S2882119th CongressWALLET

Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026

Summary

Keeps federal programs funded at FY2025 levels through a temporary continuing resolution with targeted extensions and policy tweaks.

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This bill would provide short-term funding to avoid lapses and extend many program authorities into late 2025 while carving out some permanent changes to health coverage rules.

Families and people who buy marketplace coverage: It would permanently extend the enhanced premium tax credit for years after 2025, remove the 400% income cap, and set a sliding scale so household contributions range from 0% up to 8.5% of income depending on Federal Poverty Line tiers.

Patients, providers, and nutrition programs: It would extend telehealth flexibilities, hospital-at-home authority, temporary coverage of certain oral antivirals under Part D, and short-term Medicaid and program funding. It also fixes Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) funding at $8.2 billion for FY2026.

Veterans, court security, and federal operations: It would extend many Veterans Affairs authorities to October 31, 2025 and provide targeted allocations such as $35 million for supportive services for very low-income veteran families and $20 million to create an Office of Inspector General at OMB. It would allow limited apportionment for civilian pay to avoid furloughs.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

17 provisions identified: 14 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Three one-time burial payments

Had it passed, the bill would have given one-time payments of $174,000 each to three named widows/heirs: Ashley Paige Turner, Ramona Grijalva, and Catherine M. Smith. Payments would have been made on enactment, notwithstanding other parts of the Act.

Short-term health and nutrition funding

Had it passed, the bill would have kept major health and nutrition programs running for the short FY2026 period. It would have continued SNAP and other mandatory payments through October 31, 2025 and allowed certain monthly obligations up to 30 days after that date. WIC would have been funded at an $8.2 billion rate for operations. The bill added one-month funding for community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, teaching health centers, and two Special Diabetes Programs for October 2025. It also supplied $72.3 million and $8.05 million to staff and operate Indian Health Service facilities opened or expanded in FY2025–FY2026, and provided $67 million for No Surprises Act work. The bill included short-date Medicare fixes and add-ons to keep payments and quality work going through the covered period.

More money for federal defenders

Had it passed, the bill would have provided $1.53491 billion for federal Defender Services for FY2026 to help pay counsel appointed under federal law. The funds would have been available on enactment and could be apportioned up to the rate needed to make those payments through October 31, 2025.

Stronger Capitol and courthouse security

Had it passed, the bill would have added funding for Member security and Capitol protection in FY2026. It would have given about $90 million to House security programs, $66.5 million to Senate security activities (with portions for disaster recovery and State office security), $30 million for Capitol Police mutual aid reimbursements, and another $30 million for U.S. Marshals Service protective operations and judicial security. Quarterly reporting to Appropriations committees was required for USMS protective details.

U.S. share at European bank

Had it passed, the bill would have authorized the U.S. Governor at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to subscribe for up to 40,000 additional paid-in shares only if Congress provided money. It would have authorized up to $437,457,804 for Treasury payment for that subscription.

Stopgap rules to keep agencies running

Had it passed, the bill would have set how short-term appropriations worked. Funds from the Act generally would have been available only until a full FY2026 appropriation, or October 31, 2025. It let agencies use prior-year FY2025 rates and authorities for continuing projects, limited large initial distributions, and allowed civilian pay funds to be apportioned to avoid furloughs after agencies reduced non-pay admin expenses. These rules aimed to keep government operations and paychecks flowing while protecting Congress's final funding decisions.

Keep Essential Air Service flights

Had it passed, the bill would have let the Department of Transportation apportion funds to keep Essential Air Service flights running for the period covered by the Act. That would have helped preserve air service for small and rural communities through October 31, 2025.

Protect rental help and VA housing

Had it passed, the bill would have let HUD use available tenant-based rental assistance to stop families from losing help because of 2025 funding shortfalls through October 31, 2025. HUD would have noncompetitively renewed Continuum of Care grants and youth homelessness projects that expire in 2026 for one 12‑month period, using FY2025 fair market rents. The bill also provided subsidy funding to allow up to $75 million in Native American Veteran direct housing loan principal, with $6.865 million to cover loan costs.

Small business loan flexibility

Had it passed, the bill would have let the Small Business Administration apportion money to meet increased demand for 7(a) loans and several other guaranteed loan programs during the covered period. This would have helped the SBA make more loan and guarantee commitments through October 31, 2025.

Hanford low-activity waste schedule

Had it passed, the bill would have required the Energy Secretary to finish hot commissioning of the Direct-Feed Low Activity Waste facility at Hanford by October 15, 2025 unless Washington State agreed to a new date. After commissioning, the facility would have had to operate to meet milestone A-22 in the Washington v. Wright consent decree.

Public broadcasting emergency payment

Had it passed, the bill would have sent $490.96 million to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for FY2026, with the payment required within three days of enactment and the funds available until September 30, 2026. The law would have applied allocation rules as if $535 million were available and removed some sub-allocations.

Extend unobligated balances one year

Had it passed, the bill would have made certain unobligated balances on September 30, 2025 remain available until September 30, 2026 for the same purposes and exempted them from apportionment rules. The OMB Director would have listed extended amounts by November 17, 2025 and the Comptroller General would have audited and reported on compliance.

Defense funding limits and projects

Had it passed, the bill both restricted and directed defense spending. It barred starting new production or raising rates beyond FY2025 levels with stopgap funds, while allowing transfers and apportionments to keep certain programs (like the E-7 rapid prototyping) moving. It also raised a specific NNSA weapons activities line to $149.244 million for the covered period.

Compact grants for Pacific islands

Had it passed, the bill would have set the base grant for each of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands at $8 million for the purposes named in the statute, matching the prior year's base amount through October 31, 2025.

New OMB Inspector General office

Had it passed, the bill would have created an Office of Inspector General for OMB and given it $20 million for FY2026, available until September 30, 2027. The President would have had 45 days to appoint the Inspector General and chapter 4 of title 5 would have applied.

NASA mission and shuttle closeout

Had it passed, the bill would have kept NASA Science missions that were operating or being developed on track through the Act's period. It also let expired but uncancelled NASA Shuttle contract funds remain available through fiscal year 2030 to close out Space Shuttle contracts from FY2001–FY2013.

Audit and reporting for extended funds

Had it passed, the bill would have required OMB to list amounts it extended and the Comptroller General to audit compliance and report by January 15, 2026. This was tied to the one-year extension of certain unobligated balances.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Patty Murray

WA • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.