Senators approve bill to extend government funding by a week

The Senate on Thursday approved a week-long temporary funding bill to prevent a partial government shutdown that could begin Friday night into Saturday. The resolution passed by a vote of 71 in favor, with 19 opposed. The document, which was previously approved by the House of Representatives, has been sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.

A sweeping bill, estimated at $1.7 trillion, that would allow federal agencies to continue operating throughout the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2023, is on the line for passage.

“This is a simple but very responsible step that will allow us to end the year without disruption and with minimal drama. A one-week funding extension will give us more time to get on with the job,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said before the temporary funding bill passed.

Negotiators earlier this week disclosed a framework for the full-year budget, but did not provide details regarding funding for specific programs.

Nonetheless, it is expected to include spending on helping Ukraine fight Russia and reforming congressional certification procedures for presidential elections.

Senator Richard Shelby, the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, said the total funding has been spread across 12 subcommittees. He estimated it would take four to five days for the staff to enter all the spending items.

Congress now has until Dec. 23 to approve a permanent bill being drafted by Senate staff or to approve another temporary funding bill, which threatens to move the debate over budget priorities to the new Congress, which will convene Jan. 3.

In the new convocation, control of the House of Representatives will shift to Republicans, while Democrats will retain control of the Senate.

Although top Republicans in the Senate supported a framework for annual funding, their partymates in the House rejected it, demanding that negotiations be delayed until they have a majority in the House so that they have more leverage to cut non-defense spending.

The last time Democrats and Republicans allowed a government funding shutdown, there was a record-long 35-day partial shutdown that lasted from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019.

The main stumbling block was President Donald Trump’s demand for a major investment to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, which many found inefficient and wasteful.