House passes first appropriations bills ahead of shutdown deadline

The House passed the first half of its annual appropriations bills on Wednesday, marking the first step toward avoiding a government shutdown that is scheduled to start over the weekend.

Lawmakers passed the spending bill with a 339-85 vote, overcoming the two-thirds threshold needed to advance the lower chamber. The spending legislation passed after overwhelming support from House Democrats who countered the 83 Republicans who voted against the measure, helping push them past the finish line.

“If there’s one thing consistent within the 118th Congress, it’s that Democrats are the only adults in the chamber,” Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA) said ahead of the vote on Wednesday.