Senate approves bill to fund government into December

The Senate has approved a continuing resolution on Saturday to fund the government through December 11, sending the bill to the House for consideration as Congress aims to prevent a shutdown ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. With a 90 to 6 vote, the Senate passed the measure, which maintains current funding levels with minor exceptions for six weeks beyond the fiscal year's end on September 30.

The bill now awaits a vote in the House, where lawmakers have chosen a different path. Previously, the House approved a separate continuing resolution to fund the government through December, but it faced strong opposition from Democrats. In the Senate, where a 60-vote threshold is required for most legislation, GOP leaders pursued a bipartisan strategy to garner support from both parties.

After reaching an agreement on a stopgap funding bill, top Republican and Democratic appropriators announced their consensus on Sunday. Democrats applauded the bill for eliminating a loophole that would have barred the administration from transferring funds to Border Patrol. However, one provision in the bill could pose challenges in the House, especially if the lower chamber revisits the legislation after its August recess in late August.

The Senate approved the measure amid a flurry of priorities and preparations for a five-week August recess. With the House returning on August 31, lawmakers will have weeks to reach a consensus on a funding plan. Following two consecutive government shutdowns in the past year, there appears to be low appetite for another funding lapse among most lawmakers. As the midterm elections draw nearer, both parties seem inclined to postpone the issue for now.