On Saturday, the US House of Representatives approved a temporary funding bill, with overwhelming support from Democrats, in a first step towards avoiding the crisis. close From the government. But the “continuity resolution”, as considered, excludes funding to support Ukraine.
However, time is still short to avoid the fourth partial shutdown of the federal government in a decade, which will begin at 12:01 a.m. (05:00 Lisbon time) on Sunday, unless the Senate, with a Democratic majority, approves the project. The law and President Joe Biden sign it on time.
McCarthy abandoned the party’s previous insistence that any bill be passed in the House of Representatives with only Republican votes, a move that could prompt one of its far-right members to try to strip him of his role as leader.
The House of Representatives voted 335 to 91 in favor of funding the government for another 45 days, with more support from Democrats than Republicans. The measure would extend government funding for another 45 days if approved by the Senate with a Democratic majority and signed by Democratic President Joe Biden.
About 209 Democrats supported the proposal, a much larger number than the 126 Republicans, and Democrats described the result as a victory.
“The MAGA extremist Republicans lost, and the American people won,” Democrat Hakeem Jeffries told reporters before the vote.
“I’m relieved that McCarthy relented and finally allowed a last-minute bipartisan vote on legislation that stops Republicans’ push toward a disastrous shutdown,” said Democratic Congressman Don Beyer.
The initiative does not include changes in border policy, which Democrats reject, nor funding to support Ukraine in resisting the Russian invasion, which was one of the demands of Republicans, who criticize President Joe Biden for his commitment to this assistance.
McCarthy announced the proposal after a closed meeting that lasted nearly two hours.
“We will vote to ‘correct’ the funding so that the state can continue to operate for another 45 days, and so that the House and Senate can do their work,” the Republican Majority Leader explained.
The plan also includes funding for “disasters in Florida, the horrific fire in Hawaii, as well as disasters in California and Vermont.”
“Let’s keep the country running while continuing to work to end waste and, most importantly, secure our borders,” McCarthy said.
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