On Wednesday, September 11th, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, cancelled plans to vote on a temporary spending bill scheduled for that day.
The fiscal year of the US federal government is set to end on September 30th, at which point funding supporting the operations of many agencies will expire. If Congress fails to reach an agreement on a spending bill, many federal agencies will have to shut down.
Johnson stated on Wednesday, “We are not voting today because we are still working on building consensus in Congress.”
Last Friday, led by Johnson, House Republicans introduced a 46-page bill that would largely fund the government at current levels, keeping operations running until March 28, 2025. The bill also includes a controversial provision proposed by Republicans that requires voters to provide proof of citizenship in federal elections.
This provision has faced opposition from President Biden, Democratic members of Congress, as well as defense hawks, hardline conservatives, and moderates. As a result, the bill is unlikely to pass in the House.
Johnson mentioned on Wednesday that Republicans will work over the weekend to find a bill that can garner enough votes for passage. “The whip will work to build consensus. We will work throughout the weekend to address this issue,” Johnson told reporters.
In announcing the cancellation of the vote, Johnson said, “I hope members of Congress from any party will explain to the American people why we should not ensure that only US citizens can vote in US elections…This is the most pressing issue right now, and we will get this done.”
Senate Majority Leader, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, made it clear that he will not bring the bill to a vote in the Senate, and the White House stated that President Biden would veto the bill. Several Republicans have also opposed the bill, citing concerns over the spending aspects of the legislation.