Democrats and Republicans reached a deal to extend government funding through February 18th, the first step toward preventing a government shutdown this weekend.
Indeed, current funding is set to expire on Saturday, December 4th. Lawmakers will now move quickly to bring legislation through the House and Senate.
The House is expected to pass the bill Thursday, however passing it in the Senate may be more complicated, the Wall Street Journal reports. Some Senate Republicans have pushed to include a measure preventing the Biden administration from enacting rules requiring employers to force their employees to get vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID-19.
Republican lawmakers indicated Thursday that an amendment vote on the vaccine issue would clear the way to an accelerated process.
“While I wish it were earlier,” House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro said, “this agreement allows the appropriations process to move forward toward a final funding agreement which addresses the needs of the American people.”
