Congress averts shutdown for third time in four months
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., left, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
A short-term spending deal was passed on a bipartisan vote in both the House and Senate. But, as some hoped, it does not provide additional funding for two critical programs helping low-income Americans.
Congress for the third time in less than four months averted a government shutdown on Thursday when House Republicans and Democrats teamed up to overcome opposition from the right to pass another short-term spending deal.
The measure was approved on a 314-108 vote, with a bare majority of Republicans backing it. The vote came shortly after the deal received bipartisan support in the Senate, where it passed 77-18.
The spending deal, known as a continuing resolution, again takes a “laddered” approach, providing funding for some federal agencies, including the housing and transportation departments, until March 1, and funding for others until March 8.
In preventing a shutdown, Congress avoided disruptions around the country, including to flights to county-run airports and furloughs of federal employees who advise state and local employees in applying for grants.
“I am glad they were able to do that because the government should not be shut down,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told Route Fifty while attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting in Washington, D.C.
“Avoiding a shutdown is very good news for every American, especially for our veterans, our parents, our children, our farmers, our small businesses and so many others who would have felt the sting of a government shutdown,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
House Republicans and Senate Democrats, though, now only have six weeks to come to an agreement on 12 spending bills to avoid again facing a partial shutdown in March. The difficult task will come as Congress is also trying to reach an agreement on the border and on providing funding for Ukraine and Israel.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson did agree to leave total spending at roughly the same levels as last year, angering conservatives because it will make the deep cuts they want less likely.
Rep. Bob Good, a Virginia Republican who chairs the conservative Freedom Caucus, opposed the continuing resolution, saying it “extends the Biden-Pelosi-Schumer policies that are bankrupting the country.”
Congress’ failure again to reach a deal on spending for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 will impact two critical programs for low-income people: one deemed essential to helping more than 21 million people afford internet access and the other vital in providing food and nutrition to women and children.
Because the continuing resolution will leave spending at the same levels, the Affordable Connectivity Program will not get the additional funding it needs to avoid running out of funding in April. The Federal Communications Commission said last week it will have to begin “winding down” the program. The millions receiving the $30-a-month subsidy will get a notice by Jan. 25 warning them they may soon stop receiving the money. People hoping to sign up for the program will be turned away starting Feb. 7.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, will continue to face a billion-dollar shortfall. With the Agriculture Department estimating that WIC will run out of funding in August, concerns are rising that states may have to start putting low-income women seeking help on waiting lists.
Kery Murakami is a senior reporter for Route Fifty, covering Congress and federal policy. He can be reached at kmurakami@govexec.com. Follow @Kery_Murakami
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