House approves stopgap government funding bill
WASHINGTON- The House of Representatives on Thursday evening approved a continuing resolution (CR) that funds the government through Feb. 16.
The lower chamber approved the measure in a 230-197 vote.
Eleven Republicans voted against the CR. Six Democrats voted for it.
The legislation funds the government through Feb. 16 and includes language extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years. It also provides funding for an upgraded missile defense program and repeals the medical device tax.
House Democratic leaders urged their members to oppose the CR because it does not include protection for the more than 800,000 recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The program expires on March 5.
A number of more conservative House Republicans had threatened to oppose the CR because of the burden it places on the military, but at the last minute House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) reached an agreement with GOP leaders enabling his caucus to support the measure.
The government has been funded by temporary spending bills for almost a decade and lawmakers are struggling to negotiate a comprehensive budget agreement.
The government will run out of money after midnight on Friday if the Senate does not approve the CR. Right now passage prospects are in considerable doubt.
Senate Democratic leaders, like their House counterparts, are opposed to the CR because it does not contain a DACA fix.
Sixty votes are required for passage in the upper chamber.
Republicans hold 51 seats.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have said they will vote against the CR.
This article is republished with permission from Talk Media News
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