With just three weeks remaining until the federal government’s funding runs out, debate over a stopgap spending bill is set to dominate Congress’ September agenda.

Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) last week reiterated their intent to attach a “permitting reform bill” – a key to their previous agreement to pass the Inflation Reduction Act – to a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through mid-December. 

The permitting measure, which would speed environmental reviews on energy projects, has drawn strong opposition from progressive Democrats, and some Republicans have indicated they would oppose attaching it to the CR despite their support for permitting reform. 

Additionally, Republicans are likely to oppose much of the Biden administration’s $47 billion emergency supplemental request, which Democrats are also attempting to include in the CR. It includes $22 billion for COVID-19 response efforts, $4.5 billion for monkeypox, $12 billion for Ukraine-related aid, and $6.5 billion for disaster assistance.

Though GOP lawmakers may not object to certain pieces of the request – such as disaster relief for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s home state of Kentucky – most continue to call for a clean stopgap spending measure.