Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015

The Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 (H.J.Res. 124; Pub. L. 113–164 (text) (PDF)) is a continuing resolution and United States public law that funded the federal government of the United States through December 11, 2014 by appropriating $1 trillion.

The bill was introduced into the United States House of Representatives during the 113th United States Congress.

A continuing resolution is a type of appropriations legislation. An appropriations bill is a bill that appropriates (gives to, sets aside for) money to specific federal government departments, agencies, and programs. The money provides funding for operations, personnel, equipment, and activities. Regular appropriations bills are passed annually, with the funding they provide covering one fiscal year. The fiscal year is the accounting period of the federal government, which runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year. When Congress and the president fail to agree on and pass one or more of the regular appropriations bills, a continuing resolution can be passed instead. A continuing resolution continues the pre-existing appropriations at the same levels as the previous fiscal year (or with minor modifications) for a set amount of time. Continuing resolutions typically provide funding at a rate or formula based on the previous year's funding. The funding extends until a specific date or regular appropriations bills are passed, whichever comes first. There can be some changes to some of the accounts in a continuing resolution. The continuing resolution takes the form of a joint resolution, and may provide bridging funding for existing federal programs at current, reduced, or expanded levels.

This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, a public domain source.

The Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 would provide continuing FY2015 appropriations to federal agencies at the current annual rate until December 11, 2014, or specified conditions are met.

The bill would appropriate funds to federal agencies for continuing projects and activities at the rate and under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable divisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014:

The bill would provide funding until whichever of the following first occurs: (1) enactment of an appropriation for any project or activity funded in this joint resolution, (2) enactment of the applicable FY2015 appropriations Act without any provision for the project or activity, or (3) December 11, 2014.

The bill would amend the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to extend the operating authority of the Export-Import Bank through June 30, 2015.