12/16/11: A final 2012 funding bill has been agreed to by a House and Senate Conference Committee and the full House and Senate are expected to approve it before midnight tonight, which would prevent a government shutdown. 

Congressional leaders have also indicated that if there are unexpected delays in getting the bill passed and signed by the President by tonight’s midnight deadline, they would consider a short term Continuing Resolution to keep the government operating until final action on the full year appropriations measure could be completed. 

During the talks, an additional $20 million was added to the SEC's budget, bringing even closer to the $1.4 billion originally requested by the agency.