Congress is set to pass a stopgap spending bill that will extend government funding until mid-December to allow more time for lawmakers to reach an agreement on the annual government funding bills. The bill has bipartisan support but does not guarantee that Congress will finalize the full-year spending bills before this session ends. Speaker Mike Johnson aims to complete the appropriations bills in December rather than delaying into the next year. The bill allows until December 20 for government funding.
House Republicans blame Senate Democrats for the delays in approving the appropriations bills. The Senate has struggled to move spending bills through the amendment process, leading to the House passing five out of twelve bills. Both chambers are expected to leave town for a six-week break, leaving limited time to conference all the bills before the mid-December deadline.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized House Republicans for attempting to pass a six-month stopgap spending bill earlier this month, which included a GOP bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Schumer urged both parties to work together and avoid controversial provisions to prevent a government shutdown. The Biden administration supports the stopgap spending bill to avoid a shutdown and provide time to pass full-year appropriations bills later this year.
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