Senate passes CR, House up next

By Tony Bertuca / September 30, 2021 at 2:26 PM

The Senate voted 65-35 today to pass a stopgap continuing resolution to keep the federal government open through Dec. 3. The House is expected to quickly pass the bill, thus averting a government shutdown at midnight.

The House passed its own CR last week, but Senate Republicans balked at a measure it contained to suspend the federal debt limit until December 2022. The Senate’s CR does not address the debt limit, which covers spending Congress has already approved.

Meanwhile, the debt limit is set to expire Oct. 18, resulting in a federal government default if Congress does not reach an agreement to raise it.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) released a statement applauding the CR’s passage.

“I am pleased that the Senate has passed the continuing resolution to keep the government open, allowing us more time to find a bipartisan path forward on our fiscal 2022 appropriations process,” he said. “This effort did not need to be complicated. There was a simple solution negotiated on a bipartisan, bicameral basis, and that’s what we advanced today -- a bill that continues government funding and provides much-needed emergency and disaster assistance. I urge our House colleagues to do the same. It’s time we work together to provide this funding for the sake of the American people.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on the Senate floor he hoped lawmakers could reach a bipartisan compromise on the debt ceiling, which covers spending Congress approved during former President Trump’s administration as well as President Biden’s current administration.

“Just as the CR is so important and requires bipartisan cooperation, I wish my colleagues on the other side of the aisle saw the debt ceiling as equally important and equally requiring bipartisan cooperation,” he said.

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