President Barack Obama signed legislation late Oct. 16 bringing federal employees back to work after Congress finally resolved the budget logjam which led to a 16-day shutdown. Senate leaders championed bipartisan legislation to reopen the government and remove the threat of government default on its debts. All federal government employees – including some 4,000 Defense Department employees – will report to work Oct 17.

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Congress passes bill reopening federal government

Published Oct. 17, 2013
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- President Barack Obama signed legislation late yesterday night bringing federal employees back to work after Congress finally resolved the budget logjam which led to a 16-day shutdown.

Senate leaders championed bipartisan legislation to reopen the government and remove the threat of government default on its debts. All federal government employees - including some 4,000 Defense Department employees - will report to work Oct. 17.

The legislation is a continuing resolution that will provide federal government spending at fiscal year 2013 levels. This keeps the sequester-level budget in effect.

The act will keep the government open through Jan. 15 and raises the debt limit through Feb. 7. The act contains a provision for a joint Senate-House committee to work on a budget recommendation for fiscal year 2014. Those recommendations are due Dec. 13.

For the full article see: http://www.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123367291.