Senate Advances Funding Bills to Prevent Government Shutdown
The Senate has made a pivotal move toward preventing a partial government shutdown by passing several funding bills significantly ahead of schedule.
On Friday, lawmakers approved three of the twelve appropriations bills necessary to avert the shutdown, covering key areas such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture, military infrastructure, and Congress itself.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-Maine) expressed optimism, stating, “We are on the verge of an accomplishment that we have not done since 2018, which is passing appropriations bills across the Senate floor prior to the August recess.”
She emphasized that this achievement reflects Congress’s constitutional responsibility regarding budgetary powers.
The three bills that successfully passed are generally considered less contentious compared to others. However, considerable obstacles remain in the effort to avoid the impending autumn shutdown.
Democrats view this situation as a unique opportunity to exert influence within Congress, having faced challenges due to former President Trump’s use of impoundment and rescissions for budgetary reductions without their consent.
It is noteworthy that Congress has not managed to pass all twelve necessary appropriations bills on time since 1997, making timely funding crucial to prevent disruptions to government operations beginning October 1.
Typically, Congress has employed continuing resolutions (CRs) to maintain government funding for extended periods. Both CRs and appropriations bills require a 60-vote threshold to overcome a Senate filibuster, necessitating bipartisan support, which complicates the legislative process.
Currently, the ongoing fiscal year operates under a yearlong CR, with discussions in the House about pursuing another for Fiscal Year 2026.
On Friday, the Senate voted 87-9 to approve a minibus of two bills funding the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Agriculture. Subsequently, they passed a third bill to fund Congress with an 81-15 vote.
Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a leading Democratic appropriator, claimed that the agreement helps forestall detrimental cuts advocated by Republicans, although some progressive members have voiced dissatisfaction.
The Senate still faces the task of addressing nine additional appropriations bills covering Commerce, Defense, Energy, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, State, and Transportation.
Approximately half of these bills have already gained approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee, moving closer to a full Senate vote.
Once passed, these appropriations will require approval from the House of Representatives, which is currently in recess, and must ultimately be signed by the President.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has dedicated part of the August recess to advance key nominations and mitigate legislative backlog, and he is currently in negotiations with Democrats to expedite this process.
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