The House of Representatives is officially back in session after a five-week summer recess, but the lawmakers face a daunting task ahead – funding the government before the fiscal year ends on September 30th. A government shutdown looms large if they fail to reach a compromise. With the GOP controlling the House and Democrats holding the Senate, a short-term extension of current funding, known as a “continuing resolution” (CR), is the most likely scenario to avoid a partial shutdown.
Despite ambitious plans to pass all 12 individual appropriations bills before recess, internal GOP disagreements on spending priorities derailed the effort. Conservative Republicans pushed for amendments addressing issues like transgender surgeries and abortion, while rank-and-file members expressed concerns about taking politically unpopular votes on measures destined to be blocked by the Senate. As a result, only six of the 12 bills have passed the House floor, while the Senate hasn’t even considered any.
The main focus upon the House’s return in September will be the specifics of the CR – its duration and any attached riders. Allies of former President Trump have advocated for a CR extending into the new year, hoping Republicans will regain control of the White House and Senate. However, senior GOP lawmakers worry this would unnecessarily complicate an already challenging first 100 days for the new administration. Some Trump supporters are pushing to attach the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act), a GOP-backed bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, to the CR.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., voiced frustration over the situation, stating that the House has been working tirelessly for months on funding bills that ultimately won’t pass the Senate. She argues that instead of pushing bills destined to be blocked, the House should focus on impactful measures like the SAVE Act. However, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., expressed reservations about attaching the SAVE Act, highlighting that its Senate passage is unlikely.
A spokesperson for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emphasized the House’s progress in advancing appropriations bills, pointing out that the House has passed 75% of the government funding for the upcoming fiscal year, while the Senate has yet to consider even a single appropriations bill. The House plans to continue its efforts to responsibly fund the government upon its return from recess.
The upcoming weeks will be crucial for determining the fate of government funding, with the potential for a government shutdown looming. The political dynamics in both the House and Senate, combined with internal GOP disagreements, make reaching a compromise a challenging but necessary task for the lawmakers.
