The House passed a short-term spending measure 220-205 to keep federal agencies operating beyond Sept. 30, with only one Republican opposing the bill and six Democrats supporting it.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The House approved legislation late Tuesday to keep the federal government funded through Dec. 4, sending the Senate a temporary spending measure intended to prevent federal agencies from shutting down when current funding expires Sept. 30.
The continuing resolution passed 220-205 shortly before lawmakers prepared to leave Washington for an extended summer recess.
House members are scheduled to depart July 24 and return Aug. 31, leaving Congress approximately one month after its return to complete action before the end of the fiscal year.
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to oppose the measure. Six Democrats voted with the Republican majority, according to the official House roll call.
The temporary measure would maintain federal funding beyond the Nov. 3 midterm elections and postpone the next major spending confrontation until Dec. 4.
Supporters described the legislation as a clean extension designed to preserve current government operations while congressional appropriators continue working on longer-term spending bills.
The measure now moves to the Senate, where its passage will determine whether agencies receive uninterrupted funding after midnight Sept. 30.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., praised Republicans for advancing the bill and blamed most House Democrats for voting against it.
“House Republicans today took the responsible step of passing a clean, short-term continuing resolution to fund our government through the November elections,” Johnson said. “Sadly, and predictably, 204 House Democrats voted against this measure.”
Johnson tied the vote to earlier shutdown confrontations and argued that Democrats would bear responsibility if the Senate failed to approve the legislation.
“Given that Democrats have already forced the two longest government shutdowns in American history this Congress, it’s clear they don’t care what kind of pain they inflict on the American people or the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who would be forced to work without pay,” he said.
The speaker said Republicans expected another partisan fight as the midterm elections approached.
“While time remains until the end of the fiscal year, Republicans are under no illusions about the Democrat Party’s intentions heading into a consequential midterm election,” Johnson said. “They apparently believe a painful government shutdown would help them politically.”
“We hope they will come to their senses before the government shuts down, but if they don’t, then Democrats alone will own the chaos that results,” he added.
Johnson’s statement was also circulated following the vote in an X post documenting the House action.
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The vote establishes the House’s position before lawmakers begin the summer break but does not by itself eliminate the risk of a shutdown.
The Senate must pass the same legislation or approve a version that the House will accept before the Sept. 30 deadline. Any changes made by senators would require additional House action.
The timing could become difficult because the House’s scheduled absence removes much of August from the legislative calendar.
Once lawmakers return Aug. 31, they will have only several weeks to resolve any disagreement between the chambers, complete procedural votes and deliver a final bill for the president’s signature.
A continuing resolution generally extends existing agency funding at current or near-current levels without completing the full annual appropriations process.
Congress frequently relies on such measures when lawmakers cannot enact all regular spending bills before a fiscal-year deadline.
The Dec. 4 expiration would require another vote shortly after the midterm elections, placing the next funding decision in the closing weeks of the current Congress.
That timing could produce a second dispute over whether to approve another temporary extension or negotiate a larger year-end spending package.
The House vote also revealed the narrow margin available to Republican leaders.
With Massie opposing the legislation, Johnson depended on near-unanimous Republican support and assistance from six Democrats to secure passage.
The identities of all members and their votes are included in the House clerk’s official record.
The legislation’s passage does not fully fund the government for the entire 2027 fiscal year. It provides only a temporary extension while lawmakers continue debating individual appropriations measures and broader spending priorities.
If the Senate rejects the bill or fails to act before Sept. 30, many federal activities would stop or operate with reduced staffing.
Employees deemed essential would continue working, often without immediate pay, while other workers could be furloughed until funding was restored.
Programs involving public safety, national security and certain mandatory benefits generally continue during shutdowns, but federal offices, administrative services and other operations can face disruption.
Johnson framed the House action as an attempt to remove that immediate threat before the election season intensifies.
Democrats who opposed the measure did not provide statements in the submitted information explaining their objections.
Their votes could reflect disagreements over spending levels, the duration of the extension, omitted policy provisions or broader negotiations with Republicans.
The continuing resolution now places the focus on the Senate, where leaders must decide whether to accept the House bill or pursue changes.
With the House scheduled to leave Washington on July 24, any Senate revisions made during the recess could remain unresolved until representatives return at the end of August.
The 220-205 vote gives Congress a potential route around the Sept. 30 deadline, but the government will remain exposed to a shutdown until both chambers approve identical legislation and the measure becomes law.
Original article
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