House sends bill to Biden to avoid midnight government shutdown

The House on Thursday passed legislation to prevent a government shutdown with just hours before the midnight deadline, but without any action to avoid default in weeks.

Lawmakers voted 254-175 to send the bill, which keeps the federal government funded until Dec. 3, to President BidenJoe Biden Arizona Democrats and activists envision Sinema’s main potential challenge over Biden’s agenda, Biden obstructionism, and the border patrol: It’s so good to have the “adults” in. charge Dental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries splits parts PLUS for his signature. Thirty-four Republicans voted with all Democrats in favor of the bill.

The House passed the same bill last week along party lines, but with a provision that suspended the debt limit until mid-December next year.

The Senate did not advance the original bill passed by the House on Monday due to Republican insistence not to vote to prevent a default, which the Treasury Secretary Janet YellenJanet Louise Yellen By Refusing To Raise Debt Ceiling, Republicans Bank On Americans’ Social Security Benefits The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Alibaba – Vote or Not? Pelosi faces infrastructure decision Congress to avoid shutdown, but debt scuffle looms MORE said it could happen after Oct. 18 if Congress doesn’t act on time.

Faced with the prospect of a government shutdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats ultimately chose to untie the debt ceiling suspension from the government funding bill.

The Senate voted 65-35 earlier Thursday afternoon to send the government’s interim finance bill back to the House with no provision to settle the debt ceiling.

“This bill is not a permanent solution. I look forward to entering negotiations soon with my counterparts across the aisle and on Capitol Hill to complete full year government funding bills that undo decades of divestment, ”said the President of the House appropriations committee. Rosa DeLauroRosa DeLauro Retaining Defensive Systems For Israel Could Have Dangerous Consequences On Money – Democrats Rush To End Defense And National Security Infrastructure Overnight – Introduced By General AM – Defense Bill Occupies front of the stage MORE (D-Conn.).

The bill also includes $ 28.6 billion to help communities recover from recent natural disasters, including recent hurricanes and wildfires, as well as $ 6.3 billion for Afghan refugee resettlement efforts.

Republicans call on Democrats to avoid default by using the budget reconciliation process, which is the same procedural route planned for the party’s ‘human infrastructure’ package to expand social safety net programs like paid family leave and child care.

Unlike almost every other bill that reaches the Senate, bills considered under budget reconciliation are exempt from the filibuster that requires at least 60 votes to move forward. Democrats also took advantage of budget reconciliation earlier this year to get Biden’s COVID-19 relief plan through Congress without needing GOP support.

“The Republicans in the Senate have been completely transparent. We have given Democrats a step-by-step guide to governing in this environment and months of notice to do so, ”said the Senate Minority Leader. Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell By Refusing To Raise Debt Ceiling, Republicans Bank On Americans’ Social Security Benefits The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Alibaba – Vote or Not? Pelosi faces infrastructure decision Congress to avoid shutdown, but debt scuffle looms MORE (R-Ky.) Reiterated Thursday.

But Democrats warn that using the reconciliation process to prevent a default – which has historically been treated with bipartisan support through a regular order – is an unnecessarily complex and lengthy process that might not fail. be ready by the October 18 deadline.

Using the reconciliation process to settle the debt ceiling would require additional action in committees, ping-pong of the bill between the two chambers, and long Senate voting sessions known as “vote-a.” -rama ”during which senators can propose unlimited amendments.

Majority leader in the Senate Charles SchumerChuck Schumer By refusing to raise debt limit, Republicans are betting on Americans’ social security benefits Former Olympic swimmer pleads guilty to felony in Jan.6 case Pelosi invokes climate conference to push spending MORE (DN.Y.) and speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiWatch Live: Pelosi Holds Briefing With Vote on Evolving Infrastructure Dental Coverage for Medicare Beneficiaries Divides Parties The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Alibaba – To Vote or Not? Pelosi faces a PLUS infrastructure decision (D-Calif.) Insisted that using reconciliation is not a realistic option.

“We cannot afford the risk of a long and unpredictable process sought by the minority leader, which could very well lead to default,” Schumer said.

It’s unclear what other options the Democrats will pursue. The House on Wednesday passed a stand-alone bill largely in line with party lines to suspend the debt limit until mid-December 2022, but it is expected to run up against the same GOP stone wall in the Senate.

Raising or suspending the debt limit allows the Treasury Department to generate more cash to repay existing bonds already passed by lawmakers.

Yellen told a House committee on Thursday that she supported the total abolition of the federal debt limit, arguing that it was a “very destructive” threat to US bonds.

While Democrats have managed to avert a potential crisis in the form of a government shutdown as they control both houses of Congress and the White House, they are still watching more clashes with no resolution in sight.

Aside from the October 18 debt deadline, centrist and progressive Democrats remain at odds over reaching some form of deal on expanding the social safety net.

Democratic House leaders also scheduled a vote on Thursday at the behest of centrists on the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by the Senate that invests in roads, bridges and transit programs, but it didn’t. is not clear whether it can be passed due to progressives threatening to withhold their votes as leverage for the social spending package.