House Passes Funding Bills Ahead of First Government Shutdown Deadline

House lawmakers on Wednesday passed a government funding package ahead of a partial government shutdown slated for Saturday in an attempt to break what has become a pattern of passing stopgap bills ahead of shutdown deadlines.

The package, which passed 339-85, includes six funding bills that cover several agencies, including the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice and Veterans Affairs.

More than 130 Republicans endorsed the legislation, which passed under an expedited process known as suspension of the rules that requires a two-thirds majority.

Still, dozens of hard-line conservatives voted against the package, which the House Freedom Caucus decried as “high spending levels” that surrender “Republicans’ leverage to force radical Democrats to the table to truly secure the southern border.”

The Senate still needs to vote on the package, and with President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address planned for Thursday, the chamber has to work quickly.

“But the clock is ticking, and because of the State of the Union on Thursday we need to cooperate to move extra fast to get these bills through between now and Friday,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “The watchwords for the Senate will be cooperation and speed.”

And at least one Senate Democrat is planning to vote against the package, citing a gun policy rider pushed for by Republicans.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said he would oppose the entire package due to the measure, which would keep gun rights for military veterans who need fiduciary help with their Veterans Affairs benefits.

“This provision – which could result in 20,000 new seriously mentally ill individuals being able to buy guns each year – will be a death sentence for many,” Murphy posted on social media. “It’s unacceptable this provision was pushed by Republicans. Democrats shouldn’t have acquiesced.”

Even if the bills pass the Senate, work to fund the government isn’t over. Another shutdown deadline of March 22 looms, and the second group of bills likely poses an even bigger challenge for negotiations.