The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation to fund key parts of the federal government through the rest of the fiscal year that began in October, averting another looming threat of a partial shutdown.
The House voted 339-85 for the bill, with 83 Republicans voting in opposition. The bill now goes to the Senate for approval by Friday, ahead of a midnight deadline when temporary funding for many agencies in Washington runs out.
The 1,050-page measure would keep programs running at federal agencies including the Agriculture, Justice, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development departments. It also includes construction projects at military bases and veterans’ care.
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy was forced to rely on Democratic support to pass the massive bill. McCarthy has faced difficulty controlling his narrow 219-213 majority since becoming speaker on October 25.
Opponents of the bill wanted deeper spending cuts, as the national debt approaches \$34.5 trillion.
Congress is more than five months late in completing its most basic task of passing full-year government funding bills. Approving the six spending bills would clear the way for lawmakers to turn to the remaining six by a March 22 deadline.
The second package includes funding for major government agencies including the Defense, Homeland Security, and State departments.
Together, the two packages total \$1.66 trillion for fiscal 2024, down from \$1.7 trillion in discretionary spending for the previous year.
