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U.S. Congress cleared a temporary spending bill to fund the government into early March, averting a partial shutdown ahead of an expected snowstorm and buying more time for lawmakers to hammer out funding bills for the fiscal year that started in October.
The Senate voted for the continuing resolution 77-18, while the House of Representatives voted 314-108. The temporary bill will fund certain government operations till March 1, while the deadline for the remaining has been pushed to March 8. Funding would’ve run out on Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 under current law.
The latest continuing resolution is the third extension made for fiscal 2024 since October 1. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would sign the resolution.
“It’s good news for every American, especially our veterans, parents and children, farmers and small businesses, all of whom would have felt the sting of a shutdown,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
However, certain Republicans opposed the proposed bill, with the House Freedom Congress saying it buys “time to pass full-year appropriations that increase (Nancy) Pelosi’s spending level and likely preserve Biden’s policies.”
“It’s Groundhog Day in the House chamber all the time, every day, yet again spending money we don’t have,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX)
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