WASHINGTON, DC – Late last night, U.S. Senator Jack Reed voted in favor of a Continuing Resolution (CR) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, which extends funding of most federal programs and operations at current levels through February 18.

Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, says the stopgap spending measure was needed to prevent a government shutdown.  He is urging Congressional Republicans to stop slow-walking the appropriations process and allow the U.S. Senate to vote on bills to fund the federal government.

Senator Reed stated:

“Congress averted an avoidable shutdown.  But as the nation recovers from a pandemic, my colleagues need to do better than just kick the can down the road.

“The final appropriations bills should have been on President Biden’s desk by now.  It is past time for Republican leaders to negotiate in good faith and allow federal agencies to responsibly budget and plan beyond the next few weeks. 

“Just saying “no” isn’t a policy.  Republican leaders are playing these partisan games at the expense of taxpayers and our economy.  It needs to stop and Congress needs to fulfill its obligations to fund the government.”

Senator Reed urged Republicans to work with Democrats on a bipartisan omnibus spending package that is completed ahead of the new February 18, 2022 deadline.