After the House and Senate voted to extend the government’s funding through February, Congress avoided a government shutdown.
It’s the capital of the United States. On Thursday, both chambers of Congress passed a bill extending the government’s funding through February 18, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown before the Friday deadline.
Late Thursday night, the Senate voted 69-28 to approve the short-term measure that the House had passed earlier in the day. After President Joe Biden signs the bill, Congress will have several more weeks to work on a longer-term funding plan that covers the entire fiscal year ahead of time.
After threatening to hold up the bill’s passage in the Senate, a group of Republican senators nearly caused a government shutdown. The amendment to prevent the use of federal funds to implement a Biden administration mandate on workplace vaccinations failed 48-50.
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Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, and Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, introduced the amendment because they believe the president’s order will result in the loss of many jobs.
“This has to do with Kansas’s labor market. Jobs in Texas, Utah, and the rest of the country are on the line “Before the vote, he told Capitol Hill reporters what he planned to do. “A federal vaccine mandate that is unconstitutional will lead to a shutdown of the economy and the loss of jobs here at home.”
Possibly a shutdown of the federal government Here’s how it might have an impact on you.
Earlier this month, Vice President Joe Biden announced a policy that large businesses (those with more than 100 employees) must require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or regularly tested. Businesses could face fines of up to $14,000 per violation if they don’t comply with regulations. Due to a number of lawsuits, the requirement has been put on hold.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said he was pleased that “cool heads prevailed” when the Senate voted to keep the government open. It’s safe to say that the government will remain open.
The House voted 221-212 hours earlier to approve the short-term funding bill. One Republican, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, voted with Democrats to pass the measure, which was almost entirely along party lines.
In a statement released on Thursday, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) attacked the GOP group’s demands “We will not support their anti-vaccination stance. We won’t be able to keep the government open if you think that way.”
Federal workers, including clerks, custodians, park rangers, and managers, would have been forced to take time off without pay if a shutdown had occurred. The military, law enforcement, and air traffic control, for example, would have continued in their current roles. The IRS, national parks, Smithsonian museums, and other federally funded institutions would be forced to close.
In the past, Congress has always ensured that federal workers who have been affected by a shutdown receive their back pay.
When Donald Trump was president and the last government shutdown began on December 21, 2018, it lasted 35 days. Short-term shutdowns had occurred in January and February of this year.
In September, Congress came dangerously close to a government shutdown by passing a funding bill just hours before it was set to take effect. That bill was held up because of stalled debt ceiling negotiations.
Prior to adjourning for the holidays, Congress had to clear a significant hurdle bypassing the extension.
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