Advertisement

Democratic-led House approves bills to end federal shutdown

By Allen Cone
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi swears in the 116th Congress on Thursday, hours before they approved a spending bill to reopen the government. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 2 | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi swears in the 116th Congress on Thursday, hours before they approved a spending bill to reopen the government. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Hours after Democrats took control of the U.S. House on Thursday, lawmakers approved two spending bills to reopen the federal government.

The House, seeking to end the 13-day shutdown, passed funding for eight of the nine closed departments by a vote of 241-190 Thursday night. All Democrats and eight Republicans approved the measure, which provides funding through Feb. 8.

Advertisement

In addition, the House voted 239-192, including backing by five Republicans, to fund the Department of Homeland Security at current spending levels through Feb. 8, with $1.3 billion for border security but no money to build a wall.

"Let's open the government, and let's get to work because we have a plan that makes sense," Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, said at a news conference before the votes.

Advertisement

President Donald Trump has vowed to veto any legislation that doesn't include money for the wall bordering Mexico. He is seeking more than $5 billion for a barrier.

On Dec. 19, the Senate passed a spending bill that would've averted a shutdown, which gave no funding for the wall -- but Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said he won't call for a vote on any proposal that doesn't have "a real chance" getting a presidential signature.

"I would call it political theater, not productive lawmaking," McConnell said of the House bills.

New House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the lower chamber is simply returning to the Senate the same bill it passed two weeks ago.

"What we're asking the Republicans in the Senate to do is to take yes for an answer," Pelosi, D-Calif., said at the news conference. "We are sending them back exactly word for word what they have passed."

The then-GOP-controlled House came up with its own funding bill that did include money for Trump's wall. The new House won't offer any money for the project, something the new House speaker was emphatic about Thursday.

Advertisement

"We are not doing a wall," she said. "Does anybody have any doubt? We are not doing a wall."

About one-quarter of the government remains closed, including the Department of Justice and Homeland Security. About 800,000 federal employees are furloughed, or are deemed essential and working without pay.

"The administration is committed to working with the Congress to reopen lapsed agencies but cannot accept legislation that provides unnecessary funding for wasteful programs while ignoring the nation's urgent border security needs," the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.

The White House has invited congressional leaders to a meeting Friday morning for talks about ending the shutdown. They met Wednesday for a briefing on border security.

Trump, before the House vote Thursday, made a surprise appearance in the press briefing room with border agents and said he has "never had as much support" for his proposed border wall.

"The Shutdown is only because of the 2020 Presidential Election," he wrote on Twitter. "The Democrats know they can't win based on all of the achievements of 'Trump,' so they are going all out on the desperately needed Wall and Border Security."

Swearing-in of the historically diverse 116th Congress

Swearing-in of the historically diverse 116th Congress
<< Show Caption >>

Latest Headlines