President Joe Biden signed a bill on Sept. 26 to extend the deadline for government funding to Dec. 20, preventing a government shutdown before the 2024 election. The bill passed through both chambers of Congress on Sept. 25.
In a statement on Sept. 25, Biden thanked Congress for the bipartisan agreement to keep the government open through mid-December. He emphasized that the bill provides more time for Congress to pass full-year funding bills by the end of the year.
The House passed the legislation on Sept. 25 with a 341–82 vote, with all 82 opposing votes coming from Republicans. The Senate approved the bill later that evening in a 78–18 vote without considering any amendments that could have delayed its passage.
Following the bill’s passage, both chambers adjourned early due to the expected Hurricane Helene. The bill, known as a “clean” continuing resolution, includes $231 million in new funding for the Secret Service and excludes the SAVE Act, which would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Initially, House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed for a six-month continuing resolution that included the SAVE Act, but the legislation was rejected by a majority of Democrats and some Republicans. Johnson expressed regret over the need for the continuing resolution, blaming the Senate for failing to work on appropriations.
Biden’s signature on the bill avoids the risk of a government shutdown before the 2024 election. Lawmakers now have three months to work on spending legislation, with the possibility of a “Christmas omnibus” spending package looming. Johnson has pledged not to bring an omnibus bill to the floor in December, but some Republicans remain skeptical of this promise. Can you write this differently?
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