As lawmakers left Washington until January, a continuing resolution Congress passed this week would fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program — but only through March.

As lawmakers rushed off Capitol Hill for winter break, a pair of bills passed the U.S. House Thursday that include money to keep Pennsylvania’s state-run children’s health insurance program operating through March, as well as aid for Lehigh Valley schools that have taken in students displaced by the Puerto Rican hurricane.

State Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) announced on Dec. 18 that he will step down as state representative of the 178th Legislative District at the end of this year to become the executive director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). Petri, now in his eighth term in the Pennsylvania House, was named to the post on Dec. 15.

Days after celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Children’s Health Insurance Program in Pennsylvania, advocates are again pleading with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg to fund the program.

Foster children in Philadelphia face obstacle after obstacle in their quest to obtain a high-quality education.

Philadelphia had 8,020 children in foster care in 2016, according to the State of Child Welfare 2017, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children report. That is a small fraction of the 200,000 students attending District and charter schools, but still a significant number.