House Clears Bill to Avert Shutdown

A Capitol Hill Police Officer stands guard on the steps of the US House of Representatives
Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

The House passed legislation on Friday to prevent a government shutdown. The continuing resolution will give lawmakers an extension until the middle of next week to pass the appropriations spending bill.

The bill was passed by a voice vote on Friday by the House and a voice vote on Thursday in the Senate.

Congress had until December 11 to pass the appropriations bill to fund the government. This stop-gap spending bill will give lawmakers more time to debate what the government should and shouldn’t fund in the final omnibus bill.

According to the Washington Post:

Negotiators plan to work through the weekend as they continue to haggle over what policy riders should be attached to the legislation and how to handle a separate package of tax breaks for businesses and individuals that will likely be attached to the bill or moved at the same time.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) has promised to give lawmakers three days to read the text of any final agreement, putting pressure on negotiators to reach a deal soon so the bill can be passed by both chambers before the end of day Wednesday deadline. If a deal is in hand, however, Congress could clear another stop-gap bill to allow time for votes to be held.

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