Stopgap Spending Bill to Avert Government Shutdown Passes Congress, Waits for Joe Biden's Signature

By Jace Dela Cruz

Jan 19, 2024 01:57 AM EST

To avert a looming partial government shutdown, Congress passed a short-term spending bill on Thursday that will be sent to President Joe Biden for approval.

U.S. House Votes On Secure The Border Act Of 2023 — (Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 11: U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) presides over the vote on H.R.2 - the Secure the Border Act of 2023, in the House Chamber of the Capitol May 11, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Congress Clears Stopgap Spending Bill

According to the Associated Press, the House voted 314-108 in favor of the stopgap funding a few hours after the Senate gave overwhelming bipartisan support for the measure in a 77-to-18 vote.

Narrowly beating the Friday deadline when funding for some government agencies expires, about half of House Republicans joined with Democrats to pass the third stopgap funding measure in recent months.

The bill's passage extends current spending levels and gives lawmakers until March to work out their differences and pass a dozen spending bills totaling $1.66 trillion to fund the government. These bills were supposed to become law by the start of the fiscal year on October 1.

Funding for Key Health Agencies Extended

The temporary measure will run until March 1 for some federal agencies, whose funds were set to run out Friday. It reportedly extends the remainder of government operations to March 8.

According to The Hill, federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs are funded until March 1 under the continuing resolution, while the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will have funding until March 8.

The resolution also postponed cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments, which were initially scheduled for January 30 but will now happen on March 9.

Medicaid programs in states are required by federal law to release DSH payments to qualifying hospitals serving a high degree of Medicaid and uninsured patients. These funds were set to be cut by $8 billion yearly, beginning this year and continuing until 2027.

The cuts were first called for by the Affordable Care Act but have been continually knocked by Congress. Funds for child and family welfare programs and community health centers were also extended to March 8.

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