House passes stopgap funding, debt ceiling suspension bill – By Jennifer Shutt (Roll Call) / Sept 21 2021
Measure likely to come back to the chamber for a do-over once Senate works its will
The House passed a catchall budget package Tuesday that’s intended to avoid a partial government shutdown and debt limit crisis, but it seems likely to come back for a do-over once the Senate works its will.
The stopgap funding bill, which passed on a 220-211 party-line vote, would extend federal agency budget authority through Dec. 3 and provide nearly $35 billion in aid to disaster victims and relocation assistance Afghan refugees who helped the U.S. government during two decades of war.
The package advanced after a few hours of drama earlier in the day over an initial decision to grant Israel’s $1 billion request for air defense system funds. Progressive Democrats opposed to Israel’s military response to rocket attacks launched by Palestinian groups from the Gaza Strip in May forced party leaders to strip the money.
GOP lawmakers backed the Israeli defense funds, as well as much of the underlying package that remained intact. But they rebuked Democrats for adding language that would suspend the statutory debt limit through Dec. 16, 2022, or beyond the midterm elections.
CONTINUE > https://www.rollcall.com/2021/09/21/continuing-resolution-stopgap-bill-text/
