procedural
requirement as to its form. Continuing appropriations are also occasional y provided through a
bil .
If appropriations are not enacted for a fiscal year through a regular appropriations act or a CR, a
“funding gap” occurs until such appropriations are provided. When a funding gap occurs, federal
agencies may be directed to begin a “shutdown” of the affected programs and activities.2
Agencies are general y prohibited from obligating or expending federal funds in the absence of
appropriations.3
Congress has enacted one or more CRs in al but three of the 44 fiscal years since FY1977.4
Further information is available in Table 2 of this report. In total, 188 CRs were enacted into law
during the period covering FY1977-FY2020, ranging from zero to 21 in any single fiscal year. On
average, about four CRs were enacted each fiscal year during this interval. Table 3 and Figure 1
of this report provide more information on this aspect of CRs.
This report provides an overview of the components of CRs and information about congressional
practices related to their use.5 The first section of this report explains six of the typical main
components of CRs: coverage, duration, funding rate, restrictions on new activities, anomalies,
and legislative provisions. The second section discusses the enactment of regular appropriations
acts prior to the start of the fiscal year and the number of CRs enacted, beginning with FY1977,
which was the first fiscal year that began on October 1. The third section provides information on

1 For further information on the appropriations process, see CRS Report R42388, The Congressional Appropriations
Process: An Introduction.
2 For further information on funding gaps and shutdowns, see respectively, CRS Report RS20348, Federal Funding
Gaps: A Brief Overview; and CRS Report RL34680, Shutdown of the Federal Governm ent: Causes, Processes, and
Effects.
3 T hese prohibitions are contained in the Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. §§1341-1342, 1511-1519). Exceptions are
made under the act, including for activities involving “the safety of human life or the protection of property ” (31 U.S.C.
§1342). T he Antideficiency Act is discussed in CRS Report RL30795, General Managem ent Laws: A Com pendium
(available to congressional clients upon request ). In addition, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) provides
information about the act online at http://www.gao.gov/ada/antideficiency.htm.
4 T he use of CRs had also been common prior to the fiscal year beginning on October 1. For example, in each of the 23
years prior to FY1977 (i.e., FY1954 -FY1976), during which the federal fiscal year began on July 1, at least one CR
was enacted for each fiscal year. See Congressional Record, vol. 118 (May 31, 1972), pp. 19358-19359; and CRS
archived report, An Overview of the Use of Continuing Appropriations, September 26, 1980 (available to congressional
clients upon request).
5 T he information in this report is inclusive of all appropriations acts entitled or otherwise designated as providing CRs.
In some instances, such acts might alternatively be characterized by some observers as “omnibus appropriations acts.”
For a further discussion of this issue, see the section titled “ Funding Rate”; and CRS Report RL32473, Om nibus
Appropriations Acts: Overview of Recent Practices.
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the variation in the number and duration of CRs enacted each fiscal year after FY1997—the most
recent fiscal year in which al regular appropriations were enacted before the start of the new
fiscal year. Final y, the fourth section of this report discusses the features of the 15 “full-year
CRs” that provided funding through the remainder of the fiscal year. For further information, see
Table 4 in this report. A list of al CRs enacted between FY1977 and FY2020 is provided at the
end of this report in Table 5.
This report has been updated from the previous January 2019 version to include information on
FY2020.
Table 1. CRS Appropriations Procedure Experts
Area of Expertise
Name/Title
Appropriations Procedure
Kevin McNel is
and Budget Enforcement
James V. Saturno
Megan Lynch
Bil Heniff Jr.
Appropriations Status
Justin Murray
Table
Main Components of Continuing Resolutions
There are six main features of CRs addressed in this report. First, CRs provide funding for certain
activities (coverage), which are typical y specified with reference to the prior or current fiscal
year’s appropriations acts. Second, CRs provide budget authority for a specified duration of
time.6 This duration may be as short as a single day or as long as the remainder of the fiscal year.
Third, CRs typical y provide funds based on an overal funding rate. Fourth, the use of budget
authority provided in the CR is typical y prohibited for new activities not funded in the previous
fiscal year. Fifth, the duration and amount of funds in the CR, and purposes for which they may
be used for specified activities, may be adjusted through anomalies. Sixth, legislative
provisions—which create, amend, or extend other laws—have been included in some instances.
Although this section discusses the above components as they have been enacted in CRs under
recent practice, it does not discuss their potential effects on budget execution or agency
operations. For analysis of these issues, see CRS Report RL34700, Interim Continuing
Resolutions (CRs): Potential Impacts on Agency Operations.
Coverage
A CR provides funds for certain activities, which are typical y specified with reference to other
pieces of appropriations legislation or the appropriations acts for a previous fiscal year. Most
often, the coverage of a CR is defined with reference to the activities funded in prior fiscal years ’
appropriations acts for which the current fiscal year’s regular appropriations have yet to be
enacted. For example, in Section 101 of P.L. 111-68 (the first CR for FY2010), the coverage

6 Appropriations bills provide agencies with budget authority, which is defined as authority provided by federal law to
enter into contracts or other financial obligations that will result in immediate or future expenditures (or outlays)
involving federal government funds. For explanations of these terms, see GAO, Glossary, pp. 20-21. For the purposes
of this report, the terms budget authority and funding are used interchangeably.
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included activities funded in selected regular and supplemental appropriations acts for FY2008
and FY2009:
Sec. 101. Such amounts as may be necessary… under the authority and conditions provided
in such Acts, for continuing projects or activities (including the costs of direct loans and
loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this joint resolution, that
were conducted in fiscal year 2009, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority
were made available in the following appropriations Acts:
(1) Chapter 2 of title IX of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 ( P.L. 110-252).
(2) Section 155 of division A of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 110-329), except that subsections (c), (d), and
(e) of such section shall not apply to funds made available under this joint resolution.
(3) Divisions C through E of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 110-329).
(4) Divisions A through I of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 ( P.L. 111-8), as
amended by section 2 of P.L. 111-46.
(5) Titles III and VI (under the heading `Coast Guard’) of the Supplemental Appropriations
Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-32). [emphasis added]
Less frequently, CRs specify coverage with reference to regular appropriations bil s for the
current fiscal year that have yet to be enacted.7 In these instances, it is possible that an activity
covered in the corresponding previous fiscal year’s appropriations bil might not be covered in the
CR. Alternatively, a CR might stipulate that activities funded in the previous fiscal year are
covered only if they are included in a regular appropriations bil for the current fiscal year. For
example, Section 101 of P.L. 105-240, the first CR for FY1999, provided that funding would
continue only under such circumstances.
SEC. 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary under the authority and conditions
provided in the applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1998 for continuing
projects or activities including the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees (not otherwise
specifically provided for in this joint resolution) which were conducted in the fiscal year
1998 and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority would be available in the
following appropriations Acts:
(1) the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999….
(8) the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, the House and Senate reported versions of which shal
be deemed to have passed the House and Senate respectively as of October 1, 1998, for the
purposes of this joint resolution, unless a reported version is passed as of October 1, 1998,
in which case the passed version shall be used in place of the reported version for purposes
of this joint resolution;
(9) the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1999…. [emphasis added]
CRs may be enacted as standalone legislative vehicles or as provisions attached to a regular
appropriations bil or an omnibus bil .8 In instances in which one or more regular appropriations
bil s are near completion, Congress may find it expeditious to include a CR in that same

7 See, for example, Section 101 of P.L. 105-240.
8 T wo or more regular appropriations bills are sometimes packaged into a single or “omnibus” legislative vehicle prior
to enactment. For a discussion of this practice, see CRS Report RL32473, Om nibus Appropriations Acts: Overview of
Recent Practices.
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legislative vehicle to cover activities in the remaining regular bil s that are not yet enacted. In
such instances, some activities may be covered by reference, while funding for others is provided
through the text of the measure. For example, Division C of P.L. 115-245—the Department of
Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019, and
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019—provided continuing appropriations through December 7,
2018, by referencing the FY2018 regular appropriations acts, while the other divisions of P.L.
115-245 provided full-year regular appropriations for the FY2019 Defense and Labor-HHS-ED
bil s.
Duration
The duration of a CR refers to the period for which budget authority is provided for covered
activities. The period ends either upon the enactment of the applicable regular appropriations act
or on an expiration date specified in the CR, whichever occurs first. When a CR expires prior to
the completion of al regular appropriations bil s for a fiscal year, one or more additional CRs
may be enacted to prevent funding gaps and secure additional increments of time to complete the
remaining regular appropriations bil s. The duration of any further CRs may be brief, sometimes a
single day, to encourage the process to conclude swiftly, or it may be for weeks or months to
accommodate further negotiations or congressional recesses. In some cases, CRs have carried
over into the next session of Congress.
In most of the fiscal years in which CRs have been used, a series of two or more have been
enacted into law.9 Such CRs may be designated by their order (e.g., “first” CR, “second” CR) or,
after the initial CR has been enacted, designated as a “further” CR. When action on the regular
appropriations bil s is not complete by the time when the first CR expires, subsequent CRs wil
often simply replace the expiration date in the preceding CR with a new expiration date. For
example, Section 1 of the third CR for FY2016, P.L. 114-100, stated that “Public Law 114-53 is
amended by striking the date specified in Section 106(3) and inserting ‘December 22, 2015.’”
This action extended the duration of the preceding CR by six days.
Funds provided by a CR wil not necessarily be used by al covered activities through the date the
CR expires. In practice, the budget authority provided by a CR may be superseded by the
enactment of subsequent appropriations measures or the occurrence of other specified conditions.
In an instance in which a regular appropriations bil was enacted prior to the expiration of a CR,
the budget authority provided by the regular bil for covered activities would replace the funding
provided by the CR. Al other activities in the CR, however, would continue to be funded by the
CR unless they were likewise superseded or the CR expired. The duration of funds for certain
activities could also be shortened if other conditions that are specified in the CR occur. For
example, Section 107 of P.L. 108-84, the first CR for FY2004, provided funds for 31 days or
fewer:
Sec. 107. Unless otherwise provided for in this joint resolution or in the applicable
appropriations Act, appropriations and funds made available and authority granted
pursuant to this joint resolution shall be available until (a) enactment into law of an
appropriation for any project or activity provided for in this joint resolution, or (b) the
enactment into law of the applicable appropriations Act by both Houses without any
provision for such project or activity, or (c) October 31, 2003, whichever first occurs.
[emphasis added]

