The Senate voted on a temporary US budget to avoid a shutdown
On Thursday, February 29, the US Senate passed a short-term spending bill that extends the government shutdown by a week. But at the same time, it is unclear how Congress will finance the government until the end of the year.
This was reported by The Hill.
77 senators voted to send the bill to President Joe Biden for his signature. 13 senators voted against: Marsha Blackburn, Mike Brown, Ted Budd, Mike Crapo, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, Roger Marshall, Eric Schmitt, Rick Scott, Tommy Thurberville and JD Vance.
How the government will work
The draft law will make it possible to continue funding the ministries of agriculture, internal affairs, transport, housing construction and urban development, as well as veterans affairs, energy, justice, trade and other departments until March 8.
Funding for the Pentagon, the Departments of Labor, Health and Social Services, Education, State and National Security continues until March 22.
Extending the funding for a month gives lawmakers more time to finalize funding for the full year, although hurdles still remain.
In a statement, President Joe Biden said the temporary funding vote was good news for Americans, but added that it was still a short-term measure, not a long-term solution.
Earlier Thursday, House Democrats and Republicans voted 320 votes to approve temporary funding, giving Congress more time to agree funding for the full fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2023.
