House to Vote on $1.2 Trillion Spending Package to Avert Government Shutdown

The House prepares to vote on a $1.2 trillion spending package to avert a government shutdown and fund various departments.

On Friday, the House is scheduled to vote on a significant spending package to fully fund the government through September. This crucial vote comes as the deadline looms to avert a partial government shutdown. The $1.2 trillion package, which consolidates six spending bills into one, is designed to fund about three-quarters of the government until the end of the fiscal year. An additional package funding the remainder of the government was approved by Congress two weeks ago, marking a critical step in ensuring continued government operations.

Push to End Persistent Spending Fight

This move by the House represents a significant effort to end a prolonged battle over spending that has extended into the sixth month of the fiscal year. Lawmakers have been compelled to repeatedly rely on short-term funding extensions to keep the government operational since October. The urgency of the situation has led House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, to waive a self-imposed 72-hour rule that typically allows lawmakers time to review legislation before a vote. This decision is aimed at expediting the process and sending the package to the Senate for further consideration.

Senate Consideration and Potential Obstacles

If the package passes in the House, it will advance to the Senate, where specific rules could impact the timeline. Senate rules empower a single lawmaker to object to expediting the passage of a bill, potentially delaying the vote until Saturday. Furthermore, Republicans may insist on amendment votes in exchange for expediting the process, as observed with the last funding bill. Senator Susan Collins of Maine anticipates that the upper chamber could hold amendment votes as early as Friday afternoon, adding a layer of complexity to the process.

Impact of Potential Funding Lapse

Despite the looming deadline, a brief lapse in funding over the weekend may not lead to significant disruptions. President Biden's prompt action in signing the first funding package earlier this month, following a similar shutdown deadline, ensured that agencies would not shut down and could continue their normal operations, given the imminent resolution of the funding issue.

Release of the Second Funding Package

After encountering delays due to disputes over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees unveiled the second package in the early morning hours of Thursday. This critical package covers funding for the departments of Homeland Security, Defense, State, Labor and Health and Human Services, as well as foreign operations, financial services, and the legislative branch.

Legislative Highlights and Bipartisan Compromises

The package has been lauded by both Republicans and Democrats for various provisions. Democrats emphasized funding for essential programs such as child care, education, medical research, mental health care, and the extension of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), credited with saving 25 million lives worldwide. Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the leading Democratic appropriator in the Senate, commended the bipartisan compromise, noting the necessity of working within challenging fiscal constraints to ensure progress for the country.

Republicans, on the other hand, highlighted funding for Border Patrol agents, increased detention beds, and a ban on funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees through March 2025. Additionally, several conservative policy wins were included in the bill, such as preventing the federal government from banning gas stoves, imposing restrictions on flags flown over U.S. diplomatic facilities, and maintaining a provision banning federal funds from covering abortion services.

Responses from Party Leaders

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, stated that an "overwhelming majority" of conservative policy riders were not incorporated into the bill. On the other hand, House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the significant conservative policy wins achieved by House Republicans, along with the rejection of extreme Democrat proposals and substantial cuts to wasteful agencies and programs, while also strengthening border security and national defense.

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