House approves spending bill to prevent shutdown, syncs up with Senate
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives late Thursday evening approved a spending bill crafted by a bipartisan-bicameral conference committee to prevent another partial government shutdown.
The measure passed 300-128.
The Senate approved the legislation earlier in the evening.
The votes came just hours after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said — and White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed — that President Donald Trump will sign the spending bill and then declare a national emergency to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
For weeks Trump has said he would declare a national emergency if Congress did not agree to his $5.7 billion request for a wall. Should he follow through, Democrats are expected to challenge the decision in court.
The spending bill provides $1.375 billion for a physical barrier along the border. The money would be spent to build 55 miles of fencing in the Rio Grande Valley.
The legislation includes a provision requested by Democrats to limit the number of beds for detainees held at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities to about 40,000.
The legislation funds outstanding executive departments at existing levels through Sept. 30. Funding for about 25 percent of the government is set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
This article is republished with permission from Talk Media News
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