On the recordSeptember 14, 1995
over the past number of weeks, we have witnessed a great deal of saber-rattling and speculation over the question of whether Congress and the President can avoid a Government shutdown, called, metaphorically, a train wreck, on October 1. That is the first day of fiscal year 1996, and is also the date by which all 13 of the 1996 appropriations bills are supposed to be enacted. Failure to achieve enactment of any of the 13 appropriations bills by October 1 will cause a funding lapse for the departments and agencies covered by any such bill. The only way to avoid a funding lapse, and an accompanying shutdown of the affected departments and agencies, is for Congress and the President to enact a short-term extension of funding authority, which is commonly known as a continuing resolution.
Source
govinfo.gov
