US House of Representatives to vote on extending government funding
The US House of Representatives is set to vote on September 1 on a temporary spending bill that, if passed, would extend federal government funding until December 11 and help avoid a government shutdown in the fall. The Senate approved the document in August before the summer recess, CNBC reports.
Without the legislation, federal government funding is due to expire at the end of the fiscal year, on September 30. The document provides for extending current levels of government funding. Both parties are seeking to avoid a shutdown ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, when control of the House of Representatives will be decided.
Democratic votes needed for passage
House leadership plans to bring the bill to a vote under the suspension of the rules procedure. It makes it possible to bypass some procedural hurdles for documents with broad support, but requires approval by a two-thirds majority.
Due to the Republicans' narrow majority in the chamber, Democratic votes will be needed to pass the document. Broad bipartisan support is expected, although some Republicans have opposed the initiative.
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Freedom Caucus objections
Members of the conservative Republican House Freedom Caucus criticized both the bill itself and the procedure for considering it. Texas Congressman Chip Roy, in a letter to Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole and Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, expressed concerns about funding for Planned Parenthood and the absence of a ban on certain hemp products containing the psychoactive component THC.
Roy said he has serious reservations about simply extending current policy, since, in his view, passing the document would mean continued funding for policies Republicans had sought to change. Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris also told Punchbowl News that, because of his disagreement with temporary funding, he would vote to block the rest of the Republicans' legislative agenda for this week.
At the same time, with Democratic support, House Speaker Mike Johnson will likely be able to pass the bill even if several Republicans vote against it.
