House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday unveiled a short-term spending bill that would avert a government shutdown — and allow the Pentagon to move forward with contracts with Electric Boat for two new Columbia-class submarines. A short-term bill is needed to continue government operations after the end of the federal fiscal year, Sept. 30. But Congress has been deadlocked over the legislation, known as a continuing resolution or CR, that would fund most of the agencies of the federal government at the budget amount approved for this fiscal year through Dec. 11. Funding the Pentagon at this year’s level would not allow the Navy to move forward as planned on the Columbia-class submarine program. But the CR contains an “anomaly” that would allow the Navy to begin detailed design and construction work on two Columbia-class submarines. The CR would also extend the window for reimbursing government contractors for costs related to COVID-19 through Dec. 11.
https://www.theday.com/local-news/20200921/bill-aimed-at-averting-government-shutdown-would-fund-two-columbia-class-subs