Mon Sep 23 23:12:04 UTC 2024: ## Congress Averts Shutdown, Pushes Spending Battle to After Election

**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – The House of Representatives is set to vote this week on a bill that would extend federal funding for 12 weeks, preventing a government shutdown on October 1st. The agreement, reached between House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic leaders, funds the government at current levels until December 20th.

This short-term funding measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), also includes $231 million for the Secret Service to enhance presidential candidate protection and $47 million for election-related expenses.

The bill excludes the controversial SAVE Act, which would have required proof of citizenship to vote. This measure was championed by Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, but ultimately failed to pass the House last week.

The agreement effectively pushes the larger battle over 2025 spending levels until after the November election. While some Republicans, including those who support spending cuts and cultural conservative initiatives, criticize the short-term extension as a political ploy, Speaker Johnson insists that it is the only “prudent” path forward given the proximity to the election.

Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, expressed optimism that bipartisan cooperation will see the bill passed this week, well before the September 30th deadline.

This temporary resolution, however, is a temporary bandage on a deeper issue. Many lawmakers, particularly those on the Republican side, are calling for real spending cuts and a balanced budget, rather than relying on the routine of continuing resolutions and last-minute spending bills.

Moderate Republicans, however, welcome the avoidance of a shutdown showdown so close to the election, recognizing that it would be detrimental to the party’s prospects.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, has urged swift passage to avert a “needless and disastrous government shutdown”.

Both houses of Congress are expected to work towards finalizing the bill this week, setting the stage for further debate and negotiation on the long-term federal budget after the election.

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