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The House approved a short-term government funding bill Tuesday that would keep federal agencies operating through Dec. 4, sending the measure to the Senate, where lawmakers from both parties have already indicated they intend to revise it before final passage.
The stopgap spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, passed the House by a 220-205 vote, with support largely divided along party lines. Congress must approve funding legislation before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1 to avoid a partial government shutdown just weeks before the November midterm elections.
House Republicans framed the measure as an effort to provide stability while lawmakers continue negotiations on full-year appropriations bills.
“For anyone questioning this legislation, the facts are simple — it extends the government funding deadline to Dec. 4, denying any party the opportunity to manufacture leverage before elections,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said during floor debate. He added that the bill contains “no poison pills or partisan riders” and would prevent disruptions to government operations.
Democrats opposed the legislation, arguing it omits key funding adjustments requested by the White House and would give the Department of Homeland Security too much flexibility over immigration spending.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, criticized the measure, saying it would allow Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to shift billions of dollars toward Border Patrol operations without sufficient oversight.
“We cannot in good conscience allow billions of dollars to flow to these agencies without major reforms to keep our constituents safe from further violence,” DeLauro said.
She also faulted Republicans for moving the bill before incorporating more than 50 requested funding adjustments, commonly known as anomalies, submitted by the White House on Monday. Those requests include additional support for wildfire suppression, housing assistance programs and aid to help low-income rural households pay utility bills.
“Rushing this bill to the floor haphazardly without carefully considering the various needs that must be met is no way to govern,” DeLauro said.
The Senate is expected to pursue a different approach.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she is working with committee Vice Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., on a bipartisan continuing resolution that can attract the 60 votes needed to advance in the chamber.
“It appears that there is good faith on the Democratic side to try to pass the CR and avoid a government shutdown,” Collins said.
Murray said the House bill contains “problems” that must be addressed before it can move through the Senate.
Lawmakers are relying on another temporary funding measure because Congress has again fallen behind on its annual appropriations process. The House has approved only three of the 12 regular spending bills, while the Senate has yet to pass any.
Without an agreement before Oct. 1, portions of the federal government would shut down. Even if Congress avoids a shutdown, lawmakers are increasingly expected to negotiate full-year spending legislation during the post-election lame-duck session or rely on additional short-term funding extensions.
