In a last-minute effort to stave off a government shutdown, the U.S. Senate narrowly approved a stopgap spending measure on Saturday night, just three hours before the fiscal year’s end on October 1. The final vote, which saw bipartisan support, tallied at 88-9, marking a critical consensus to keep the government funded.
Earlier in the day, the House had passed a short-term spending bill, commonly referred to as a continuing resolution (CR), with a significant majority. The final count in the House stood at 335 in favor and 91 against, prompting applause among lawmakers who were grappling with the looming threat of a government shutdown.
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) expedited a roll call shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The Senate needed at least 60 votes to pass the bill and avert the shutdown that would have paused nonessential government programs and furloughed thousands of federal employees.
The 45-day stopgap spending bill, albeit a temporary solution, received support from members of both major political parties. Notably, this marked a departure from previous CR proposals by Republicans, which had failed to secure any backing from Democrats. The absence of bipartisan support in earlier attempts heightened tensions surrounding the fiscal deadline.
The approved bill, aside from averting an immediate government shutdown, includes $16 billion earmarked for disaster relief. However, notably absent from the funding package is any assistance directed towards Ukraine, a geopolitical hotspot that has garnered significant attention in recent times.
During a press conference, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy expressed relief over the passage of the stopgap measure, underscoring its role in providing Congress with additional time to complete its pending tasks. McCarthy affirmed, “The House is going to act so government will not shut down. We will put a clean funding stopgap on the floor to keep the government open for 45 days for the House and Senate to get their work done.”
He also highlighted the inclusion of a supplemental funding portion for disaster relief, referencing recent crises such as hurricanes in Florida, wildfires in Hawaii, and other disasters in California and Vermont. McCarthy’s emphasis on addressing these emergencies underscored the broader need for comprehensive funding to address unforeseen challenges across the nation.
BREAKING UPDATE 🚨
NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN FOR NOW‼️Senate passes stopgap measure in 88-9 vote, averting shutdown with three hours to spare
The House passed the short-term spending bill to fund the government for another 45 days Saturday afternoon. The bill, also known as a… pic.twitter.com/A1Qz8dJDag
— SANTINO (@MichaelSCollura) October 1, 2023
