House passes spending bill to fund government until Dec. 20, sends to Senate

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill to fund the government until Dec.20 Wednesday, sending it to the Senate to avert a shutdown of all federal agencies at 11:59 p.m.

Monday — while setting up another fiscal fight in the lame-duck session after the election and just before Christmas.The House voted 341-82 to keep government funding at current levels for the next three months, with all “no” votes coming from Republicans.Another 132 GOP lawmakers joined 209 Democrats to voted in favor of the measure.The bill includes another $231 billion in funding for the US Secret Service after two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump raised concerns about the embattled protective agency’s resources.The funding resolution needed a two-thirds majority to pass after Republicans on the House Rules Committee blocked it from coming to the floor under typical procedures.“Because the end of the fiscal year is upon us, and Senate Democrats failed to pass a single appropriations bill or negotiate with the House on an acceptable topline number for FY 2025, a continuing resolution is the only option that remains,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told the GOP conference in a “Dear Colleague” letter on Sunday.“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances,” Johnson said.

“As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.”Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) vowed Wednesday morning that the resolution would easily clear the 60-vote threshold to move legislation through the upper chamber and head to President Biden’s desk for his signature.“The agreement we locked in last night allows for no poison pill amendments,” the Brooklyn Democrat said.“Americans can breathe easy because both sides have chosen bipartisanship.”Schume...