House easily passes spending package as lawmakers work to avoid another shutdown

The Housepassed a bipartisan package of threespendingbills on Thursday that would fund parts of the federal government through September, demonstrating the eagerness of lawmakers to avoid another government shutdown near the end of the month.

Congresshas so far passed only three of the 12 annualspendingbills that fund federal agencies for the current fiscal year. Failure to pass the remainder before aJan. 30thdeadline risks another shutdown just weeks after the record-setting,43-day shutdownthat occurred late last year.

Leaders from both parties endorsed the latest measure, signaling that passage is likely in theSenateas well, belatedly gettingCongresshalfway home in completing their work on this year’sspendingbills. TheWhite Housealso has endorsed the measure, calling it a “fiscally responsible bill.”

The package covers such agencies as theInterior Department, theEnvironmental Protection Agency, theU.S. Army Corps of Engineersand the Departments of Commerce and Justice. It passed by an overwhelming vote of 397-28, an unusual display of unity when it comes to governmentspending.

Both parties claim victories

The price tag of the bills, whichRepublicansput at roughly$175 billion, comes in below current levels, generating savings for taxpayers,GOPlawmakers said.Democratscountered that they were able to negotiatespendinglevels far above what the Trump administration had requested and removed scores of policy riders that they say would have weakened gun safety regulations, expanded oil and gas leasing on federal lands and took aim at LGBTQ and racial equity policies.

Importantly,Democratssaid, the measure also includes legally bindingspendingrequirements that restrain theWhite House’sability to withhold or delay funds for programs Trump opposes. Trump’s first year in office was met with scores oflawsuitsfrom states, cities and nonprofits who accused the administration of undertaking unlawful power grabs.

“This legislation is a forceful rejection of draconian cuts to public services proposed by the Trump administration andRepublicansin Congress,” said Rep.Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on theHouse Appropriations Committee.

TheSenatewould also have to pass the measure before PresidentDonald Trumpcould sign it into law. But the bill has bipartisan backing in that chamber, too.

“Republicans are strongest when we stay focused,Democratsare more effective when they negotiate in good faith, and the country is better off whenRepublicansandDemocratswork together,” Rep.Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of theHouse Appropriations Committee, said in urging colleagues to vote for the bill.

Funding work is well behind schedule

In recent years,Congresshas generally lumped all thespendingbills into one or two measures, often voted on before lawmakers leftWashingtonfor the holidays. Lawmakers say such a process makes it easier to include provisions that couldn’t pass muster on their own.

Johnson has called for returning to a time whenCongresstakes up the 12spendingbills separately, though he’s finding it easier said than done. The fiscal year beganOct. 1andCongressis still debating full-year funding for most federal agencies.

Democratslisted various priorities they were able to maintain or increase funding for, despite the administration’s opposition. For example, a program to make homes more energy efficient for low-income Americans got a$3 millionboost, instead of being eliminated as proposed by Trump. The EPA, a frequent Trump target, gets$8.8 billion. That’s more than double what Trump sought.

Republicanshad voiced concerns about some earmarks in the bill, now called community funding projects. To ease those concerns, a nearly$1.5 millionearmark obtained by Rep.Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., was removed from the bill. It would have funded a Somali-led organization’s efforts to provide job training and peer support services for those struggling with addiction.

Republicanshave been intensely focused onallegations of fraudby day care centers run by Somali residents. Those allegations are still being investigated. Omar has urged people not to blame an entire community for the actions of a relative few.