9 For further information, see Table 2 and Table 5 in this report.
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In this instance, funding for al other activities not subject to these conditions would continue
under the CR until it expired or was otherwise superseded.
When a CR is attached to a regular appropriations bil , the activities covered by regular
appropriations are funded through the remainder of the fiscal year, whereas the activities covered
by the CR are funded through a specified date. Congress may also single out specific activities in
a CR to receive funding for a specified duration that differs from the majority of other accounts
and activities. This type of variation in duration is discussed in the “Exceptions to Duration,
Amount, and Purposes: Anomalies” section.
Congress has occasional y enacted a CR to provide funds for the activities covered in such bil s
through the remainder of the fiscal year as an alternative to separately enacting one or more of the
regular appropriations bil s. This type of CR is referred to as a full-year CR. Full-year CRs may
provide funding for al bil s that have yet to be enacted or include the full text of one or more
regular appropriations bil s. For example, Division A of P.L. 112-10 contained the text of the
FY2011 Defense Appropriations Act, whereas the programs and activities covered by the 11
remaining regular appropriations bil s were funded by the full-year CR in Division B.
Funding Rate
CRs often fund activities under a formula-type approach that provides budget authority at a
restricted level but not a specified amount. This method of providing budget authority is
commonly referred to as the “funding rate.” Under a funding rate, the amount of budget authority
for an account10 is calculated as the total amount of budget authority annual y available based on
a reference level (usual y a dollar amount or calculation) multiplied by the fraction of the fiscal
year for which the funds are made available in the CR.11 This is in contrast to regular and
supplemental appropriations acts, which general y provide specific amounts for each account.
In previous years, many CRs have provided funding across accounts by reference to the amount
of budget authority available in specified appropriations acts from the previous fiscal year. For
example, Section 101 of P.L. 110-329, the first CR for FY2010, provided the following funding
rate:
Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate for operations as provided in the applicable
appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2008 and under the authority and conditions provided
in such Acts, for continuing projects or activities (including the costs of direct loans and
loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this joint resolution, that
were conducted in fiscal year 2008, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority
were made available in the following appropriations Acts: divisions A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J,
and K of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 ( P.L. 110-161). [emphasis added]
Other CRs have provided funding by reference to the levels available in the previous fiscal year,
with either an increase or decrease from the previous fiscal year’s level. For example, Section
101(a) and (b) of P.L. 112-33, the first CR for FY2012, provided the following funding rate:
(a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate for operations as provided in the applicable
appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2011 and under the authority and conditions provided
in such Acts, for continuing projects or activities (including the costs of direct loans and
loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Act, that were

10 Regular appropriations bills contain a series of unnumbered paragraphs with headings, generally reflecting a unique
budget “ account.” Elements within budget accounts are divided by “ program, p roject or activity” based upon the table
“Comparative Statement of New Budget Authority” in the back of the report accompanying the appropriations bill.
11 For a discussion of how funding rates are calculated, see GAO, Office of the General Counsel, Principles of Federal
Appropriations Law, vol. II, 3rd ed. (2004), at 8-10 to 8-14.
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conducted in fiscal year 2011, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were
made available in the following appropriations Acts….
(b) The rate for operations provided by subsection (a) is hereby reduced by 1.503 percent.
[emphasis added]
Although these examples il ustrate the most typical types of funding rates, other types of funding
rates have sometimes been used when providing continuing appropriations. For example, P.L.
105-240, the first CR for FY1999, provided a variable funding rate for covered activities.
Specifical y, the CR provided funds derived from three possible reference sources: the House-
and Senate-passed FY1999 regular appropriations bil s, the amount of the President’s budget
request, or “current operations” (the total amount of budget authority available for obligation for
an activity during the previous fiscal year), whichever was lower. In instances where no funding
was provided under the House- and Senate-passed FY1999 appropriations bil s, the funding rate
would be based on the lower of the President’s budget request or current operations. In addition,
while the first CR for a fiscal year may provide a certain funding rate, subsequent CRs sometimes
may provide a different rate.
CRs have sometimes provided budget authority for some or al covered activities by
incorporating the actual text of one or more regular appropriations bil s for that fiscal year rather
than providing funding according to the rate formula.12 For example, P.L. 112-10 provided
funding for the Department of Defense through the incorporation of a regular appropriations bil
in Division A, whereas Division B provided formulaic funding for al other activities for the
remainder of the fiscal year.13 In this type of instance, the formula in the CR applies only to
activities not covered in the text of the incorporated regular appropriations bil or bil s.
Purpose for Funds and Restrictions on New Activities
Congress has often limited the funding provided by CRs so that agencies are not able to use those
funds to initiate new programs or activities or to avoid limitations imposed on previously
appropriated funds. CRs that provide a funding rate for activities often stipulate that funds may be
used for the same purposes and in the manner provided in specified appropriations acts for the
previous fiscal year. In practice, this is often characterized as a prohibition on “new starts.” In
addition, conditions and limitations on program activity from the previous year’s appropriations
acts may be retained by language contained within the resolution’s text. An example of such
language, from P.L. 112-33, is below:
Sec. 103. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be available to the extent and in the
manner that would be provided by the pertinent appropriations Act. [emphasis added]
Sec. 104. Except as otherwise provided in section 102, no appropriation or funds made
available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 shall be used to initiate or resume
any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available
during fiscal year 2011. [emphasis added]

12 From a functional perspective, CRs that do not include any formulaic provisions but instead provide appropriations
only by using the full text of acts (including by cross-reference) are sometimes regarded as omnibus appropriations acts
rather than CRs, even if they are entitled an act “ making continuing appropriations” or “ making further continuing
appropriations.”
13 T he formulaic funding for many of the accounts funded in Division B was modified by anomalies. For a discussion
of this practice, see the “Anomalies” section of this report.
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This language prevents the initiation of new activities with the funds provided in the CR.
Agencies may use appropriated funds from prior fiscal years that remain available, however, to
initiate new activities in some circumstances.14
Exceptions to Duration, Amount, and Purposes: Anomalies
Even though CRs typical y provide funds at a rate, they may also include provisions that
enumerate exceptions to the duration, amount, or purposes for which those funds may be used for
certain appropriations accounts or activities. Such provisions are commonly referred to as
“anomalies.” The purpose of anomalies is to preserve Congress’s constitutional prerogative to
provide appropriations in the manner it sees fit, even in instances when only short-term funding is
provided.15
Duration
A CR may contain anomalies that designate a duration of funding for certain activities that is
different from the overal duration provided. For example, Section 112 of P.L. 108-84 provided an
exception to the expiration date of October 31, 2003, specified in Section 107(c) of the CR:
For entitlements and other mandatory payments whose budget authority was provided in
appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2003, and for activities under the Food Stamp Act of
1977, activities shall be continued at the rate to maintain program levels under current law,
under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal
year 2003, to be continued through the date specified in section 107(c): Provided, That
notwithstanding section 107, funds shall be available and obligations for mandatory
payments due on or about November 1 and December 1, 2003, may continue to be made.
[emphasis added]
Amount
Anomalies may also designate a different specific amount or rate of budget authority for certain
accounts or activities than the funding rate provided for the remainder of activities in the CR.16
Typical y, such funding is specified as an annualized rate based upon a lump sum. For example,
Section 120 of P.L. 112-33 provided the following lump-sum anomaly for a specific account,
which was an exception to the general y applicable funding rate in Section 101:
Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for “Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety
Board—Salaries and Expenses” at a rate for operations of $29,130,000. [emphasis added]
Funding adjustments can also be provided in anomalies for groups of accounts in the bill. For
example, Section 121 of P.L. 112-33 provided a different rate for certain funds in a group of
accounts:

