House passes CR that is headed for trouble in Senate

The House voted 220 to 211 on Tuesday night to pass a stopgap continuing resolution that would keep the federal government funded through Dec. 3, though Republicans in the Senate have pledged to block it.

The bill includes $28.6 billion in disaster relief and $6.3 billion to help resettle Afghan refugees, but would also suspend the U.S. debt limit through December 2022, something that has drawn opposition from Senate Republicans who are planning a filibuster that could only be defeated with 60 votes that Democrats do not have.

Senate Republicans have offered their own CR, which does not suspend the debt limit and would include $1 billion to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome rocket defense program.

House Democrats initially included the Iron Dome money in their CR but were forced to strip it amid opposition from progressive lawmakers. House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has promised the money would be in a final fiscal year 2022 defense spending bill.

Congress has until Oct. 1 to pass either a stopgap CR or final appropriations package, otherwise the federal government will shut down.