House passes continuing resolution, averting government shutdown

The House of Representatives on Friday passed a continuing budget resolution keep the government funded through to Dec. 16 and sent it to President Joe Biden's desk.

The lower chamber voted 230-201 to pass the short-term spending package, which included $12 billion in aid to Ukraine, $18.8 billon for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund, and $1 billion for heating and utility assistance, according to CNBC.

The Senate passed the budget resolution earlier this week, albeit with difficulty due to the initial version's inclusion of an energy permitting reform that West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin had backed. Manchin had traded his vote on the $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act for a promise from Schumer to include the reform in the continuing budget resolution, but stiff opposition from Democrats and Republicans alike forced Manchin to ask that Schumer pull the reform to ensure the package's passage.

With the resolution now heading to President Joe Biden's desk, the government will narrowly avert a shutdown before the Friday evening deadline. Biden is expected to sign it, per the outlet.

The full 2023 budget, however, remains unfinished. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer expressed some consternation at Congress's inability to fully resolve the matter, but told the outlet that the legislature had still advanced pivotal funding issues in the short term.

"While I am disappointed that we could not complete full appropriations this month, I am glad that we were able to include key funding provisions in this continuing resolution that address critical needs," he said.

House Republicans meanwhile, have sought to ensure the more timely passage of full-size federal budgets. "I would pass a continuing resolution to fund all of government at 95% of last year's level," said Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie on the "John Solomon Reports" podcast last week.