House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., announced Monday that there will be no votes in the House until next week after the death of former President George H.W. Bush.
“Members are advised that — in light of the passing of President George H.W. Bush — votes are no longer expected in the House this week,” the majority leader’s office announced, noting that the next batch of votes will take place next Monday night.
The move will likely force Congress to pass a short-term spending bill to avoid a partial shutdown this week. Without a new funding measure in place by Friday, the Department of Homeland Security and other parts of the government won’t have any authorized funding.
According to one House aide, the House is expected to pass a stopgap measure by unanimous consent to avert a partial government shutdown this week. It remains to be seen whether the measure would last for one or two weeks.
“It’s trending toward a two week CR but no decision has been announced yet,” an aide told the Washington Examiner.
The president signaled over the weekend that he would be willing to pass a stopgap measure due to the passing of the 41st president. Bush’s casket is slated to arrive in Washington Monday afternoon, with remembrances continuing through Wednesday in the nation’s capital.
