Senate lawmakers on Jan. 16 took the first steps aimed at preventing a partial government shutdown, ahead of a rapidly approaching deadline scheduled for the end of the week.
The measure would fund the government at current levels, temporarily extending funding for some federal agencies until March 1 and for others through March 8. The arrangement grants both chambers more time to approve longer-term funding for fiscal year 2024.
However, the legislation is likely to face opposition from some lawmakers who have indicated they would not support another stopgap funding bill.
“The key to finishing our work this week will be bipartisan cooperation, in both chambers. You can’t pass these bills without support from Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate,” the New York Democrat said.
Funding Must be Tied to Border Security
Under the resolution, funding for agriculture, nutrition, transportation, housing, energy, military construction, and veterans affairs programs, set to expire on Friday, would be extended through March 1.Meanwhile, appropriations for the remaining agencies, including defense, homeland security, the State Department, and Labor-HHS-Education, which currently expire on Feb. 2, would be extended until March 8.
However, the deal has faced criticism from Republican lawmakers who hope to slash soaring government spending and have sought to add policy provisions to spending legislation, including measures to secure the U.S. southern border.
Johnson Defends Deal
The House Freedom Caucus, meanwhile, said Mr. Johnson’s decision to agree to a CR amounted to “a surrender.” Some Republicans are actively calling for shutting down the government.“Because the completion deadlines are upon us, a short continuing resolution is required to complete what House Republicans are working hard to achieve: an end to governance by omnibus, meaningful policy wins, and better stewardship of American tax dollars,” the House Speaker said.
During Tuesday’s remarks on the Senate floor, Mr. Schumer also appeared to take aim at Republican lawmakers who are in opposition to the agreement and the resolution, noting that while “most Democrats and Republicans want to avoid a shutdown, a small group of hard-right extremists seem dead set on making a shutdown a reality.”
“With little leverage to actually enact their agenda, these extremists have tried again and again to bully the speaker, bully their own Republican colleagues, and bully the country into accepting their hard-right views,” the Democrat said. “I hope both sides can continue working together this week to move forward with the CR quickly and prevent a government shutdown before the Friday deadline.”
