President Obama has signed a continuing resolution funding federal agencies at 2009 levels until Dec. 18.

Congress has passed only five of the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal 2010. Democratic leaders acknowledged that health care reform may get in the way, forcing them to pass an omnibus spending measure for the rest of the fiscal year.

So far Congress has approved appropriations for Agriculture, Energy and water, Homeland Security, Interior and environment, and the legislative branch.

State and local governments reported they have saved or created 640,329 jobs through grants, loans and contracts issued under the Recovery Act. The Obama administration said states and localities have spent about $160 billion so far, of an estimated total of $275 billion in grants, contracts and loans available under the act.

The administration says it expects the stimulus to create or save 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010.

Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-ME, has again called on SBA to implement the women’s set-aside program that was signed into law nearly nine years ago.

“Regrettably — after three congressional reports, numerous hearings, two proposed rules, one highly deficient final rule and almost a decade passing — women are still inhibited by the SBA’s failure to pass meaningful and effective regulations,” Snowe wrote.

She noted that the government so far is exceeding all its small business goals in Recovery Act contracting except the 5% goal for woman-owned businesses.”

“In fact, women continue to be overlooked,” Snowe wrote in an Oct. 19 letter to SBA Administrator Karen Mills.

The Obama administration said earlier this year that it is re-evaluating the women’s contracting program after Congress ordered SBA not to implement the limited set-aside proposed by the Bush administration.