If Congress fails to pass all regular appropriation acts by the beginning of the fiscal year, what can be passed to ensure funds are available?

When Congress does not pass all regular appropriations by the start of a fiscal year, a continuing resolution authority (CRA) can be enacted to ensure that government operations and programs receive funding. A continuing resolution allows agencies to continue operating at the previous year’s funding levels, preventing a government shutdown and providing necessary stability until a new budget can be passed.

By extending the former appropriations, a CRA ensures that there are funds available for essential programs and operations, allowing federal agencies to function without interruption. This mechanism is critical as it maintains the operations of government while Congress works through the appropriations process, which can often be complex and time-consuming.

Other options, such as a Supplemental Appropriations Act or an Emergency Funding Bill, serve different purposes. Supplemental appropriations might be used for specific needs that arise during the fiscal year, while emergency funding is typically related to unforeseen circumstances. The Temporary Appropriation Act is not a recognized term in the same context as a CRA and may refer to an outdated method or a misinterpretation of funding extensions. Thus, the CRA is the appropriate mechanism in this scenario.