The Senate approved a stopgap funding bill on Wednesday night, deferring the GOP’s spending fight and the threat of a government shutdown until after the holidays. The bill was passed with an 87-11 bipartisan vote, resulting in 10 Republicans, and one Democrat, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, voting against it.
“Because of bipartisan cooperation, we are keeping the government open without any poison pills or harmful cuts to vital programs — a great outcome for the American people,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The House cleared the short-term bill, known as a continuing resolution, or CR, on Tuesday with a lopsided 336-95 vote, and it now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk for expected signature.
The CR will fund part of the government until Jan. 19 and the Defense Department and remaining parts of the government through Feb. 2.
This short-term solution aims to prevent Congress from adopting another massive spending package right before Christmas. The bill does not include a supplemental package covering aid for Israel and Ukraine, humanitarian assistance, or border security, leaving those issues for later in the year.
The House has passed seven of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund the government for a full fiscal year, while the Senate has passed three.
House Republicans were struggling to advance their individual appropriations bills over intraparty divisions over amendments, raising questions about whether the House will complete its spending bills before the next funding deadlines.
However, Johnson brushed off questions about whether he’s frustrated by the setbacks, while Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed relief that there were no spending cuts, extreme policy changes, or government shutdown looming in the near future.
In conclusion, the Senate’s passage of a stopgap bill is instrumental in averting a government shutdown, marking a significant bipartisan accomplishment. If the House and Senate can reach a consensus, it will provide ample time to pass appropriations bills before the next deadline. You can read the original article on NBCNews.com.
