House Approves Short-Term Government Funding Extension
The House passed a stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government funded through Dec. 4, sending it to the Senate where bipartisan support will be needed.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a continuing resolution that maintains federal funding at current levels until Dec. 4, voting 220-205. Six Democrats joined Republicans to pass the measure, which aims to prevent a shutdown before the midterm elections.
Democratic leaders criticized the bill, saying it does not address cost-of-living pressures or other priorities. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., accused Democrats of using the vote for political points.
The legislation now moves to the Senate, where it will need Democratic votes to reach the 60-vote threshold typically required for passage. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., indicated he plans to bring a funding proposal to the floor before the August recess and said he would consider using reconciliation if a bipartisan deal cannot be reached.
The stopgap follows two recent shutdowns in the current Congress, including a 45-day shutdown over health-care subsidies and a 76-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security related to immigration-enforcement funding disputes.