WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The mostly empty U.S. House of Representatives by voice vote Friday approved the final bill establishing the Department of Homeland Security, which combines about 20 federal agencies into a new Cabinet-level body. Most members departed last week for the recess, leaving only a procedural approval of the bill.
The House had originally approved the final compromise on the bill's language last week before sending it to the Senate early this week for debate and amendments.
After the Senate made minor changes to the bill -- which will bring the operations of about 20 agencies and 170,000 workers under a new single cabinet secretary -- the House had to re-pass the new version before it could be sent to the Senate.
As most House members had left for winter recess after last week's vote, virtually no one was present for Friday's procedural vote.
Some Democrats had argued that Congress should take up an extension of unemployment benefits before departing and had threatened to delay final passage on the homeland bill unless that measure also received a vote.
But without sufficient members on the floor to muster votes to throw up any procedural hurdles, Democrats will be forced to wait until the 108th Congress convenes in January.
