The House has passed the three-week continuing resolution that was passed by the Senate earlier today, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to end a three-day government shutdown before he heads to Davos, Switzerland.
The current CR – the fourth since September – will keep the government funded through Feb. 8.
The vote passed 266-150. In addition to extending government funding for a few more weeks, the bill will provide money for the Children’s Health Insurance Program – known as CHIP – for six years.
As the Hill pointed out, hundreds of thousands of federal workers were furloughed or working without pay. But the short length of the shutdown, as well as the fact that most of its duration occurred over a weekend, means that its effects will be relatively limited compared to the 16-day shutdown in 2013.
As government agencies shut down over the weekend, Americans could still visit national parks, unlike the previous shutdown in 2013.
But many National Park Service staffers were furloughed, which halted services like trash removal and restroom cleaning.
The Senate passed the bill earlier Monday afternoon after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell agreed to pass the bill in exchange for McConnell bringing legislation to enshrine protections for the so-called “Dreamers” – undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as minors – into law. Trump cancelled those protections back in September.
Following the vote, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy pointed out that the House will only be in session during six days between now and when the funding bill expires early next month.
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