In a vital move to avert a looming government shutdown, the U.S. House of Representatives has given the green light to a temporary spending bill, as reported by Reuters.
What Happened: The bill, passed on Tuesday, garnered bipartisan support and extends government funding through mid-January 2024. It will now be taken up by the Senate, where it has received endorsement from leaders of both political parties.
Before the funding for federal agencies runs out at midnight on Friday, this legislation needs to be enacted by both the Senate and the Republican-controlled House, and then signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The 336-95 vote marks a significant win for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who managed to overcome resistance from certain Republicans. This was the first major vote of Johnson's tenure, which started just three weeks ago.
The interim spending bill maintains government funding at existing levels into 2024 enabling lawmakers to finalize detailed spending bills covering various sectors from military to scientific research.
Despite some Republicans expressing dissatisfaction over the absence of substantial spending cuts and border-security measures in the bill, it was passed with majority votes from representatives of both parties.
Why It Matters: Just days before the passage of the bill, House Republicans had proposed a plan to prevent the imminent government shutdown. House Speaker Johnson had put forth a novel two-step continuing resolution (CR) instead of a typical full federal government funding extension.
However, the bill’s swift passage was uncertain due to potential delays suggested by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Known for his opposition to spending increases without corresponding cuts, Paul had not committed to supporting the CR, potentially echoing his actions in 2018 which led to a brief government shutdown.
Despite these challenges, the bill’s passage, in the House, signifies a crucial step in preventing a government shutdown, providing lawmakers with more time to finalize detailed spending bills.
Image via Shutterstock
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