A short-term funding bill was passed through the Senate Thursday in an effort to prevent a government shutdown.
The bill will fund the federal government through Dec. 3, allowing lawmakers to use those the next two months to agree on a funding package for next year.
It passed by a vote of 65-35 and is now being voted on in the House. Then it will head to President Biden.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said “I’m confident the House will approve this measure later this afternoon and send it to the president’s desk before funding runs out”.
He also took to Twitter, saying “Today, the Senate will pass legislation to prevent a needless shutdown, provide long-sought emergency funding to help Americans still reeling from natural disasters, and provide funding to help re-settle Afghan refugees”.
In order to pass the bill, a provision to lift the debt ceiling was removed. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said “We’re able to fund the government today because the majority accepted reality”. Republicans strongly opposed the push from Democrats.
$29 billion was assigned for hurricane relief efforts and $6 billion was chosen to help resettle Afghan refugees.
The debt ceiling has been a very difficult topic in Congress and little progress has been made on raising it. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the ceiling must be raised by Oct. 18 when the country might potentially have to default on its debt.