The House of Representatives has passed a bill to avert a partial government shutdown, just hours before the midnight federal funding deadline. The bill, which needed approval from two-thirds of the chamber, passed overwhelmingly in a 366 to 34 vote. All Democrats voted for the bill, except for Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who voted “present.”
The bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), extends current government funding levels through mid-March and provides $100 billion in disaster relief aid for victims of storms Helene and Milton, as well as assistance for the agriculture industry. The legislation was passed without a vote on the debt limit, which has climbed past $36 trillion and the deficit is over $1.8 trillion.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., bypassed regular House procedures to get the legislation straight to a chamber-wide vote, a maneuver known as “suspension of the rules.” In exchange for the fast track, however, the threshold for passage was raised from a simple majority to two-thirds of the House chamber, meaning Democratic support is critical.
The bill is expected to be sent to the Senate, where it will need to pass with a simple majority. President-elect Biden has said he would sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.
