WASHINGTON (CN) — Just over 24 hours away from the deadline to avoid triggering a government shutdown, lawmakers have introduced a short-term government funding plan that would keep the lights on through mid-February.
The stopgap spending plan opens up a door for the House to vote on the measure Thursday, allowing only one day for the politically tense Senate to approve the legislation and avoid a government shutdown, which would be triggered at midnight on Friday.
Both chambers have to agree to the same plan before that time, the likelihood of which remains uncertain as some Senate Republicans threaten to force a shutdown in protest of federal Covid-19 vaccine and testing mandates.
To avoid a dragged out debate process that could run out the clock on Friday, Senate Republican support of the plan is needed.
“It is yet again a double sense of irresponsibility. First of all, they shut down government and then they shut down science," Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said of the threats by Republicans.
The proposed bill funds the federal government through Feb. 18, potentially staving off a federal shutdown but adding yet another agenda item to an already heavy plate for lawmakers.
If the new plan does pass, Congress will have to either pass another short-term spending plan or resolve the political arguments that have prevented lawmakers from passing an appropriations plan for the rest of the fiscal year in February.
The plan continues previously agreed upon levels of funding, but adds $7 billion of support to Afghan refugees.
Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from Connecticut, said she is eager to pass a larger and more long-term spending package.
"While I wish the February 18 end date were earlier, this agreement allows the appropriations process to move forward toward a final funding agreement which addresses the needs of the American people,” DeLauro said in a statement.
Pelosi said she is hopeful Congress will be able to pass a long-term spending package before mid-February.
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