The House of Representatives approved H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027, by a vote of 220–205 on July 21 in Washington, D.C. The legislation extends government funding through December 4, 2026, and aims to prevent a potential shutdown while allowing work on full-year fiscal year 2027 appropriations bills to continue.
Chairman Tom Cole said, “Too many members in Congress mistake a cliff’s edge for political leverage – and this bill refuses to reward those who depend on obstruction and chaos. Instead, it puts certainty and stability for the nation first. There is no virtue in waiting until every option has disappeared before deciding to act. This legislation protects our national security, preserves critical services, and removes any party from seeking to manufacture shutdown leverage before elections. There are no poison pills, no political gimmicks, and no partisan riders – just a clean, straightforward stopgap. So, today leaves no question where House Republicans stand – we chose responsibility over crisis, leadership over politics, and governing over gamesmanship. That is what Article I demands, and it is exactly what the American people expect.”
The measure continues current funding levels for programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Women Infants Children), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), National Flood Insurance Program coverage extensions, wildfire suppression efforts, disaster relief funds allocation, support for small businesses, and livestock reporting programs.
According to the official website of the House Committee on Appropriations—which drafts annual spending bills that allocate federal funds—the committee includes both Republican members like Harold Rogers and Democratic members such as Steny Hoyer; it also provides guidance for community project funding requests within appropriations bills. Tom Cole currently serves as chairman of the committee—becoming its forty-third chair—and helps guide policy through major legislation including continuing resolutions like H.R. 9770.
House Republican leaders say they do not support end-of-the-year omnibus spending packages filled with unrelated provisions or earmarks; instead, they favor transparent processes that avoid brinkmanship or last-minute negotiations tied to shutdown threats.
The House Appropriations Committee plans further hearings focused on analyzing lapses in federal funding procedures while reiterating its commitment to examining reforms aimed at preventing future disruptions.