14 Although appropriations bills most commonly provide budget authority that is available fo r obligation for only one
fiscal year, budget authority for an activity may be provided for more than one year (“multiyear”) or indefinitely (“no -
year”). In instances where funds provided in previous years are still available for the purpose of initiating a new project
or activity, such funds may generally be used for this purpose, even though funds for the current fiscal year are
provided by a CR. GAO, Glossary, p. 22.
15 Article 1, Section 9, of t he U.S. Constitution grants Congress the “power of the purse” by prohibiting expenditures
“but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.”
16 Regular appropriations bills contain a series of unnumbered paragraphs with headings, generally reflecting a unique
budget “account.” Elements within budget accounts are divided by “ program, project or activity” (GAO, Glossary, p.
80). When a CR provides funds for activities in the prior year’s regular appropriations acts, anomalies reflect the
account structure in such acts.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, except section 106, the District of
Columbia may expend local funds under the heading “District of Columbia Funds” for
such programs and activities under title IV of H.R. 2434 (112th Congress), as reported by
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, at the rate set forth
under ‘‘District of Columbia Funds—Summary of Expenses’’ as included in the Fiscal
Year 2012 Budget Request Act of 2011 (D.C. Act 19–92), as modified as of the date of the
enactment of this Act. [emphasis added]
Further, anomalies may provide exceptions to amounts specified in other laws. For example,
Section 121 of P.L. 110-329 provided that funds may be expended in excess of statutory limits up
to an alternative rate:
Notwithstanding the limitations on administrative expenses in subsections (c)(2) and
(c)(3)(A) of section 3005 of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of
2005 (P.L. 109-171; 120 Stat. 21), the Assistant Secretary (as such term is defined in
section 3001(b) of such Act) may expend funds made available under sections 3006, 3008,
and 3009 of such Act for additional administrative expenses of the digital-to-analog
converter box program established by such section 3005 at a rate not to exceed
$180,000,000 through the date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution.
[emphasis added]
Purpose
CRs may also use anomalies to alter the purposes for which the funds may be expended. Such
anomalies may al ow funds to be spent for activities that would otherwise be prohibited or
prohibit funds for activities that might otherwise be al owed. For example, Section 114 of P.L.
108-309, the first CR for FY2005, prohibited funds from being available to a particular
department for a certain activity:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this joint resolution, except sections 107 and 108,
amounts are made available for the Strategic National Stockpile (“SNS”) at a rate for
operations not exceeding the lower of the amount which would be made available under
H.R. 5006, as passed by the House of Representatives on September 9, 2004, or S. 2810,
as reported by the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate on September 15, 2004:
Provided, That no funds shall be made available for the SNS to the Department of
Homeland Security under this joint resolution. [emphasis added]
Legislative Provisions
Substantive legislative provisions, which have the effect of creating new law or changing existing
law, have also been included in some CRs. One reason why CRs have been attractive vehicles for
such provisions is that they are often widely considered to be must-pass measures to prevent
funding gaps. Legislative provisions previously included in CRs have varied considerably in
length, from a short paragraph to more than 200 pages.
House and Senate rules restrict the inclusion of legislative provisions in appropriations bil s, but
such restrictions are applicable in different contexts. Although House rules prohibit legislative
provisions from being included in general appropriations measures (including amendments or any
conference report to such measures), these restrictions do not apply to CRs.17 Senate rules

17 House Rule XXI, clause 2, prohibits such language in general appropriations measures and applicable amendments.
House Rule XXII, clause 5, in effect, generally extends the House Rule XXI, clause 2, prohibition to conference
reports. CRs, however, are not considered to be general appropriations bills because they do not provide appropriations
on an annual basis. W[illia]m Holmes Brown, Charles W. Johnson, and John V. Sullivan, House Practice: A Guide to
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prohibit non-germane amendments that include legislative provisions either on the Senate floor or
as an amendment between the houses.18 While these Senate restrictions do apply in the case of
CRs, there is considerable leeway on when such provisions may be included, such as when the
Senate amends a legislative provision included by the House.19 The rules of the House and Senate
are not self-enforcing. A point of order must be raised and sustained to prevent any legislative
language from being considered and enacted.20
Substantive provisions in CRs have included language that established major new policies, such
as an FY1985 CR, which contained the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984.21
More frequently, CRs have been used to amend or renew provisions of law. For example, Section
140 of P.L. 112-33 retroactively renewed import restrictions under the Burmese Freedom and
Democracy Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-61):
(a) Renewal of Import Restrictions Under Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of
2003.—
(1) In general.—Congress approves the renewal of the import restrictions contained in
section 3(a)(1) and section 3A (b)(1) and (c)(1) of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy
Act of 2003.
(2) Rule of construction.—This section shall be deemed to be a “renewal resolution” for
purposes of section 9 of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003.
(b) Effective Date.—This section shall take effect on July 26, 2011.
CRs have also contained legislative provisions that temporarily extended expiring laws. For
example, Section 146 of P.L. 116-159 extended the National Flood Insurance Program:
(a) Section 1309(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4016(a)) is
amended by striking “September 30, 2019” and inserting “September 30, 2021”.
(b) Section 1319 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4026) is amended
by striking “September 30, 2019” and inserting “September 30, 2021”.
(c)
(1) This section shall become effective immediately upon enactment of this Act.
(2) If this Act is enacted after September 30, 2020, this section shall be applied as if it were
in effect on September 30, 2020.
Legislative provisions that temporarily extend expiring laws are effective through the date the CR
expires, unless otherwise specified.

the Rules, Precedents and Procedures of the House, 115th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 2017), ch. 4, §6, pp. 78-
79; and Lewis Deschler, Deschler's Precedents of the United States House of Representatives, vol. viii, ch. 26, §1.2,
H.Doc 94-661, 94th Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 1994), p. 5228 .
18 Senate Rule XVI, paragraphs 2-6.
19 For further information on House and Senate restrictions on legislation in appropriations, see CRS Report R41634,
Lim itations in Appropriations Measures: An Overview of Procedural Issues.
20 For further information on points of order, see CRS Report 98-307, Points of Order, Rulings, and Appeals in the
House of Representatives; and CRS Report 98-306, Points of Order, Rulings, and Appeals in the Senate.
21 P.L. 98-473, 98 Stat. 1837.
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Enactment of Regular Appropriations Bills and Use
of CRs, FY1977-FY2020
As mentioned previously, regular appropriations were enacted after October 1 in al but four
fiscal years between FY1977 and FY2020. Consequently, CRs have been needed in almost al of
these years to prevent one or more funding gaps from occurring.22
Table 2 provides an overview of the enactment of regular appropriations bil s and the use of CRs
between FY1977 and FY2020. Al appropriations were enacted on or before the start of the new
fiscal year four times during this period: FY1977, FY1989, FY1995, and FY1997. Over half of
the regular appropriations bil s for a fiscal year were enacted before the start of the new fiscal
year in only one instance (FY1978). In al other fiscal years, fewer than six regular appropriations
acts were enacted on or before October 1. In addition, in 16 of the 44 years during this period, no
regular appropriations bil s were enacted prior to the start of the fiscal year. Eleven of these fiscal
years have occurred in the last 19 years.
Table 2. Enactment of Regular Appropriations Bills and
Use of Continuing Resolutions (CRs): FY1977-FY2020
Number of Regular
Regular Appropriations Bills Enacted
Fiscal Year
Appropriations Billsa
on or Before October 1
CRs Enactedb
1977
13
13
2c
1978
13
9
3
1979
13
5
1
1980
13
3
2
1981
13
1
3
1982
13
1
4
1983
13
1
2
1984
13
4
2
1985
13
4
5
1986
13
0
5
1987
13
0
6
1988
13
0
5
1989
13
13
0
1990
13
1
3
1991
13
0
5
1992
13
3
4
1993
13
1
1
1994
13
2
3
1995
13
13
0

22 For further information on the funding gaps that occurred during this period, see CRS Report RS20348, Federal
Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview.
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Number of Regular
Regular Appropriations Bills Enacted
Fiscal Year
Appropriations Billsa
on or Before October 1
CRs Enactedb
1996
13
0
13
1997
13
13
0
1998
13
1
6
1999
13
1
6
2000
13
4
7
2001
13
2
21
2002
13
0
8
2003
13
0
8
2004
13
3
5
2005
13
1
3
2006
11
2
3
2007
11
1
4
2008
12
0
4
2009
12
3
2
2010
12
1
2
2011
12
0
8
2012
12
0
5
2013
12
0
2
2014
12
0
4
2015
12
0
5
2016
12
0
3
2017
12
1
3
2018
12
0
5
2019
12
5
3
2020
12
0
2
Sources: U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Appropriations, Budget Estimates, Etc., 94th Cong.,
2nd sess.-104th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 1976-1995). U.S. Congress, House of Representatives,
Calendars of the U.S. House of Representatives and History of Legislation, 104th Cong., 1st sess.-113th Cong., 1st sess.
(Washington: GPO, 1995-2012). CRS appropriations status tables (FY1999-FY2020), http://www.crs.gov/pages/
AppropriationsStatusTable.aspx.
a. Between the 95th and 108th Congresses, there were 13 House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees
each responsible for one regular appropriations bil . During the 109th Congress, due to subcommittee
realignment, the total number of regular appropriations bil s was effectively reduced to 11 during each year
of the Congress. Beginning in the 110th Congress, subcommittee jurisdictions were again realigned for a
total of 12 subcommittees, each of which is currently responsible for a single regular appropriations bil . For
further information on subcommittee realignment during this period, see CRS Report RL31572,
Appropriations Subcommittee Structure: History of Changes from 1920 to 2019.
b. For further information on each of these CRs, see Table 3.
c. Although al 13 FY1977 regular appropriations bil s became law on or before the start of the fiscal year, two
CRs were enacted to provide funding general y for certain activities that had not been included in the
regular appropriations acts.
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CRs were enacted in al but three of these fiscal years (FY1989, FY1995, and FY1997). In
FY1977, although al 13 regular appropriations bil s became law on or before the start of the
fiscal year, two CRs were enacted to provide funding for certain activities that had not been
included in the regular appropriations acts.
Duration and Frequency of Continuing Resolutions,
FY1998-FY2020
CRs have been a significant element of the recent annual appropriations process.23 As shown in
Table 3, a total of 119 CRs were enacted into law from FY1998 to FY2020. While the average
number of such measures enacted per year was about five, the number enacted ranged from two
measures (for FY2009, FY2010, and FY2013) to 21 (for FY2001).
During the past 23 fiscal years, Congress provided funding by means of a CR for an average of
almost five months (140 days) each fiscal year. Taking into account the total duration of al CRs
for each fiscal year, the period for which continuing appropriations were provided ranged from 21
days to 365 days. On average, each of the 119 CRs lasted for about 39 days; 52 of these were for
seven days or fewer.24 Three full-year CRs were used during this period for FY2007, FY2011,
and FY2013.
The expiration date of the final CR can vary substantial y. In 10 of the 23 fiscal years of this
period, the expiration date of the final CR was set in the first quarter of the fiscal year on a date
occurring between October 21 and December 31. In 10 other fiscal years, however, the expiration
date was set in the following session of Congress on a date occurring between January 10 and
May 5. Three other final CRs—for FY2007, FY2011, and FY2013—provided funding through
the end of the fiscal year.
Table 3. Number and Duration of Continuing Resolutions (CRs): FY1998-FY2020
Total
Average
Final
Number of
Duration
Duration for
Expiration
Fiscal Year
CRs
in Daysa
Each Act
Dateb
1998
6
57
9.5
11-26-1997
1999
6
21
3.5
10-21-1998
2000
7
63
9.0
12-02-1999
2001
21
82
3.9
12-21-2000
2002
8
102
12.8
01-10-2002
2003
8
143
17.9
02-20-2003
2004
5c
123
24.6
01-31-2004
2005
3
69
23.0
12-08-2004
2006
3
92
30.7
12-31-2005
2007
4
365
91.3
09-30-2007

