House passes spending bill to avoid shutdown

SRN News

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a stopgap measure to avert a partial federal government shutdown, as wide swaths of lawmakers from both parties showed support for the bill.

The short-term legislation now heads to the Senate, where Democratic and Republican leaders have voiced support.

To prevent a shutdown, the Senate and Republican-controlled House must enact legislation that President Joe Biden can sign into law before current funding for federal agencies expires at midnight on Friday.

The 336-95 vote was a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced down opposition from some of his fellow Republicans, in the first consequential vote of his tenure.

Johnson was elected to the post less than three weeks ago, following weeks of tumult that left the chamber without a leader. With a slim 221-213 majority, he can afford to lose no more than three Republican votes on legislation that Democrats oppose.

The stopgap spending bill would extend government funding at current levels into 2024, giving lawmakers more time to craft detailed spending bills that cover everything from the military to scientific research.