The House of Representatives has officially avoided another government shutdown, effectively extending funding until a later date. Texas lawmakers around the state took credit for the “bail out” of House GOP members.
The temporary bill passed the House 314-108, with 106 in the GOP and 2 Democrats in opposition of the shutdown-averting legislation. Congress, however, must still create a budget to fund the government for the current fiscal year.
Earlier in January, Congress thought it had avoided a government shutdown. Yet, that was not the case.
Recently elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) previously stated that the now-failed bill would add $16 billion in spending cuts. The cuts would have built on last year's negotiations between President Joe Biden (D) and former speaker Kevin McCarthy (R).
“It reflects the funding levels that I negotiated with both parties and signed into law last spring. It rejects deep cuts to programs hardworking families count on, and provides a path to passing full-year funding bills that deliver for the American people and are free of any extreme policies,” said the president.
Texas Representative Veronica Escobar (D) celebrated the continuing resolution while bashing GOP efforts to sink certain bipartisan bills.
“ICMYI: For the third time this Congress, @HouseDemocrats have had to bail out a Republican Speaker of the House to temporarily extend federal funding and avoid a government shutdown. We remain unyielding in our commitment to the American people.”
ICMYI: For the third time this Congress, @HouseDemocrats have had to bail out a Republican Speaker of the House to temporarily extend federal funding and avoid a government shutdown.
We remain unyielding in our commitment to the American people. https://t.co/EwV4Fwsoi5
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) January 19, 2024
In his celebration of the averted shutdown, Texas Representative Vicente Gonzalez (D) pointed to the ramifications of a possible government shutdown. The Texas congressman concluded his statement with the familiar Democrat slogan “People Over Politics”.
“I just voted to avert a partial government shutdown which would hurt veterans’ programs, nutrition programs for women, infants, and children, delayed benefits for our military, and so much more. That’s putting people over politics!”
I just voted to avert a partial government shutdown which would hurt veterans’ programs, nutrition programs for women, infants, and children, delayed benefits for our military, and so much more.
That’s putting people over politics!
— Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (@RepGonzalez) January 18, 2024
Bipartisan legislation has been reasonably successful for Texas lawmakers. Rep. Gonzalez recently celebrated his bipartisan legislation, Pressure Regulatory Organizations To End Chinese Threats to Taiwan Act (PROTECT Taiwan Act), passing the House.