23 FY1997 was the most recent fiscal year that all regular appropriations bills were completed by the start of the fiscal
year.
24 T he fifth CR enacted for FY2004, P.L. 108-185, did not change the expiration date of January 31, 2004, set in the
preceding CR.
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Total
Average
Final
Number of
Duration
Duration for
Expiration
Fiscal Year
CRs
in Daysa
Each Act
Dateb
2008
4
92
23.0
12-31-2007
2009
2
162
81.0
03-11-2009
2010
2
79
39.5
12-18-2009
2011
8
365
45.6
9-30-2011
2012
5
84
16.8
12-23-2011
2013
2
365
182.5
9-30-2013
2014
4d
110d
27.5
01-18-2014
2015
5
156
31.3
03-06-2015
2016
3
83
27.7
12-22-2015
2017
3
216
72.0
05-05-2017
2018
5
173
34.6
03-23-2018
2019
3
138
46.0
02-15-2019
2020
2
81
40.5
12-20-2019
Total
119
3,221
—
—
Annual Average
5.2
140.0
38.9
—
Sources: Prepared by CRS using data from the Legislative Information System (LIS)/Congres.gov; CRS,
appropriations status tables (various fiscal years), available at http://crs.gov/Pages/appover.aspx.
a. Duration in days is measured, in the case of the first CR for a fiscal year, from the first day of the year
(October 1). For example, a CR enacted on September 30 that provided funding through October 12
would be measured as having a12-day duration. For subsequent CRs for a fiscal year, duration in days is
measured from the day after the expiration of the preceding CR. The duration of CRs that ended a
lapse in appropriations includes the period of that funding gap and is calculated from the first ful day
after the final day that budget authority was provided through the expiration date of the CR.
b. The final expiration date is the date the CR expired. In some of these instances, the CR had previously been
superseded by the enactment of the remaining regular appropriations acts for that fiscal year. For example,
in FY2014, the expiration date of P.L. 113-73, the fourth CR for FY2014, was January 18, 2014. However,
final regular appropriations were enacted the previous day in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014
(P.L. 113-76).
c. The fifth CR for FY2004 did not change the expiration date of January 31, 2004, established in the preceding
CR.
d. A total of four CRs were enacted for FY2014. This count includes two CRs that provided funding for only
specific programs and activities during the FY2014 funding gap. The Pay Our Military Act ( P.L. 113-39) was
enacted on September 30, 2013. The Department of Defense Survivor Benefits Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2014 (P.L. 113-44), was enacted on October 10, 2013. The funding provided by both of these
CRs was terminated on October 17, 2013, through the enactment of a third CR, P.L. 113-46, which broadly
funded the previous fiscal year’s activities through January 15, 2014. The funding provided by this third CR
was extended through January 18 through the enactment of a fourth CR ( P.L. 113-73). Section 118 of P.L.
113-46 provided that the time covered by that act was to have begun on October 1, 2013. To preserve
counting consistency, the FY2014 duration of days for the purposes of this table and Figure 1 begins on
October 1 and ends on January 18, 2014. For further information on the FY2014 funding gap and
congressional action on CRs, see CRS Report RS20348, Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview.
Figure 1 presents a representation of the number and duration of CRs for FY1998-FY2020. As
the figure shows, there is no significant correlation between these two variables. For example, six
CRs were enacted for both FY1998 and FY1999, but the same number of measures lasted for a
period of 57 days for FY1998 and only 21 days for FY1999. The largest number of CRs enacted
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for a single fiscal year during this period—21 for FY2001—covered a period lasting 82 days at an
average duration of about four days per act. The smal est number enacted—two each for FY2009,
FY2010, FY2013, and FY2020—covered 162 days, 79 days, 365 days, and 81 days respectively.
Figure 1 also shows considerable mix in the use of shorter-term and longer-term CRs for a single
fiscal year. For example, for FY2001, 21 CRs covered the first 82 days of the fiscal year. The first
25 days were covered by a series of four CRs lasting between five and eight days each. The next
10 days, a period of intense legislative negotiations leading up to the national elections on
November 7, 2000, were covered by a series of 10 one-day CRs. The next 31 days were covered
by two CRs, the first lasting 10 days and the second lasting 21 days. The first of these two CRs
was enacted into law on November 4, the Saturday before the election, and extended through
November 14, the second day of a lame duck session. The second CR was enacted into law on
November 15 and expired on December 5, which was 10 days before the lame-duck session
ended. The remaining five CRs, which ranged in duration from one to six days, covered the
remainder of the lame-duck session and several days beyond (as the final appropriations measures
passed by Congress were being processed for the President’s approval).25
Table 5 provides more detailed information on the number, length, and duration of CRs enacted
for FY1977-FY2020. As indicated previously, this represents the period after the start of the
federal fiscal year was moved from July 1 to October 1 by the Congressional Budget Act.

25 For further information on the appropriations context for FY2001, see “Longest Appropriations Cycle in Five Years
Ends with Omnibus Spending Bill,” Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 106th Cong., 2nd sess. (2000), vol. LVI, pp. 2-3
through 2-6.
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Figure 1. Duration of Continuing Resolutions (CRs): FY1998-FY2020

Notes: Each segment of a bar for a fiscal year represents the duration in days of one CR or a funding gap wherein appropriations for particular projects, programs, and
activities were not provided. (Funding gaps are indicated in red and occurred in three fiscal years [FY2014, FY2018, and FY2019]). For further information about these
funding gaps and congressional action on associated CRs, see CRS Report RS20348, Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview. This method differs from the durations
calculated in Table 3 and Table 5. The left-most segment represents the first CR, effective beginning on October 1 (the start of the fiscal year). In the case of the initial
CR for a fiscal year, duration in days is measured from the first day of the year through the expiration date. For subsequent CRs for a fiscal year, duration in days is
measured from the day after the expiration of the preceding CR. Please see the notes to Table 3 in this report for a further explanation of the methodology for this
figure. The insert for FY2001 shows the coverage periods of the 21 CRs that were enacted in that fiscal year, many of which had durations of fewer than 10 days.
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Features of Full-Year CRs After FY1977
Full-year CRs have been used to provide annual discretionary spending on a number of
occasions. Prior to the full implementation of the Congressional Budget Act in FY1977, full-year
CRs were used occasional y, particularly in the 1970s. Full-year CRs were enacted into law for
four of the six preceding fiscal years (FY1971, FY1973, FY1975, and FY1976).26 Following the
successful completion of al 13 regular appropriations acts prior to the start of FY1977, full-year
CRs were used in each of the 11 succeeding fiscal years (FY1978-FY1988) to cover at least one
regular appropriations act. Three years later, another full-year CR was enacted for FY1992. Most
recently, full-year CRs were enacted for FY2007, FY2011, and FY2013.
Table 4 identifies the 15 full-year CRs enacted for the period since FY1977. Nine of the 15 full-
year CRs during this period were enacted in the first quarter of the fiscal year—three in October,
two in November, and four in December. The six remaining measures, however, were enacted
during the following session of Congress between February 15 and June 5.
The full-year CRs enacted during this period also varied in terms of length and the form of
funding provided. Full-year CRs prior to FY1983 were relatively short measures, ranging in
length from one to four pages in the Statutes-at-Large. Beginning with FY1983 and extending
through FY1988, however, the measures became much lengthier, ranging from 19 to 451 pages.
The greater page length of full-year CRs enacted for the period covering FY1983-FY1988 may be
explained by two factors. First, full-year CRs enacted prior to FY1983 general y established
funding levels by formulaic reference. Beginning with FY1983, however, Congress began to
incorporate the full text of some or al of the covered regular appropriations acts, thereby
increasing its length considerably. None of the full-year CRs enacted between 1985 and 1988
used formulaic funding provisions. Secondly, the number of regular appropriations acts covered
by full-year CRs increased significantly during the FY1983-FY1988 period. For the period
covering FY1978-FY1982, the number of regular appropriations acts covered by CRs for the full
fiscal year ranged from one to six (averaging about three). Beginning with FY1983 and extending
through FY1988, the number of covered acts ranged from five to 13, averaging about 10.
The next two full-year CRs, for FY1992 and FY2007, returned to the earlier practice of using
formulaic references and anomalies to establish funding levels. Both CRs provided funding only
through this means. As a consequence, the length of these measures was considerably shorter than
the FY1983-FY1988 full-year CRs.
The two most recent full-year CRs, for FY2011 and FY2013, in some respects were a hybrid of
the earlier and more recent approaches. The FY2011 full-year CR provided funding for 11 bil s
through formulaic provisions and anomalies, and it also carried the full text of one regular
appropriations bil in a separate division of the act (the FY2011 Department of Defense
Appropriations Act). Similarly, the FY2013 CR contained the texts of five regular appropriations
bil s in Divisions A-E of the act—the FY2013 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act; the Commerce, Justice, Science, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act; the Department of Defense Appropriations Act; the
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act; and the Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. In addition, Division F provided
continuing appropriations for the remaining seven regular appropriations bil s through formulaic

