- On Tuesday, the House passed the Senate's stopgap-spending bill by a 370-48 vote, sending it to President Trump's desk.
- The White House has signaled that the president will sign the bill, averting a shutdown when current funding runs out on September 30.
- In July, the House passed its own continuing resolution (CR) that would have funded the government until December 4, but most Democrats rejected it.
- In early August, the Senate passed a stopgap-spending bill by a 90-6 vote to keep the government funded until December 11.
The House passed a short-term funding bill on Tuesday, ensuring government operations continue through December 11, with a decisive 370-48 vote. This legislation, which maintains current spending levels, heads to President Trump for signature, averting a shutdown ahead of the critical midterm elections.14
Lawmakers acted swiftly to prevent a funding lapse before the September 30 deadline, a move aimed at avoiding the chaos of previous shutdowns. “It gives the nation and our constituents certainty,” said Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “We’re going to avoid the threat of another Democratic shutdown,” House Speaker Mike Johnson added.
The bill passed under suspension of the rules, with only 19 Republicans and 29 Democrats opposing it. Some dissenters included House Freedom Caucus members and progressive Democrats concerned about immigration enforcement funding. “It prevents the Department of Homeland Security from transferring funds to the Border Patrol,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, highlighting improvements from earlier proposals.
As the midterms approach, both parties are keen to avoid disruptions that could impact their campaigns. The passage of this bill represents a critical legislative priority, allowing lawmakers more time to negotiate a full-year funding measure, which may prove challenging given the political landscape.
The relatively uneventful resolution of this funding debate comes as Democrats are seen as having an edge in the upcoming elections, with forecasts suggesting they could regain control of the House and possibly the Senate.
“The 370-48 vote saw only 19 Republicans and 29 Democrats oppose, with holdouts including House Freedom Caucus militants upset over an unrelated provision and Democratic progressives objecting to ICE funding. The stopgap keeps spending at current levels through December 11, but disputes could reemerge when it expires.”
New York Magazine
theguardian.com
