The United States House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on an interim spending bill on Wednesday afternoon (September 25). The bill aims to provide funds to the federal government to maintain operations until December 20. Once the bill passes in the House, the Senate will also immediately proceed with a vote.
This short-term bill is designed to prevent the federal government from facing a partial shutdown at the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. To avoid a partial shutdown before the U.S. presidential election on November 5, both chambers of Congress are under pressure to pass an interim bill.
On September 22, congressional leaders reached an agreement and proposed a Continuing Resolution (CR) bill to keep the government running until December 20.
The bill extends government funding for over three months, shorter than the initial temporary proposal of over six months suggested by House Speaker Mike Johnson. However, the bill has omitted a provision originally included by Republicans that required voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in the presidential election.
As a result, some Republicans have opposed the bill agreed upon by congressional leaders.
The temporary bill aims to buy more time for Congress to reach appropriations agreements for the remaining time of the 2025 fiscal year.
If the House passes the bill on Wednesday afternoon, the Democrat-majority Senate will also vote on the same day. If approved in the Senate, the bill will be sent to President Biden for signing into law before midnight next Monday (September 30).
Following the second assassination attempt on former President Trump, the bill also includes funding of $231 million for the Secret Service.
Acting Director of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, is advocating for more resources for the agency. He stated that the agency needs funding to hire more personnel.
Regarding the interim spending bill, early versions supported by Republicans included funding for the Virginia-class submarine program, a provision that was removed in the version voted on Wednesday.