Congress approves stop-gap funding bill through Jan. 19

The Senate last night voted 66-32 to approve a continuing resolution funding the federal government through Jan. 19, hours after the House approved the measure and before the current CR expires tonight. President Trump signed it today. The stop-gap measure includes $2.85 billion for the Children’s Health Insurance Program through the end of March and $2.1 billion in mandatory funding for the Veterans Choice program; extends the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ability to redistribute funds to help states dealing with CHIP-related funding shortfalls; and waives PAY-GO requirements for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, averting Medicare cuts of $25 billion in 2018 and for many years thereafter; among other provisions.