House passes 2-bill funding package ahead of shutdown deadline

The House approved a bipartisan two-bill appropriations package 341 to 79 and sent it to the Senate as Congress works to meet a Jan. 30 deadline to avoid a government shutdown.

The House passed a bipartisan two-bill appropriations package on Wednesday and transmitted it to the Senate. Lawmakers are working to meet a Jan. 30 deadline to pass annual appropriations and avoid a government shutdown. The package includes funding for the Departments of State, Treasury and related agencies. The Senate is also advancing a separate three-bill package that covers Commerce, Justice, Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency. Key details: - The House voted 341 to 79 to approve the two-bill package and sent it to the Senate. - The two-bill package provides funding for the Departments of State, Treasury and related agencies. - The Senate is conducting procedural votes on a three-bill package covering Commerce, Justice, Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency. - If both pieces become law, four additional appropriations bills would still be needed to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. - A Senate recess next week and a scheduled House break the following week create a compressed calendar for completing remaining bills. - Homeland Security funding was removed from the current package after an ICE officer fatally shot a Minnesota woman; Democrats have said they may withhold support without ICE reforms, and leaders have said a short-term funding measure is possible if no agreement is reached. Summary: The House vote advances parts of the appropriations process but full-year funding depends on passage of the remaining four bills and resolution of the Homeland Security measure. The Senate is considering companion legislation while lawmakers face a tight timeline because of upcoming recesses. If negotiations on Homeland Security stall, leaders have indicated a temporary funding measure could be used to maintain current levels.