The Senate passed a last-minute extension bill to prevent a government shutdown, giving lawmakers a few more weeks to agree on a spending plan. The measure, which passed with a significant majority, will keep federal agencies operating through mid-December.
The bill, called Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Act, 2021, will provide necessary funds for several departments, including Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. If not approved, the government would have faced a partial shutdown at the end of September.
Lawmakers now have until December 11 to come to an agreement on budget allocation, head off another potential shutdown, and avoid interrupting essential government services. The extension provides Congress sufficient time to negotiate and reach a bipartisan solution on a longer-term budget resolution.
Although the passage of the bill temporarily resolves the immediate issue of a government shutdown, mounting tension and political differences between Democrats and Republicans may make reaching a comprehensive spending plan challenging. The upcoming weeks will likely see continued negotiation and debate on several topics, including healthcare, poverty, environmental policies, and immigration.
