A short-term funding bill has passed through the House as a stop-gate in order to avoid a government shutdown this week. The measure extends funding for federal agencies for one week.
It now heads to the Senate, which is expected to adopt the measure before the Dec. 16 deadline, which is when the funding measure expires.
Republicans in the House called on their party to vote against the legislation. But nine voted with Democrats to pass the stopgap funding bill.
House Democrats unveiled the text of the bill, known as a continuing resolution, amid attempts at bipartisan efforts to find a consensus on the broader proposal to fund the government through most of 2023.
House and Senate negotiators had announced Tuesday night that they had agreed to a framework that provides a path to negotiate the final details of the roughly $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package.
The stopgap funding bill will keep the government funded at current levels until Dec. 23.
Nine House Republicans crossed the aisle and joined all voting Democrats in backing the measure: Reps. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Liz Cheney (Wyo.), Chris Jacobs (N.Y.), Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), John Katko (N.Y.), Jaime Herrera Beutler (Wash.), Fred Upton (Mich.), Steve Womack (Ark.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.).
That group of Republicans voted for the stopgap bill despite House GOP leadership recommending a “no” vote. The office of House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) sent a notice to all House GOP offices Tuesday night urging members to vote against the continuing resolution.
Lawmakers hope to pass a permanent measure by Dec. 21 to fund the government for the next year. But for now, they have announced a deal on a framework.
However, there still is no top-line number for the deal, nor any text.
The year-long package will ensure bills approved by Congress this year, including the plan to boost domestic production of semiconductor chips, as well as a law that extends health care benefits to veterans who developed an illness because of exposure to toxic substances.
There is opposition to the spending plan, from the GOP side, who want to wait until January when they have control of the House.
This is part of a race for Democrats to wrap up their business before Republicans take the House. But if the spending bill does not pass this year, there is a chance it will not come in January either, leading to a government shutdown.
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