- The new budget bill that would prevent a partial shutdown of the US government is until December 16
The Senate voted Tuesday to accept a provisional budget bill that would prevent a government shutdown this weekend and keep it funded through Dec. 16. The vote tally was 72 to 23, according to CNN.
Earlier, the vote nearly collapsed over the inclusion of a controversial permit reform proposal by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who ultimately decided to withdraw it after it came under heavy criticism from Republicans and liberals.
Manchin’s permitting proposal would have expedited the permitting and environmental review process for energy projects, including a major oil pipeline that would run through Manchin’s home state of West Virginia.
Next, the Senate must take a final vote on the temporary budget bill.
The exact timing of that vote has yet to be determined, but lawmakers are expected to pass that short-term budget extension in both houses of Congress and avert a partial government shutdown before the current budget expires at midnight Friday. .
Senators released the legislative text of the interim funding bill Tuesday night.
In addition to money to keep government agencies afloat, it provides about $12 billion for Ukraine as it continues to face Russian military attack and requires the Pentagon to report on how US dollars were spent there. Aid to Ukraine is a bipartisan priority.
The timing of the fight follows a pattern of Capitol leaders in recent years negotiating until the last minute to fund the federal government, leaving virtually no room for error in a series of events that any senator could delay. the process beyond the deadline.