House approves last spending bills amid Republican resistance
The House Takes Decisive Action to Prevent Shutdown
The House made a significant move on Friday by passing the final portion of its annual appropriations bills. This crucial step, just hours before federal funding faced potential lapses, highlights the government’s commitment to avoid a shutdown affecting numerous agencies.
Lawmakers approved the $1.2 trillion spending bill with a 286-134 vote, surpassing the two-thirds threshold required for progression.
Despite facing strong opposition from Republican representatives, the spending package successfully cleared the House, albeit with less than half of the GOP conference backing the measure.
A Comprehensive Funding Package to Sustain Vital Services
The passed legislation, known as a ”minibus,” consolidates funding for six critical spending bills covering key departments like Defense, State, Labor, Health, Homeland Security, and foreign operations. This comprehensive package spans approximately 70% of the federal government, effectively concluding the fiscal 2024 appropriations process nearly half a year after its commencement.
Both Republican and Democratic leaders have hailed the legislation as a victory in the lead-up to its House approval. Nevertheless, some staunch Republicans criticize it as a display of inadequate leadership, with accusations leveled at House Speaker Mike Johnson for allegedly failing to secure essential GOP provisions in the meticulously negotiated 1,012-page bill.
- Winning Concessions for Stronger Border Security
Republican leaders highlight the bill’s achievements in border security, securing funding for additional border agents, a substantial spending boost for border technology, and reduced federal funding for NGOs providing aid to immigrants on asylum claims.
Democrats, on the other hand, negotiated the exclusion of significant aspects of the GOP’s border-focused bill in the final spending legislation. This omission, particularly concerning H.R. 2, has sparked controversy among some Republican factions who abstained from supporting the bill.
Notably, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) criticized the bill, decrying the perceived lack of Republican leadership and describing it as an “abomination.”
Despite the bill’s bipartisan support, 22 Democrats dissented, particularly objecting to provisions related to Israel and border security.
The next stage sees the spending bill proceeding to the Senate for further deliberation before potentially reaching President Joe Biden’s desk. Any objections in the Senate could spell delays in passage, bringing uncertainty to the timeline before the bill undergoes the final vote.
The impending threat of a government shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday looms, emphasizing the pressing need for prompt and unified action in the Senate.
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