House Passes Crucial Bill To Prevent Government Shutdown

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill just in time to prevent a government shutdown, moving the legislation swiftly to the Senate for urgent approval.

The bill, aimed at maintaining government operations until mid-March, encompasses disaster relief and farmer aid but omits any increase in the debt limit, the New York Post reports.

In a decisive move, the House voted 366-34-1 to pass the legislation, avoiding a government closure with mere hours to spare. This bipartisan effort saw substantial support across party lines, with 170 Republicans voting alongside Democrats to ensure the government remains funded.

All Democrats, except Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas who voted 'present', supported the bill, reflecting a strong unity among party members during the crisis. Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota hinted that the Senate might act swiftly on the resolution, potentially passing it on the same day it was received.

Legislative Focus: "America First" Policy

Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, labeling the legislation as "America First", described it as a temporary solution until the arrival of a new Congress in January. The bill not only maintains the current funding levels until March 14 but also extends the farm bill for an additional year and commits billions to disaster relief and agricultural support.

This package notably excluded a debt ceiling raise, a last-minute add-on sought by President-elect Donald Trump, sparking considerable debate. Instead, a separate agreement was reached to increase the borrowing limit by $1.5 trillion, offset by $2.5 trillion in spending reductions slated for the next Congress.

Four Days of Intense Legislative Wrangling

The House cycled through four different spending proposals over three tumultuous days. Speaker Johnson, facing mounting pressure from some factions within his party, struggled to navigate the challenging legislative environment.

Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky voiced his frustration with Johnson's leadership. “We’re legislating by Braille here. I think this wasn’t handled well, and then I still have all the grievances from last at the beginning of this year, FISA, Ukraine, all of those things. I think there’s going to be a reckoning eventually,” Massie explained.

Disaster Relief and Farmer Support at the Forefront

The final proposal, which Johnson put forward, streamlined the bill into a single package that included disaster aid and farmer assistance. This came after earlier attempts involving a two-year suspension of the debt limit and proposals for three separate votes fell through.

The allocated $100 billion for disaster relief will address the devastations caused by recent hurricanes Helene and Milton. Specific funding includes $29 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, $2 billion for the Small Business Administration’s disaster loans, and considerable resources for the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Contentious Health and Community Provisions Omitted

Some Democrats and Republicans expressed concerns over the omission of certain health and community provisions that were part of earlier drafts. Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington criticized the removal of critical healthcare services. “They want to take out things like cancer care for children, things like reforms for the pharmacy benefit managers that lower prices of drugs for Americans. They want to take out community health centers,” Jayapal said, highlighting the contentious nature of the negotiations.

As the bill now heads to the Senate, all eyes are on how quickly it can pass to ensure continuity in government services. Speaker Johnson, optimistic about the future under Trump's upcoming presidency, stated, “In January, we will make a sea change in Washington. President Trump will return to D.C. and to the White House, and we will have Republican control of the Senate and the House. Things are going to be very different around here. This was a necessary step to bridge the gap, to put us into that, that moment where we can put our fingerprints on the final decisions on spending for 2025.”

The urgency and bipartisan nature of the House’s actions reflect the high stakes involved in averting a government shutdown, underscoring the critical importance of timely legislative decision-making in moments of crisis.