Congress moves to pass funding bill
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A visitor runs around the Washington Monument near the U.S. Capitol at dawn, in Washington, U.S., September 29, 2021.
Tom Brenner | Reuters
Congress will race to prevent a government shutdown Thursday with hours to go before a midnight deadline.
To pass the short-term appropriations bills that would allow government to continue running until December 3, the Senate is set to be first. If there are no delays, the House will approve the plan before sending it to President Joe Biden.
This legislation provides money to aid hurricane victims and for the relocation of Afghan refugees.
A government shutdown could lead to furloughs of federal workers and the suspension of certain services. A funding lapse could pose particular challenges as the U.S. continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic — though the Biden administration has said a shutdown would have little effect on public health functions.
Congress has yet to address a potential crisis, but it can deal with one on Thursday. To prevent default of U.S. debt, and all the economic and job loss and stock market drops that could follow it, lawmakers must raise or suspend the debt limit before October 18.
Democrats control both the House and Senate. They tried to finance the government while also suspending the debt ceiling in the same bill. Because they are opposed to raising the borrowing limit, the Senate Republicans stopped the legislation.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has indicated that his party will support a funding bill which does not suspend the debt ceiling.
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