HOUSE PASSES MINIBUS, AVOIDING PARTIAL SHUTDOWN FRIDAY
The House of Representatives passed a $467.5 billion minibus spending bill this week, yet again avoiding a partial government shutdown. The funding bill keeps relatively level funding for the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Commerce and Energy through FY 2024. The bill was sent to the Senate floor for approval, but was stalled in the Senate over concerns the bill did not do enough to cut federal spending among other amendments. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced a deal to move forward with votes tonight.
Funding for the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, among others, will run out March 22 if a bill is not passed by then.