26 T he full-year CR for FY1976, P.L. 94-254, provided funding through the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 1976) as
well as through the end of a “transition quarter” (September 30, 1976). T he additional quarter of funding was necessary
to facilitate the change in the start of the federal government fiscal year from July 1 to October 1.
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provisions and anomalies. Unlike previous years, the formula for providing continuing
appropriations was based on the amount provided in FY2012 rather than a rate.
Table 4. Appropriations Acts Containing Full-Year Continuing Resolutions (CRs):
FY1977-FY2020
Number of
Included
Appropriations
Page Length
Formulaic
Acts Covered
Fiscal
Public Law
Enactment
(Statutes-
Funding
or Contained
Year
Number
Date
at-Large)
Provision(s)?
in the Acta
1978
P.L. 95-205
12-09-1977
2
No
2/13b
1979
P.L. 95-482
10-18-1978
4
No
1/13
1980
P.L. 96-123
11-20-1979
4
Yes
6/13c
1981
P.L. 97-12
06-05-1981
2d
Yes
5/13d
1982
P.L. 97-161
03-31-1982
1
Yes
3/13e
1983
P.L. 97-377
12-21-1982
95
Yes
7/13
1984
P.L. 98-151
11-14-1983
19
Yes
5/13f
1985
P.L. 98-473
10-12-1984
363
No
9/13g
1986
P.L. 99-190
12-19-1985
142
No
8/13h
1987
P.L. 99-591
10-30-1986
391
No
13/13
1988
P.L. 100-202
12-22-1987
451
No
13/13
1992
P.L. 102-266
04-01-1992
8
Yes
1/13i
2007
P.L. 110-5
02-15-2007
53
Yes
9/11j
2011
P.L. 112-10
04-15-2011
98
Yes
12/12k
2013
P.L. 113-6
03-26-2013
240
Yes
12/12l
Sources: Prepared by CRS using data from the Legislative Information System/Congress.gov; CRS,
appropriations status tables (various fiscal years), available at http://crs.gov/Pages/appover.aspx.
a. Between the 95th and 108th Congresses, there were 13 House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees
each responsible for one regular appropriations bil . During the 109th Congress, due to subcommittee
realignment, the total number of regular appropriations bil s was effectively reduced to 11 during each year
of the Congress. Beginning in the 110th Congress, subcommittee jurisdictions were again realigned for a
total of 12 subcommittees, each of which is currently responsible for a single regular appropriations bil . For
further information on subcommittee realignment during this period, see CRS Report RL31572,
Appropriations Subcommittee Structure: History of Changes from 1920 to 2019.
b. The ful -year continuing appropriations for the District of Columbia provided by this act were later
superseded by a standalone regular appropriations act (P.L. 95-288).
c. Some of the appropriations acts covered by this ful -year CR were later superseded by standalone regular
appropriations acts for Interior and Related Agencies (P.L. 96-126); Military Construction (96-130);
Department of Defense (P.L. 96-154); and Transportation (P.L. 96-131).
d. This ful -year CR was contained within the FY1981 Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act 1981
(P.L. 97-12, see Title IV, “Further Continuing Appropriations”). Title IV extended through the end of the
fiscal year the expiration of P.L. 96-536, which covered the appropriations acts that had not yet been
enacted for Foreign Assistance; the Legislative Branch; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies; Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Related
Agencies; and the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government.
e. This ful -year CR extended through the end of the fiscal year the expiration date of P.L. 97-92, which
covered the appropriations acts that had not yet been enacted for the Treasury, Postal Service and General
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Government; Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary; and Departments of Labor,
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
f.
Some of the appropriations acts covered by this ful -year CR were later superseded by standalone regular
appropriations acts for the Department of Defense (P.L. 98-121); Commerce, Justice, and State, the
Judiciary, and Related Agencies (P.L. 98-166); and the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government
(P.L. 98-151).
g. The ful -year continuing appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies that were provided by this act were later superseded by a standalone
regular appropriations act (P.L. 98-619).
h. The ful -year continuing appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies that were provided by this CR were superseded by the enactment of P.L.
99-178.
i.
This ful -year CR extended through the end of FY1992 the expiration date of P.L. 102-163, which covered
appropriations that had not yet been enacted for Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related
Programs.
j.
Despite the reorganization of the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees at the beginning of the
110th Congress, the FY2007 CR (P.L. 110-5), which was enacted on February 15, 2007, reflected the
subcommittee jurisdictions in the 109th Congress.
k. P.L. 112-10, Division B, provided continuing appropriations through the end of the fiscal year for
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice,
Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Financial Services and
General Government; Department of Homeland Security; Department of the Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies;
Legislative Branch; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies; Department of State,
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and
Related Agencies. Division A contained the text of the FY2011 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
l.
P.L. 113-6, Division F, provided continuing appropriations for FY2013 for Energy and Water Development
and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Department of the Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and
Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. Divisions A-E contained the texts
of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act; the Department
of Defense Appropriations Act; Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act; and Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

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Table 5. Number, Page Length, and Duration of Continuing Resolutions (CRs)
FY1977-FY2020
Number of
Number
Fiscal
Acts by Fiscal
of Acts
Public Law
Statutes-at-Large
Page
Duration
Year
Year
Cumulatively
Number
Citation
Length
Enactment Date
Expiration Date
in Daysa
1977
1
1
P.L. 94-473
90 Stat. 2065-2067
3
10-11-1976
03-31-1977
182

2
2
P.L. 95-16
91 Stat. 28
1
04-01-1977
04-30-1977
30
1978
1
3
P.L. 95-130
91 Stat. 1153-1154
2
10-13-1977
10-31-1977
31

2
4
P.L. 95-165
91 Stat. 1323-1324
2
11-09-1977
11-30-1977
30

3
5
P.L. 95-205
91 Stat. 1460-1461
2
12-09-1977
09-30-1978
304
1979
1
6
P.L. 95-482
92 Stat. 1603-1605
3
10-18-1978
09-30-1979
365
1980
1
7
P.L. 96-86
93 Stat. 656-663
8
10-12-1979
11-20-1979
51

2
8
P.L. 96-123
93 Stat. 923-926
4
11-20-1979
09-30-1980
315
1981
1
9
P.L. 96-369
94 Stat. 1351-1359
9
10-01-1980
12-15-1980
76

2
10
P.L. 96-536
94 Stat. 3166-3172
7
12-16-1980
06-05-1981
172

3
11
P.L. 97-12b
95 Stat. 95-96
2
06-05-1981
09-30-1981
117
1982
1
12
P.L. 97-51
95 Stat. 958-968
11
10-01-1981
11-20-1981
51

2
13
P.L. 97-85
95 Stat. 1098
1
11-23-1981
12-15-1981
22

3
14
P.L. 97-92
95 Stat. 1183-1203
21
12-15-1981
03-31-1982
106

4
15
P.L. 97-161
96 Stat. 22
1
03-31-1982
09-30-1982
183
1983
1
16
P.L. 97-276
96 Stat. 1186-1205
20
10-02-1982
12-17-1982
78

2
17
P.L. 97-377
96 Stat. 1830-1924
95c
12-17-1982
09-30-1983
287
1984
1
18
P.L. 98-107
97 Stat. 733-743
11
10-01-1983
11-10-1983
41

2
19
P.L. 98-151
97 Stat. 964-982
19
11-14-1983
09-30-1984
321
1985
1
20
P.L. 98-441
98 Stat. 1699-1701
3
10-03-1984
10-03-1984
3
CRS-19

link to page 30 link to page 31 link to page 31 link to page 31 link to page 31
Number of
Number
Fiscal
Acts by Fiscal
of Acts
Public Law
Statutes-at-Large
Page
Duration
Year
Year
Cumulatively
Number
Citation
Length
Enactment Date
Expiration Date
in Daysa

2
21
P.L. 98-453
98 Stat. 1731
1
10-05-1984
10-05-1984
2

3
22
P.L. 98-455
98 Stat. 1747
1
10-06-1984
10-09-1984
4

4
23
P.L. 98-461
98 Stat. 1814
1
10-10-1984
10-11-1984
2

5
24
P.L. 98-473
98 Stat. 1837-1976
140d
10-12-1984
09-30-1985
354
1986
1
25
P.L. 99-103
99 Stat. 471-473
3
09-30-1985
11-14-1985
45

2
26
P.L. 99-154
99 Stat. 813
1
11-14-1985
12-12-1985
28

3
27
P.L. 99-179
99 Stat. 1135
1
12-13-1985
12-16-1985
4

4
28
P.L. 99-184
99 Stat. 1176
1
12-17-1985
12-19-1985
3

5
29
P.L. 99-190
99 Stat. 1185-1326
142e
12-19-1985
09-30-1986
285
1987
1
30
P.L. 99-434
100 Stat. 1076-1079
4
10-01-1986
10-08-1986
8

