Congress Looks to Prevent Government Shutdown
Two Republican senators are setting out to ensure the government remains operational, even if it means keeping their fellow lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
Senators James Lankford from Oklahoma and Jodie Arlington from Texas are poised to introduce legislation aimed at requiring lawmakers to stay in D.C. until a temporary government funding measure—known as the Continuing Resolution (CR)—is approved.
Growing Debt Concerns
As the September 30 deadline approaches, there seems to be little effort from Congress to avert a shutdown. Both parties have already begun trading blame over ownership of potential closures.
While the Senate has pushed forward with a set of spending bills, the House has only managed to pass two, though members were gearing up to advance a crucial Energy and Water Budget Bill soon.
Lankford expressed concern over the escalating national debt, now exceeding $37 trillion, stating, “Congress cannot continue to avoid the harsh choices to fix it.”
Pressure on Lawmakers
“Shutting down the government won’t solve our debt issues; it only exacerbates them,” Lankford remarked. He believes that keeping Congress in D.C. until budgets are finalized will exert necessary pressure on lawmakers to reach agreements without imposing hardships on taxpayers and essential services.
If a consensus isn’t reached, their proposed legislation would initiate an automatic CR, giving lawmakers a 14-day window to pass all necessary spending bills or face consequences.
This bill also mandates that Congress members, their staff, and Office of Management and Budget personnel remain in D.C. until their work is completed. Lawmakers won’t be able to seek extended breaks, and daily quorum calls will keep them focused on passing budget-related legislation.
“In the real world, failing at your job has consequences,” Arlington pointed out. “When Congress struggles to finalize the budget on time, it’s hardworking Americans who bear the brunt of that failure—taxpayers, seniors, and our military personnel.”
Meanwhile, both House and Senate members are striving for progress on this pressing matter.
Foreign Aid and Budget Negotiations
Senate Majority Leader John Tune expressed hope that the CR would originate from the House, emphasizing a collaborative effort between the House appropriations chair and Senate leadership. “I hope whatever form that CR takes is clean, allowing us the time needed to finalize spending plans,” he stated.
However, a recent decision by the White House to withdraw $4.9 billion in foreign aid could complicate bipartisan negotiations, which are essential for keeping the government operational. So far, Senate Democrats appear hesitant to completely shut out their Republican colleagues but are insisting on being included in discussions regarding the CR.
Democrats have made it clear that when House Republicans attempted a more partisan CR without their input, they quickly discovered the reality of not having enough votes to finance the government effectively.
