The Senate passed a stopgap spending bill ahead of a deadline to fund the government before Friday at midnight.
The measure easily cleared the upper chamber Thursday in a 72-25 vote and now heads to the House, where it is expected to pass. The bill, known as a continuing resolution, would keep federal agencies funded at current levels until Dec. 16, when a lame duck session would have to vote again on government spending. Among its provisions, the legislation provides billions in additional aid for Ukraine and reauthorizes the Food and Drug Administration’s drug user fee program.
MANCHIN AND SCHUMER DROP PERMITTING REFORM, PAVING WAY FOR STOPGAP SPENDING BILL
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, expressed confidence that the bill would make it through the lower chamber in time to avert a government shutdown.
“I think we’re on track to be able to move forward with funding the government in advance of the deadline,” Jeffries said at a Thursday press conference.
Jeffries said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has been working with her Senate counterparts to prepare for the bill’s passage.
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The stopgap measure had a clear path forward after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) withdrew energy permitting reforms that sparked bipartisan opposition. Though Republicans generally support domestic energy production, the GOP opposed the provisions as a concession to Manchin’s critical vote for the Biden-backed Inflation Reduction Act in August.
Some progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), also announced their opposition over environmental concerns.
