WASHINGTON, DC – Shortly before midnight, the U.S. Senate voted 87-11 to pass a short-term funding bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), that will avert a federal government shutdown ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.  The measure, which also passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week, keeps some federal agencies open at current spending levels until mid-January, with others set to have their funding lapse in early February.

The bill must now be signed into law by President Joe Biden before federal funding expires on Friday, November, 17 in order to prevent a government shutdown.  The White House signaled the President’s intention to sign the bill into law.

Citing the need to keep the government open and working for the American people, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, supported the measure, but criticized Congressional Republicans for bringing the federal government to the brink of a shutdown for the second time in the last 45 days. 

Reed issued the following statement:

“I voted to keep the government open and working for the people. 

“When Republicans shut the government down, working families pay the price and our economy, security, and democracy suffers as a result. 

“Infighting amongst House Republicans wasted several weeks.

“Congress should be passing bipartisan spending bills that address the nation’s long-term needs.  Instead, Republicans are only agreeing to short-term, stop gap measures and threatening the paychecks of millions of Americans, including members of the military. 

“Elected leaders have a responsibility to appropriate funds in an orderly process.  But far-right extremists are holding the country back and threatening to force another shutdown in the new year. 

“Congress must work together and fund the government and pass emergency aid for Ukraine, Israel, national security, disaster funding, childcare, LIHEAP, homeless assistance, and other pressing needs. House Republicans need to get serious and come to the table to negotiate responsible, bipartisan full-year funding bills, without draconian cuts or poison pills that won’t pass in either chamber.”

Once the President signs the bill into law, it will set up two new deadlines:

On January 19 federal funding for agencies covered by the Agriculture; Energy-Water; Military Construction-VA; and Transportation-HUD bills will expire. Funding for all other federal departments and agencies will lapse after February 2.