House Approves Bipartisan Federal Spending Bill Ahead of Midnight Deadline
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan federal spending bill on Friday, sending it to the Senate just hours before a midnight deadline to fund the government. It remained uncertain whether the Senate would be able to pass the bill before the funding lapse at 12:00 a.m. ET.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The legislation ensures the federal government continues operating at current funding levels for the next three months. Additionally, it allocates resources for disaster relief and provides financial assistance to the agricultural sector.
Support from Both Parties
The bill secured significant support from Democratic lawmakers and garnered votes from approximately two-thirds of the members present, signaling a broad bipartisan effort to prevent a government shutdown that could disrupt federal employees’ paychecks, especially just days before Christmas
Challenges in the Senate
The bill faces a realistic path to passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate, but procedural rules within the chamber could allow individual senators to delay or block its progress.
Expectations for Presidential Approval
If the bill is approved by the Senate in its current form, President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law promptly. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre commented, “While it does not include everything we sought, President Biden supports moving this legislation forward.”
Political Drama in the House
The vote in the House followed several days of tumultuous negotiations on Capitol Hill. Speaker Mike Johnson faced challenges in reconciling the demands of President-elect Donald Trump and his key supporters, including billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. Trump and Musk criticized an initial funding proposal, leading Republicans to scramble for a new plan.
Debt Ceiling Debate
A major sticking point in the negotiations was Trump demand that any deal to avert a government shutdown include a two-year suspension of the U.S. debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is the legal limit on the amount of money the U.S. government can borrow to cover its spending.
The debt ceiling remains a contentious issue in Washington, often giving significant leverage to the minority party. Trump appears eager to avoid a confrontation over this matter at the start of his second term in office. However, many conservative Republicans oppose raising the debt ceiling without stringent conditions
Defeat of Earlier Proposal
On Thursday, a bill that included basic government funding and a debt ceiling increase was rejected in a resounding vote. The proposal was defeated by 38 Republicans who joined nearly all Democrats in opposing the measure, despite its endorsement by party leadership.
