American Sheep Industry: Congress passes continuing resolution to fund government

The Senate on Thursday, March 17, voted to approve a sixth continuing resolution to fund the government for another three weeks while cutting $6 billion from the overall federal budget.

The bill, which passed 87-13, will fund the government through April 8. Its passage averts a government shutdown and provides another chance for Congress and the president to pass a spending bill for fiscal year 2011, which began Oct. 1.

The House passed the bill earlier in the week, 271-158. It now goes to President Obama for his signature.

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State sheep producer associations were notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Service’s that “directed funds” were not available as of March 18, therefore, impacting some of the livestock protection programs.

Livestock protection programs in the following states will be affected: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and South Dakota.