WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The government next week will begin using funds from temporary spending measures zipped through Congress this week to prevent the government from shutting down Sunday -- the end of the current fiscal year.
The House and Senate both passed "continuing resolutions" last Monday and Tuesday, respectively, that will keep the government running through Oct. 16. Lawmakers expect to pass more continuing resolutions as they sort out how to pass the federal budget and react to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Those continuing resolutions were not controversial. The Senate passed their bill in a voice vote and the House vote was 392-0.
Every year, Congress must pass 13 separate appropriations bills that contain the money to make the government run. So far, the president has not signed any of the 13 bills due by Monday.
In Congress, members are struggling with quickly passing those spending bills in a post-attack bipartisan spirit, but are also still trying to figure out what else to do before adjourning for the year.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said this week lawmakers don't know what they will get done.
"I think it's too early to tell, frankly," Daschle said. "I don't know what other things we can do yet."
An airlines security bill remains in the works and high on the agenda, and Democrats are pushing for a bill to help some of the 100,000 aerospace industry workers laid off in the wake of the attacks. Congress and the White House are weighing a package to stimulate the economy that could cost as much as $100 billion, and lawmakers are currently weighing a slate of bills designed to give the government new tools to spy on and detain suspected terrorists.
Both parties still have their regular domestic priorities -- ranging from a major education bill to an energy bill -- still waiting in the wings.
