Senate advances bill to prevent shutdown this week past first hurdle

The Senate on Tuesday took the first step toward passing a bill to continue funding the government through March, with leaders aiming for final passage within days to prevent a government shutdown this weekend. Ta.

The Senate voted 68-13 to adjourn the motion to move to vehicles for a two-step stopgap, also known as a continuing resolution (CR). The vote cleared the first procedural hurdle for the stopgap measure, just days after both sides announced an agreement to avoid a weekend shutdown.

Under the deal announced Sunday, both countries will extend funding for four of 12 annual funding bills until March 1, while negotiators seek to fast-track new spending levels for fiscal year 2024. We agreed. This includes funding for government agencies such as the US State Department. Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

However, lawmakers plan to extend funding for the remaining eight bills through March 8 under the agreement. Agencies funded by these bills include the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Education.

This two-tiered approach is similar to the strategy Congress used to counter the last government shutdown threat in November, as House Republicans pushed to avoid a large omnibus funding package.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, R-New York, said ahead of Tuesday's vote that he was hopeful “we can finish work on CR by Thursday at the latest.”

“The key to getting our work done this week is bipartisan cooperation in both chambers. We cannot pass these bills without the support of Republicans and Democrats in both chambers.”

Schumer and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) announced a topline agreement earlier this month that sets the standard for negotiators to craft 12 annual funding bills.

But negotiators said last week that spending leaders in both chambers are still trying to reach agreement on the allocation of each bill, making it difficult for spending cardinals in both chambers to craft a funding bill.