House approves short-term spending bill to reopen government, syncs up with Senate
WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives Friday evening approved a short-term spending bill to reopen the government and end the 35-day-long partial shutdown.
The measure passed by unanimous consent.
The Senate approved the legislation earlier in the evening.
The continuing resolution (CR) funds outstanding executive departments at existing levels through Feb. 15. Passage is accompanied by an agreement to form a joint House-Senate conference committee to study President Donald Trump’s request for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Earlier Friday Trump spoke in the White House Rose Garden and announced the deal.
However, Trump said if lawmakers do not come up with a more comprehensive border security agreement in the next three weeks another shutdown is possible. Trump said he has not ruled out declaring a national emergency in order to get the wall built.
It is unclear if the reopening of the government will have an effect on an agreement between Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to postpone the State of the Union Address, which had been scheduled for next Tuesday.
Earlier this month Congress passed legislation to provide back pay for furloughed federal workers. Friday marked the second time this month that those workers received a paystub showing deferred pay.
This article is republished with permission from Talk Media News
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