Senate passes short-term funding bill to avert government shutdown
Written by ABC AUDIO on March 1, 2024
(WASHINGTON) — The Senate on Thursday passed a short-term funding bill that averts a partial government shutdown that was expected late Friday night.
The final vote tally was 77-13. The measure now heads to the president’s desk.
The new funding deadlines for the government spending bills are now March 8 and March 22.
President Joe Biden said the passage of a short-term funding bill – while good for Americans – “is a short-term fix—not a long-term solution.”
The president urged Congress to work in the coming days to pass a full-term funding bill as well as the national security supplemental.
“During my meeting with Congressional Leaders this week, we all agreed on the vital importance of supporting Ukraine. That understanding must now be backed with action,” Biden said in a written statement Thursday night. “In addition to arming Ukraine as they defend against Russian attacks every single day, this bill will help ensure that Israel can defend itself against Hamas and other threats. And it will provide critical humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people and those impacted by conflicts around the world.”
In the House, Democrats helped Speaker Mike Johnson to pass the funding bill in the House. The House voted 320-99 in bipartisan fashion to approve the CR. Only two Democrats opposed the vote, joining 97 Republicans who voted against it.
The measure, brought up under “suspension of the rules,” required a two-third majority vote to pass — which meant Johnson needed Democrats’ votes to pass it. Similar actions by Johnson’s predecessor, Kevin McCarthy put him in hot water and contributed to his ouster last year.
On Wednesday, House and Senate leaders reached a bipartisan deal to avert the partial government shutdown of roughly 20% of the government, and create new funding deadlines: March 8 for that 20% and March 22 for the remaining 80%.
Johnson hoped that an additional week could give Congress more time to pass all remaining appropriations bills to fully fund the government through the end of FY2024. It comes after Johnson previously promised there would be no more short-term funding bills.
ABC News’ Sarah Beth Hensley, Amanda L. Maine and Jay O’Brien contributed to this report.
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