2
31
P.L. 99-464
100 Stat. 1185-1188
4
10-09-1986
10-10-1986
2

3
32
P.L. 99-465
100 Stat. 1189
1
10-11-1986
10-15-1986
5

4
33
P.L. 99-491
100 Stat. 1239
1
10-16-1986
10-16-1986
1

5
34
P.L. 99-500f
100 Stat. 1783
386
10-18-1986
09-30-1987
349
through 1783-385

6
35
P.L. 99-591f
100 Stat. 3341
390
10-30-1986
[n/a]f
—
through 3341-389
1988
1
36
P.L. 100-120
101 Stat. 789-791
3
09-30-1987
11-10-1987
41

2
37
P.L. 100-162
101 Stat. 903
1
11-10-1987
12-16-1987
36

3
38
P.L. 100-193
101 Stat. 1310
1
12-16-1987
12-18-1987
2

4
39
P.L. 100-197
101 Stat. 1314
1
12-20-1987
12-21-1987
3

5
40
P.L. 100-202
101 Stat. 1329
451g
12-22-1987
09-30-1988
284
through 1329-450
1989
[none]
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
CRS-20

link to page 30 link to page 31 link to page 31 link to page 31
Number of
Number
Fiscal
Acts by Fiscal
of Acts
Public Law
Statutes-at-Large
Page
Duration
Year
Year
Cumulatively
Number
Citation
Length
Enactment Date
Expiration Date
in Daysa
1990
1
41
P.L. 101-100
103 Stat. 638-640
3
09-29-1989
10-25-1989
25

2
42
P.L. 101-130
103 Stat. 775-776
2
10-26-1989
11-15-1989
21

3
43
P.L. 101-154
103 Stat. 934
1
11-15-1989
11-20-1989
5
1991
1
44
P.L. 101-403
104 Stat. 867-870
4h
10-01-1990
10-05-1990
5

2
45
P.L. 101-412
104 Stat. 894-897
4
10-09-1990
10-19-1990
14

3
46
P.L. 101-444
104 Stat. 1030-1033
4
10-19-1990
10-24-1990
5

4
47
P.L. 101-461
104 Stat. 1075-1078
4
10-25-1990
10-27-1990
3

5
48
P.L. 101-467
104 Stat. 1086-1087
2
10-28-1990
11-05-1990
9
1992
1
49
P.L. 102-109
105 Stat. 551-554
4
09-30-1991
10-29-1991
29

2
50
P.L. 102-145
105 Stat. 968-871
4
10-28-1991
11-14-1991
16i

3
51
P.L. 102-163
105 Stat. 1048
1
11-15-1991
11-26-1991
12

4
52
P.L. 102-266
106 Stat. 92-99
8
04-01-1992
09-30-1992
183
1993
1
53
P.L. 102-376
106 Stat. 1311-1314
4
10-01-1992
10-05-1992
5
1994
1
54
P.L. 103-88
107 Stat. 977-980
4
09-30-1993
10-21-1993
21

2
55
P.L. 103-113
107 Stat. 1114
1
10-21-1993
10-28-1993
7

3
56
P.L. 103-128
107 Stat. 1355
1
10-29-1993
11-10-1993
13
1995
[none]
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1996
1
57
P.L. 104-31
109 Stat. 278-282
5
09-30-1995
11-13-1995
44

2
58
P.L. 104-54
109 Stat. 540-545
6
11-19-1995
11-20-1995
7

3
59
P.L. 104-56
109 Stat. 548-553
6
11-20-1995
12-15-1995
25

4
60
P.L. 104-69
109 Stat. 767-772
6
12-22-1995
01-03-1996
19

5
61
P.L. 104-90
110 Stat. 3-6
4
01-04-1996
01-25-1996
22

6
62
P.L. 104-91
110 Stat. 10-14
5
01-06-1996
09-30-1996
290j
CRS-21

link to page 30 link to page 31 link to page 31
Number of
Number
Fiscal
Acts by Fiscal
of Acts
Public Law
Statutes-at-Large
Page
Duration
Year
Year
Cumulatively
Number
Citation
Length
Enactment Date
Expiration Date
in Daysa

7
63
P.L. 104-92
110 Stat. 16-24
9
01-06-1996
09-30-1996
290

8
64
P.L. 104-94
110 Stat. 25
1
01-06-1996
01-26-1996
43

9
65
P.L. 104-99
110 Stat. 26-47
22
01-26-1996
03-15-1996
49j

10
66
P.L. 104-116
110 Stat. 826
1
03-15-1996
03-22-1996
7

11
67
P.L. 104-118
110 Stat. 829
1
03-22-1996
03-29-1996
7

12
68
P.L. 104-122
110 Stat. 876-878
3
03-29-1996
04-24-1996
26j

13
69
P.L. 104-131
110 Stat. 1213
1
04-24-1996
04-25-1996
1
1997
[none]
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1998
1
70
P.L. 105-46
111 Stat. 1153-1158
6
09-30-1997
10-23-1997
23

2
71
P.L. 105-64
111 Stat. 1343
1
10-23-1997
11-07-1997
15

3
72
P.L. 105-68
111 Stat. 1453
1
11-07-1997
11-09-1997
2

4
73
P.L. 105-69
111 Stat. 1454
1
11-09-1997
11-10-1997
1

5
74
P.L. 105-71
111 Stat. 1456
1
11-10-1997
11-14-1997
4

6
75
P.L. 105-84
111 Stat. 1628
1
11-14-1997
11-26-1997
12
1999
1
76
P.L. 105-240
112 Stat. 1566-1571
6
09-25-1998
10-09-1998
9

2
77
P.L. 105-249
112 Stat. 1868
1
10-09-1998
10-12-1998
3

3
78
P.L. 105-254
112 Stat. 1888
1
10-12-1998
10-14-1998
2

4
79
P.L. 105-257
112 Stat. 1901
1
10-14-1998
10-16-1998
2

5
80
P.L. 105-260
112 Stat. 1919
1
10-16-1998
10-20-1998
4

6
81
P.L. 105-273
112 Stat. 2418
1
10-20-1998
10-21-1998
1
2000
1
82
P.L. 106-62
113 Stat. 505-509
5
09-30-1999
10-21-1999
21

2
83
P.L. 106-75
113 Stat. 1125
1
10-21-1999
10-29-1999
8

3
84
P.L. 106-85
113 Stat. 1297
1
10-29-1999
11-05-1999
7
CRS-22

link to page 30
Number of
Number
Fiscal
Acts by Fiscal
of Acts
Public Law
Statutes-at-Large
Page
Duration
Year
Year
Cumulatively
Number
Citation
Length
Enactment Date
Expiration Date
in Daysa

4
85
P.L. 106-88
113 Stat. 1304
1
11-05-1999
11-10-1999
5

5
86
P.L. 106-94
113 Stat. 1311
1
11-10-1999
11-17-1999
7

6
87
P.L. 106-105
113 Stat. 1484
1
11-18-1999
11-18-1999
1

7
88
P.L. 106-106
113 Stat. 1485
1
11-19-1999
12-02-1999
14
2001
1
89
P.L. 106-275
114 Stat. 808-811
4
09-29-2000
10-06-2000
6

2
90
P.L. 106-282
114 Stat. 866
1
10-06-2000
10-14-2000
8

3
91
P.L. 106-306
114 Stat. 1073
1
10-13-2000
10-20-2000
6

4
92
P.L. 106-344
114 Stat. 1318
1
10-20-2000
10-25-2000
5

5
93
P.L. 106-358
114 Stat. 1397
1
10-26-2000
10-26-2000
1

6
94
P.L. 106-359
114 Stat. 1398
1
10-26-2000
10-27-2000
1

7
95
P.L. 106-381
114 Stat. 1450
1
10-27-2000
10-28-2000
1

8
96
P.L. 106-388
114 Stat. 1550
1
10-28-2000
10-29-2000
1

9
97
P.L. 106-389
114 Stat. 1551
1
10-29-2000
10-30-2000
1

10
98
P.L. 106-401
114 Stat. 1676
1
10-30-2000
10-31-2000
1

11
99
P.L. 106-403
114 Stat. 1741
1
11-01-2000
11-01-2000
1

12
100
P.L. 106-416
114 Stat. 1811
1
11-01-2000
11-02-2000
1

13
101
P.L. 106-426
114 Stat. 1897
1
11-03-2000
11-03-2000
1

14
102
P.L. 106-427
114 Stat. 1898
1
11-04-2000
11-04-2000
1

15
103
P.L. 106-428
114 Stat. 1899
1
11-04-2000
11-14-2000
10

16
104
P.L. 106-520
114 Stat. 2436-2437
2
11-15-2000
12-05-2000
21

17
105
P.L. 106-537
114 Stat. 2562
1
12-05-2000
12-07-2000
2

18
106
P.L. 106-539
114 Stat. 2570
1
12-07-2000
12-08-2000
1

19
107
P.L. 106-540
114 Stat. 2571
1
12-08-2000
12-11-2000
3
CRS-23

link to page 30
Number of
Number
Fiscal
Acts by Fiscal
of Acts
Public Law
Statutes-at-Large
Page
Duration
Year
Year
Cumulatively
Number
Citation
Length
Enactment Date
Expiration Date
in Daysa

20
108
P.L. 106-542
114 Stat. 2713
1
12-11-2000
12-15-2000
4

21
109
P.L. 106-543
114 Stat. 2714
1
12-15-2000
12-21-2000
6
2002
1
110
P.L. 107-44
115 Stat. 253-257
5
09-28-2001
10-16-2001
16

