House Republicans Unveil Shutdown Prevention Bill; Senate Dems Cite Wasted Time

On Friday, House Republicans introduced their plan to avert a partial government shutdown, which is set to occur at the end of this month. The legislation aims to sustain government funding until late March, allowing the incoming president and Congress to make final decisions on agency spending and priorities for the fiscal year 2025.

The proposal includes a contentious immigration provision that mandates states to verify proof of citizenship—such as a birth certificate or passport—when individuals register to vote. This citizenship requirement stands as a major hurdle in the Senate, likely complicating the spending bill’s chances of passage.

As lawmakers return to Washington next week after their August recess, they face significant challenges ahead. There is still much work to be done regarding the twelve annual appropriations bills necessary to fund various agencies in the upcoming fiscal year. With the new fiscal year beginning on October 1, lawmakers will need to approve a stopgap measure to prevent a government shutdown.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson emphasized the importance of this legislative effort. He stated, “Today, House Republicans are taking a critically important step to keep the federal government funded and to secure our federal election process. Congress has a responsibility to do both, and we must ensure that only American citizens can decide American elections.”

However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray refuted this approach, indicating that avoiding a shutdown necessitates bipartisanship rather than a solely partisan initiative. They warned that if the House Republicans follow a divisive strategy, the likelihood of a shutdown increases significantly. Schumer and Murray made it clear that the repercussions would fall squarely on the House Republicans if a shutdown were to happen.

The push for the citizenship verification requirement came in response to a statement from the House Freedom Caucus last month. This group of conservative lawmakers, anticipating a victory for Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election, also advocated for funding the government into early next year. Their goal is to allow Republicans to have a greater say in upcoming legislative priorities.

Some Republican leaders had preferred to finalize spending bills before the end of the current Congress so that the future president—whether Trump or Democratic nominee Kamala Harris—could concentrate on staffing and addressing their agenda, rather than facing ongoing spending disputes.

Advocates for the proof of citizenship requirement argue that it is essential to ensuring that only American citizens participate in elections, thereby enhancing public trust in the federal election system. In contrast, opponents contend that evidence suggests noncitizen voting in federal elections is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, they caution that such requirements could disenfranchise millions of eligible Americans who lack the necessary documentation when they attempt to register.

A key question remains: What will transpire if the House passes the bill, but the Senate opts not to consider it or decides to reject it?

The proposed legislation would maintain current funding levels for government agencies until March 28. Additionally, it includes provisions for increased security costs associated with Inauguration Day and allocates $10 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund.