US Senate Passes Bipartisan Continuing Resolution Bill—Here’s the Breakdown and Senators Who Voted Against It!
Late Friday evening, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) bill to avoid a prolonged government shutdown, just hours after the House approved a similar measure. The CR, crafted by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), passed the Senate with an overwhelming vote of 85 to 11, securing federal funding through March.
What’s Included in the Bill
$100 billion in disaster relief: Includes nearly $29 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund and $2 billion for the SBA disaster loan program.
Funding for critical infrastructure: Allocates resources to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge and other essential projects.
Farm aid: Provides $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers and a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill.
No debt ceiling provisions: The bill avoids addressing borrowing limits, leaving those negotiations for next year’s budget process.
What Was Left Out
Notably absent from the final version were controversial provisions such as a land transfer surrounding RFK Stadium to Washington, D.C., and adjustments to cost-of-living freezes for lawmakers.
Who Voted Against It?
The 11 senators who opposed the CR include:
Republicans: Braun, Crapo, Hawley, Johnson, Kennedy, Lee, Paul, Risch, Romney, and Schmitt.
Independent: Bernie Sanders.
Senators Manchin, Rubio, Schiff and Vance did not vote.
On Friday, the House of Representatives passed a government funding bill, narrowly averting a shutdown just before the midnight deadline. The bill, which received unanimous support from Democratic lawmakers, faced opposition from 38 Republican members who voted against it.
he 34 GOP lawmakers opposing the bill cited concerns over increased spending and the absence of significant fiscal reforms.
The 34 Republicans who voted against the resolution are:
Jim Banks (R-IN)
Andy Biggs (R-AZ)
Dan Bishop (R-NC)
Lauren Boebert (R-CO)
Josh Brecheen (R-OK)
Tim Burchett (R-TN)
Eric Burlison (R-MO)
Michael Cloud (R-TX)
Andrew Clyde (R-GA)
Eli Crane (R-AZ)
John Curtis (R-UT)
Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
Tony Gonzales (R-TX)
Bob Good (R-VA)
Lance Gooden (R-TX)
Glenn Grothman (R-WI)
Andy Harris (R-MD)
Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)
Wesley Hunt (R-TX)
Debbie Lesko (R-AZ)
Monica De La Cruz Lopez (R-TX)
Nancy Mace (R-SC)
Thomas Massie (R-KY)
Rich McCormick (R-GA)
Cory Mills (R-FL)
Alex Mooney (R-WV)
Andy Ogles (R-TN)
Scott Perry (R-PA)
Matt Rosendale (R-MT)
Chip Roy (R-TX)
Keith Self (R-TX)
Tom Tiffany (R-WI)
Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)
Key Reactions
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urged lawmakers to focus on pragmatism, stating, “You never get everything you want, but often you can get quite a lot.”
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), one of the naysayers, introduced an amendment that “came close” to passing but ultimately failed.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the outgoing Majority Leader, celebrated the passage, highlighting the disaster relief funding and the absence of draconian spending cuts.
White House Statement: Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed President Biden’s intent to sign the bill into law, noting it ensures vital government services continue uninterrupted.
This vote marks a significant bipartisan effort to maintain government operations while addressing urgent disaster relief needs. However, with debt ceiling negotiations looming next year, lawmakers may face even tougher battles ahead.
Mark Van der Veen offers some of the most analytical and insightful writings on politics. He regularly opines on the motives and political calculations of politicians and candidates, and whether or not their strategy will work. Van der Veen offers a contrast to many on this list by sticking mainly to a fact-based style of writing that is generally combative with opposing ideologies.
