CR Stopgap Bill Voted Out of Committee, Late Night

The House Rules Committee voted Monday night to advance the GOP’s bill to avert a government shutdown, dispatching the measure to the full chamber for consideration ahead of Friday’s deadline.

The panel voted 9-3 to adopt the rule, which governs debate on the legislation. The successful vote sends the measure to the House floor for debate and a final vote.

“This legislation helps avoid the government shutting down and allows us to continue our work in service to the American people,” House Rules Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said in her opening remarks of the hearing. “The House must act to avoid a needless shutdown that serves no purpose — by doing so, this body can put its focus and attention on the next appropriations process.”

The continuing resolution, unveiled by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over the weekend, would keep the government funded through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year, while boosting defense funding and imposing cuts for some nondefense programs.

The House is expected to vote on the legislation on Monday. It remains unclear, however, if it has the votes to pass since Democrats are expected to oppose it in droves — their leadership is voting “no” — and a handful of Republicans are withholding support from the measure.

If all Democrats vote “no” and there is full attendance, Johnson can only afford to lose one vote and still get the measure over the finish line.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced on Monday that he will vote against the legislation; Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) is a “lean no,” according to his office; and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said he was a no as of Monday evening.

Reps. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) and Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), meanwhile, have said they are undecided, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) has not yet said if he will support the measure. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said he plans to make a “game-time decision.”

In a positive sign for Johnson, however, the House Freedom Caucus adopted an official position in support of the stopgap Monday night, giving the legislation a helpful boost in the final stretch to Tuesday’s vote.

“The House Freedom Caucus supports the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution,” the group wrote in a statement. “Contrary to Congress’ longtime abuse of this legislative tool, this CR is a paradigm shift.”

Democrats, meanwhile, have been hammering away at the continuing resolution since it was unveiled over the weekend. On Monday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) accused the bill of seeking to cut health care, nutritional assistance for children and veterans benefits.

“The House Republican so-called spending bill does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Quite the opposite. The Republican bill dramatically cuts health care, nutritional assistance for children and families and veterans benefits,” Jeffries said. “It is not something we could ever support. House Democrats will not be complicit in the Republican effort to hurt the American people.”