2
111
P.L. 107-48
115 Stat. 261
1
10-12-2001
10-23-2001
7

3
112
P.L. 107-53
115 Stat. 269
1
10-22-2001
10-31-2001
8

4
113
P.L. 107-58
115 Stat. 406
1
10-31-2001
11-16-2001
16

5
114
P.L. 107-70
115 Stat. 596
1
11-17-2001
12-07-2001
21

6
115
P.L. 107-79
115 Stat. 809
1
12-07-2001
12-15-2001
8

7
116
P.L. 107-83
115 Stat. 822
1
12-15-2001
12-21-2001
6

8
117
P.L. 107-97
115 Stat. 960
1
12-21-2001
01-10-2002
20
2003
1
118
P.L. 107-229
116 Stat. 1465-1468
4
09-30-2002
10-04-2002
4

2
119
P.L. 107-235
116 Stat. 1482
1
10-04-2002
10-11-2002
7

3
120
P.L. 107-240
116 Stat. 1492-1495
4
10-11-2002
10-18-2002
7

4
121
P.L. 107-244
116 Stat. 1503
1
10-18-2002
11-22-2002
35

5
122
P.L. 107-294
116 Stat. 2062-2063
2
11-23-2002
01-11-2003
50

6
123
P.L. 108-2
117 Stat. 5-6
2
01-10-2003
01-31-2003
20

7
124
P.L. 108-4
117 Stat. 8
1
01-31-2003
02-07-2003
7

8
125
P.L. 108-5
117 Stat. 9
1
02-07-2003
02-20-2003
13
2004
1
126
P.L. 108-84
117 Stat. 1042-1047
6
09-30-2003
10-31-2003
31

2
127
P.L. 108-104
117 Stat. 1200
1
10-31-2003
11-07-2003
7

3
128
P.L. 108-107
117 Stat. 1240
1
11-07-2003
11-21-2003
14

4
129
P.L. 108-135
117 Stat. 1391
1
11-22-2003
01-31-2004
71
CRS-24

link to page 30 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32
Number of
Number
Fiscal
Acts by Fiscal
of Acts
Public Law
Statutes-at-Large
Page
Duration
Year
Year
Cumulatively
Number
Citation
Length
Enactment Date
Expiration Date
in Daysa

5
130
P.L. 108-185
117 Stat. 2684
1
12-16-2003
[n/a]k
—
2005
1
131
P.L. 108-309
118 Stat. 1137-1143
7
09-30-2004
11-20-2004
51

2
132
P.L. 108-416
118 Stat. 2338
1
11-21-2004
12-03-2004
13

3
133
P.L. 108-434
118 Stat. 2614
1
12-03-2004
12-08-2004
5
2006
1
134
P.L. 109-77
119 Stat. 2037-2042
6
09-30-2005
11-18-2005
49

2
135
P.L. 109-105
119 Stat. 2287
1
11-19-2005
12-17-2005
29

3
136
P.L. 109-128
119 Stat. 2549
1
12-18-2005
12-31-2005
14
2007
1
137
P.L. 109-289l
120 Stat. 1311-1316
6
09-29-2006
11-17-2006
48

2
138
P.L. 109-369
120 Stat. 2642
1
11-17-2006
12-08-2006
21

3
139
P.L. 109-383
120 Stat. 2678
1
12-09-2006
02-15-2007
69

4
140
P.L. 110-5
121 Stat. 8-60
53
02-15-2007
09-30-2007
227
2008
1
141
P.L. 110-92
121 Stat. 989-998
10
09-29-2007
11-16-2007
47

2
142
P.L. 110-116m
121 Stat. 1341-1344
4
11-13-2007
12-14-2007
28

3
143
P.L. 110-137
121 Stat. 1454
1
12-14-2007
12-21-2007
7

4
144
P.L. 110-149
121 Stat. 1819
1
12-21-2007
12-31-2007
10
2009
1
145
P.L. 110-329
122 Stat. 3574-3716
143
09-30-2008
03-06-2009
157

2
146
P.L. 111-6
123 Stat. 522
1
03-06-2009
03-11-2009
5
2010
1
147
P.L. 111-68n
123 Stat. 2043-2053
11
10-01-2009
10-31-2009
31

2
148
P.L. 111-88o
123 Stat. 2972-2974
3
10-30-2009
12-18-2009
48
2011
1
149
P.L. 111-242
124 Stat. 2607-2616
10
09-30-2010
12-03-2010
64

2
150
P.L. 111-290
124 Stat. 3063
1
12-04-2010
12-18-2010
15

3
151
P.L. 111-317
124 Stat. 3454
1
12-18-2010
12-21-2010
3

4
152
P.L. 111-322p
124 Stat. 3518-3521
4
12-22-2010
03-04-2011
73
CRS-25

link to page 30 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32
Number of
Number
Fiscal
Acts by Fiscal
of Acts
Public Law
Statutes-at-Large
Page
Duration
Year
Year
Cumulatively
Number
Citation
Length
Enactment Date
Expiration Date
in Daysa

5
153
P.L. 112-4
125 Stat. 6-13
8
03-02-2011
03-18-2011
14

6
154
P.L. 112-6
125 Stat. 23-30
8
03-18-2011
04-08-2011
21

7
155
P.L. 112-8
125 Stat. 34-35
2
04-09-2011
04-15-2011
7

8
156
P.L. 112-10q
125 Stat. 102-199
98
04-15-2011
09-30-2011
168
2012
1
157
P.L. 112-33
125 Stat. 363-368
6
09-30-2011
10-04-2011
4

2
158
P.L. 112-36
125 Stat. 386-391
6
10-05-2011
11-18-2011
45

3
159
P.L. 112-55r
125 Stat. 710
1
11-18-2011
12-16-2011
28

4
160
P.L. 112-67
125 Stat. 769
1
12-16-2011
12-17-2011
1

5
161
P.L. 112-68
125 Stat. 770
1
12-17-2011
12-23-2011
6
2013
1
162
P.L. 112-175
126 Stat. 1313
12
09-28-2012
03-27-2013
178

2
163
P.L. 113-6
127 Stat. 198-437
240
03-26-2013
09-30-2013
(365)s
2014
1
164
P.L. 113-39
127 Stat. 532-533
2
09-30-2013
[n/a]t
(17)t

2
165
P.L. 113-44
127 Stat. 555-556
2
10-10-2013
12-15-2013t
(8)t

3
166
P.L. 113-46
127 Stat. 558-571
14
10-17-2013
01-15-2014
(107)t

4
167
P.L. 113-73
128 Stat. 3
1
01-15-2014
01-18-2014
3
2015
1
168
P.L. 113-164
128 Stat. 1867
11
09-19-2014
12-11-2014
72

2
169
P.L. 113-202
128 Stat. 2069
1
12-12-2014
12-13-2014
1

3
170
P.L. 113-203
128 Stat. 2070
1
12-13-2014
12-17-2014
4

4
171
P.L. 113-235
128 Stat. 2767
1
12-16-2014
02-27-2015
72

5
172
P.L. 114-3
129 Stat. 38
1
02-27-2015
03-06-2015
7
2016
1
173
P.L. 114-53
129 Stat. 502-512
11
09-30-2015
12-11-2015
72

2
174
P.L. 114-96
129 Stat. 2193
1
12-11-2015
12-16-2015
5

3
175
P.L. 114-100
129 Stat. 2202
1
12-16-2015
12-22-2015
6
CRS-26

link to page 30 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 32
Number of
Number
Fiscal
Acts by Fiscal
of Acts
Public Law
Statutes-at-Large
Page
Duration
Year
Year
Cumulatively
Number
Citation
Length
Enactment Date
Expiration Date
in Daysa
2017
1
176
P.L. 114-223
130 Stat. 857
64
09-29-2016
12-09-2016
70

2
177
P.L. 114-254
130 Stat. 1005
28
12-10-2016
04-28-2017
139

3
178
P.L. 115-30
131 Stat. 134
1
04-28-2017
05-05-2017
7
2018
1
179
P.L. 115-56
131 Stat. 1129
19
09-08-2017
12-08-2017
69

2
180
P.L. 115-90
131 Stat. 1280
3
12-08-2017
12-22-2017
14

3
181
P.L. 115-96
131 Stat. 2044
10
12-22-2017
01-19-2018
28

4
182
P.L. 115-120
131 Stat. 28
12
01-22-2018
02-08-2018
20u

5
183
P.L. 115-123
132 Stat. 64
251
02-09-2018
03-23-2018
42u
2019
1
184
P.L. 115-245
132 Stat. 2981
149
09-28-2018
12-07-2018
68

2
185
P.L. 115-298
132 Stat. 4382
1
12-07-2018
12-21-2018
14

3
186
P.L. 116-5
132 Stat. 10
3
1-25-2019
2-15-2019
56v
2020
1
187
P.L. 116-59
133 Stat. 1093
10
9-27-2019
11/21/2019
52

