The Senate on Thursday approved a one-week funding measure intended to give lawmakers more time to pass legislation to fund the federal government through fiscal 2023, averting a government shutdown.
The measure, known as a continuing resolution, was needed to avoid a partial government shutdown that would have otherwise begun on Saturday. The measure passed 71 to 19.
Congressional negotiators announced on Tuesday night that they had come to an agreement on a framework for the full-year omnibus bill, but the lawmakers needed time beyond Dec. 16, when government funding was slated to run out. They did not reveal the amount of money they agreed on, but it is expected to exceed last year’s $1.5 trillion.
“If all goes well, we should be able to finish an omnibus appropriations package by Dec. 23,” Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), one of the four negotiators, said earlier this week.
The House of Representatives passed the one-week funding extension on Wednesday with a 224-201 vote.
HOUSE PASSES SHORT-TERM EXTENSION ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING
The final omnibus is expected to include aid for Ukraine and a measure reforming the way lawmakers certify presidential elections.
While Senate Republican leadership supported the deal, some within the conference called for the negotiations to be delayed until after the GOP assumes the House majority next session, which would give them more power to cut domestic spending.
A group of conservative senators mulled blocking the one-week funding bill but ultimately decided not to slow down the process. Amendments from Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rick Scott (R-FL) were put up for a vote but failed. Scott, who has railed against the hiring of additional IRS agents, got a vote on agency funding, while Lee’s amendment would have extended the stopgap’s expiration date to early March 2023, when Republicans would be in control of the House.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Congress now must finalize and pass the major spending bill under the pressure of a shutdown and the impending Christmas recess. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said any deal on a long-term spending bill must be brought to a vote by Dec. 22 or it will have to wait until next year.
