The House voted to fund the government into December and suspend the debt limit.
Democrats aiming to prevent shutdown
WASHINGTON — The House voted Tuesday night to fund the government into early December, suspend the federal debt limit and provide disaster and refugee aid, setting up a high-stakes showdown with Republicans who oppose the package.
The Democratic-led House passed the measure by a vote of 220-211, strictly along party lines. The bill now goes to the Senate.
The federal government faces a shutdown if funding stops on
Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year, midnight next Thursday. Additionally, at some point in October the U.S. risks defaulting on its accumulated debt load if its borrowing limits are not waived or adjusted.
“Our country will suffer greatly if we do not act now to stave off this unnecessary and preventable crisis,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-MD., said shortly before the vote.
The package approved Tuesday would provide stopgap money to keep the government funded to
Dec. 3 and extend borrowing authority through the end of 2022. It includes $28.6 billion in disaster relief for the aftermath of Hurricane Ida and other extreme weather events, and $6.3 billion to support Afghanistan evacuees in the fallout from the end of the 20-year war.
While suspending the debt ceiling allows the government to meet financial obligations already incurred, Republicans argued it would also facilitate a spending binge in the months ahead.
“I will not support signing a blank check as this majority is advancing the most reckless expansion of government in generations,” said Rep. Dan Meuser, R-PA.
Senate Republican leader Mitch Mcconnell said he was not about to help pay off past debts when Biden was about to pile on more. He said since Democrats control the White House and Congress, it’s their problem to find the votes.
“This is playing with fire,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.