House Passes Stopgap Bill to Avert Government Shutdown

The House of Representatives voted late Tuesday to pass a bill that would avert a government shutdown and fund it through Dec. 3, as well as suspend the debt limit until after the 2022 election.

The 220–211 vote in the Democrat-majority chamber was on party lines. The bill now faces a tough hurdle in the Senate, where Republicans have said they would mount a filibuster.

Congress must pass a funding plan by Sept. 30 to avert a government shutdown or U. S. default. The bill would, if passed, keep the government open through Dec. 3 and suspend the debt limit through Dec. 16, 2022.

The extra time will allow lawmakers to negotiate on the budget for the coming year.

While the measure’s highest priority is to prevent a shutdown, it will also provide billions in new spending for disaster relief and to assist Afghanistan evacuees.

Read MoreDemocratic Continuing Resolution Contains Billions in New Spending for Disasters, AfghansPelosi, Schumer Seek to Combine Debt Limit Measure With Bill to Avert Government Shutdown

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N. Y.) on Monday announced in a joint statement that they would combine both short-term government funding measures and the suspension of the U.S. debt limit in one bill.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has vowed to block an increase in the $28.4 trillion debt ceiling and said that Democrats, the majority party, must raise the debt ceiling themselves.

... (Read more)

Latest News