House Passes Stopgap Bill to Avert Government Shutdown Ahead of Deadline

Stopgap Bill Passed by House to Avert Government Shutdown

The House approved a three-month government funding bill Wednesday, aimed at averting a government shutdown at the end of the month. This crucial legislation, which funds the government at current levels until December 20, received bipartisan support in a 341-82 vote, with backing from 209 Democrats and 132 Republicans.

Upcoming Senate Vote and Its Implications

The Senate is expected to pass the stopgap bill Wednesday night, subsequently sending it to President Biden's desk for his signature ahead of the critical September 30 shutdown deadline. Notably, this measure includes $231 million in funding for the U.S. Secret Service following recent security breaches involving former President Trump.

Ongoing Government Funding Battles

This legislative victory wraps up this month’s funding skirmishes in the House while raising anticipation for future budget debates. Speaker Mike Johnson's attempts to push through a more partisan version of the stopgap encountered resistance from various factions within the Republican Party. The current funding framework faces another challenge in December, during the lame-duck session, as lawmakers will need to devise a way to maintain operations in Washington past the new deadline. With a razor-thin GOP majority, Johnson's pledge to forgo a comprehensive omnibus bill may prove challenging amid pressure to ensure the government remains funded.