Government Shutdown Might Be Averted if New Bipartisan Bill Passes in Time

by M.C. Millman

A new short-term government funding bill that passed in a 77-19 vote in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday is up for a possible vote in a last-ditch attempt at temporarily averting the looming government shutdown.

The Senate's continuing resolution (CR) would allow the government to remain open through Friday, November 17, before Thanksgiving break for both chambers.

The CR will give the House and Senate more time to reconcile the differences between the twelve government funding bills that have yet to be passed. The CR includes funding security and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as well as funds for natural disaster recovery.

"Given that we aren't getting 12 appropriations bills signed into law by September 30th," Congressman Mike Lawler said on X Tuesday night, "we need to pass a CR while we continue going through the appropriations process. There is no reason for us to shut down the government and inflict pain on the American people.'

Passage of the CR is not a given. Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky is one senator who has said he will not consent to the CR as he opposes additional aid to Ukraine.