Congress averts government shutdown, sends short-term funding bill to Biden
Republicans and Democrats staved off a painful government shutdown this weekend — but only temporarily. The new funding deadlines are now March 8 and March 22.
WASHINGTON — Congress sent a short-term funding bill to President Joe Biden's desk Thursday, averting a partial government shutdown this weekend and buying lawmakers more time to fund federal agencies through September.
The Senate passed the stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution, or CR, on a 77-13 vote; 60 votes were needed for passage under an agreement between the parties. Earlier in the day, the legislation cleared the House on a 320-99 vote.
"It's good we're not shutting down. And now let us finish the job of funding the government so we don't have to do this again," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said before the vote. "As I've said repeatedly to the speaker, the only way to get things done in divided government is bipartisanship. I'm glad the speaker heard our plea and worked with us to avoid a shutdown next week."
The CR is part of a broader bipartisan spending deal congressional leaders announced Wednesday that includes six of the 12 spending bills that fund federal agencies. The White House has endorsed the deal, and Biden is expected to sign the CR into law before money runs out for part of the government late Friday.
In a statement Thursday night, Biden said that while the legislation "prevents a damaging shutdown and allows more time for Congress to work toward full-year funding bills," it's also "a short-term fix — not a long-term solution."
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