Senate to vote on first government funding package to avoid shutdown

Updated on: March 8, 2024 / 6:03 PM EST


Washington -- The Senate is on track to pass a six-bill package to fund part of the federal government through September before a partial shutdown is set to take effect at midnight.

The upper chamber hit a speed bump Friday afternoon amid negotiations over amendment votes requested by Republicans, which slowed down its final passage.

"We have good news for the country. Tonight the Senate has reached an agreement avoiding a shutdown on the first six funding bills," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said ahead of votes. Without a deal on amendment votes, a final vote to send the bill to President Biden's desk could have come as late as Saturday, after funding lapsed.

The House passed the package Wednesday, with Democrats providing a majority of the votes needed to get it over the finish line. Conservatives held firm in their opposition to all of the recent funding extensions that lacked their preferred spending cuts and policy riders.

Updated on: March 8, 2024 / 2:02 PM EST


Washington -- The Senate hit a speed bump as it races to beat a midnight deadline to pass a six-bill package to fund parts of the federal government through September and avoid a partial shutdown. The Senate cleared a procedural hurdle Friday afternoon, but a final vote to send the bill to President Biden's desk could come as late as Saturday as negotiations over amendment votes hold up its passage.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said there's a risk of a shutdown, "but hopefully we can avoid that if we can find a path forward." "It's gotten a little complicated, unfortunately," he said, calling on Democrats to allow amendment votes.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, asked Republicans to work with Democrats on a "reasonable agreement so we can get this funding package done today." Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, urged her colleagues "to stop playing with fire."

The House passed the package Wednesday, with Democrats providing a majority of the votes needed to get it over the finish line. Conservatives held firm in their opposition to all of the recent funding extensions that lacked their preferred spending cuts and policy riders.