2
188
P.L. 116-69
133 Stat. 1134
2
11/21/2020
12/20/2019
29w
Sources: Prepared by CRS using data from the Legislative Information System; CRS, appropriations status tables (various fiscal years), available at http://crs.gov/Pages/
appover.aspx; and various other sources.
a. Duration in days is measured, in the case of the initial CR for a fiscal year from the first day of the year (October 1) through the expiration date. For subsequent
CRs for a fiscal year, duration in days is measured from the day after the expiration of the preceding CR. In several instances, as appropriate, the number of days
reflects an extra day in a leap year (every fourth year beginning with calendar year 1976). The duration of CRs that ended a lapse in appropriations includes the
period of that funding gap and is calculated from the first ful day after the final day that budget authority was provided through the expiration date of the CR.
Several CRs provided continuing appropriations for mixed periods of time. For example, three CRs—P.L. 96-86 (for FY1980), P.L. 97-51 (for FY1982), and P.L. 97-
276 (for FY1983)—were enacted in November or December of the applicable year for periods covering 51 days, 51 days, and 78 days, respectively, but they also
included continuing appropriations for the remainder of that fiscal year for activities covered by the Legislative Branch App ropriations Act. (See also the discussion
of actions for FY1996 under footnote j.) In these instances, the “Duration in Days” column reflects the time period that applied to the greatest number of activities
funded by the measure.
b. Title IV (95 Stat. 95-96) of P.L. 97-12, the Supplemental Appropriations and Rescission Act for FY1981, provided continuing appropriations for FY1981 . The other
titles of the act (95 Stat. 14-95) are excluded from the page count.
c. P.L. 97-377 incorporated the ful text of various regular appropriations acts.
CRS-27

d. Title I (98 Stat. 1837-1976) of P.L. 98-473 provided continuing appropriations for FY1985; the other title, Title II (98 Stat. 1976 -2199), set forth the Comprehensive
Crime Control Act of 1984 and is excluded from the page count.
e. P.L. 99-190 incorporated the ful text of various regular appropriations acts.
f.
P.L. 99-591 superseded P.L. 99-500 and corrected enrol ment errors in the earlier act. Both laws originated as H.J.Res. 738.
g. P.L. 100-202 incorporated the ful text of various regular appropriations acts.
h. Title I (104 Stat. 867-870) of P.L. 101-403 provided continuing appropriations for FY1991. Titles II and III (104 Stat. 871-874) provided supplemental appropriations
and are excluded from the page count.
i.
Section 106(c) of provided that, as an exception to the general expiration date, continuing appropriations for the Foreign Op eration Appropriations Act would
expire on March 31, 1992 (a duration of 154 days).
j.
A total of 13 CRs were enacted for FY1996 (and one was vetoed). Two funding gaps occurred, the first in mid-November 1995 and the second from mid-December
1995 until early January 1996. The CRs for this year may be divided into two categories depending on whether their coverage w as general y comprehensive or
partial. Nine of the CRs enacted for FY1996 general y provided short-term funding for al activities under the regular appropriations acts that had not yet been
enacted, while the other four provided funding only for selected activities within certain acts. The four acts in the latter category included the fol owing:
(1) P.L. 104-69, which funded the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Foster Care and Adoption Assistance programs, programs of the District of
Columbia, and certain veterans’ programs;
(2) P.L. 104-90, which funded programs of the District of Columbia;
(3) P.L. 104-91, Title I, which funded a variety of programs, including ones pertaining to the Peace Corps, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, trade adjustment assistance benefits, and the National Institutes of Health, among others; and
(4) P.L. 104-92, which funded a variety of programs, including ones pertaining to nutrition services for the elderly, visitor services in the National Park System,
certain veterans’ programs, and programs of the District of Columbia, among others.
Activities under two of the regular appropriations acts for FY1996 were funded through the end of the fiscal year (September 30, 1996) in CRs: (1) Title IV of P.L.
104-92 provided such funding for activities covered by the District of Columbia Appropriations Act; and (2) Title III of P.L. 104-99 provided such funding for
activities covered by the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. In addition, other selected activities were funded through the remainder of the fiscal year by P.L.
104-91, P.L. 104-92, and P.L. 104-122. Action on the regular appropriations acts for FY1996 was concluded with the enactment of P.L. 104-134, the Omnibus
Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996, on April 26, 1996 (110 Stat. 1321 through 1321 -381), which provided funding for the remainder of the
fiscal year for activities covered by five of the regular appropriations acts.
Three of the CRs had mixed periods of duration. The duration shown in the table was determined as fol ows:
(1) Most of the funding provided in P.L. 104-92 was for the remainder of the fiscal year, so a duration of 290 days was used, and it also provided retroactive budget
authority beginning on December 16, 1995;
(2) While the funding provided in P.L. 104-99 for activities covered by the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act was for the remainder of the fiscal year, the
funding provided for activities covered by four other regular appropriations acts was through March 15, 199 6, so a duration of 49 days was used; and
(3) Most of the funding provided in P.L. 104-122 was through April 24, while only one account was funded through the remainder of the fiscal year, so a duration of
26 days was used.
In the case of P.L. 104-91, a measure requiring the Secretary of Commerce to convey to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the National Marine Fisheries Service
laboratory located on Emerson Avenue in Gloucester, MA, Title I (110 Stat. 10-14) of the act provided continuing appropriations for selected activities for the
remainder of FY1996. Section 1 (110 Stat. 7-10) and Title II (110 Stat. 14-15) pertained to other matters and are excluded from the page count. Section 110 of the
act made the funding effective as of December 16, 1995. The act also provided retroactive budget authority starting on December 16, 1995.
In the case of P.L. 104-54, retroactive budget authority was provided starting on November 14, 1995, and in the case of P.L. 104-94, retroactive budget authority
was provided starting on December 16, 1995.
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k. P.L. 108-185 contained provisions affecting funding levels for two specified programs but did not contain a provision affecting the expiration date of January 31, 2004,
established in the preceding CR (P.L. 108-135).
l.
Continuing appropriations for FY2007 were provided by Division B (120 Stat. 1311-1316) of P.L. 109-289, the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2007. The other
portions of the act (120 Stat. 1257-1311) are excluded from the page count.
m. Continuing appropriations for FY2008 were provided by Division B (121 Stat. 1341 -1344) of P.L. 110-116, the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008. The other
portions of the act (121 Stat. 1295-1341) are excluded from the page count.
n. Continuing appropriations for FY2010 were provided by Division B (123 Stat. 2043 -2053) of P.L. 111-68, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for FY2010. The
other portions of the act (123 Stat. 2023-2043) are excluded from the page count.
o. Continuing appropriations for FY2010 were provided by Division B (123 Stat. 2 972-2974) of P.L. 111-88, the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act for 2010. The other portions of the act (123 Stat. 2904-2972) are excluded from the page count.
p. Continuing appropriations for FY2011 were provided by Division A (124 Stat. 3518 -3521) of P.L. 111-322, the Continuing Appropriations and Surface
Transportation Extensions Act for 2011. The other portions of the act (124 Stat. 3522-3531) are excluded from the page count.
q. Ful -year continuing appropriations for FY2011 were provided by Division B (125 Stat. 102 -199) of P.L. 112-10, the Department of Defense and Ful -Year Continuing
Appropriations Act for 2011. The other portions of the act (125 Stat. 38-102, 199-212) are excluded from the page count.
r. Continuing appropriations for FY2012 were provided by Division D (125 Stat. 710) of P.L. 112-55, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act for
2012. The other portions of the act (125 Stat. 552-709) are excluded from the page count.
s. In P.L. 113-6, both the ful text (Divisions A-E) and continuing (Division F) appropriations were for the entire fiscal year (FY2013) and superseded the continuing
appropriations provided by P.L. 112-175
t.
A total of four CRs were enacted for FY2014. This count includes two CRs that provided funding for only specific programs and activities du ring the FY2014 funding
gap. The Pay Our Military Act (P.L. 113-39) was enacted on September 30, 2013, and provided funding for FY2014. The Department of Defense Survivor Benefits
Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 (P.L. 113-44), was enacted on October 10, 2013, and expired on December 15, 2013. However, the funding provided
by both of these CRs was terminated on October 17, 2013, through the enactment of a third CR, P.L. 113-46, which broadly funded the previous fiscal year’s
activities through January 15, 2014. The funding provided by this third CR was extended through January 18 by the enactment of a fourth CR (P.L. 113-73). Section
118 of P.L. 113-46 provided that the time covered by that act was to have begun on October 1, 2013. For the purposes of this table, the duration in days for the
first two CRs is considered to have ended on October 17, 2013. The third CR is considered to have begun on October 1, 2013, a nd expired on January 15, 2014.
For further information on the FY2014 funding gap and congressional action on associated CRs, see CRS Report RS20348, Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview.
u. A total of five CRs were enacted for FY2018. Section 2003 of the fourth CR provided that the time covered by previous CRs was to have included the funding gap.
For the purposes of this table, the duration in days is considered consecutive to the start of the fiscal year. For further information on the two FY2018 funding gaps
and congressional action on associated CRs, see CRS Report RL34680, Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects (available to congressional
clients upon request).
v. In addition to providing continuing appropriations through February 15, 2019, Section 102 of this CR provided that continuing appropriations were considered to
cover the funding gap from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019.
w. A total of two CRs were enacted for FY2020. The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-59) was enacted on September 27, 2019. Division A (133 Stat.
1093) of that act provided funding for FY2020 that expired on November 21, 2019. The other provisions of the act (133 Stat . 1102-1109) are excluded from the
page count. The Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-69) was enacted on November 21, 2019. Division A (133 Stat. 1134) of that act provided
funding for FY2020 that expired on December 20, 2019. The other provisions of the act (133 Stat. 1136-1144) were excluded from the page count.
CRS-29

Author Information

Kevin P. McNellis, Coordinator
Bill Heniff Jr.
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process

James V. Saturno
Justin Murray
Specialist on Congress and the Legislative Process
Senior Research Librarian

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should n ot be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to
copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

Congressional Research Service
R46595 · VERSION 1 · NEW
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