Senate stopgap spending bill clears first procedural hurdle as shutdown looms

The Senate passed a procedural vote on Tuesday night, the first step toward temporarily funding the government through Nov. 17, days before a government shutdown.

Lawmakers voted 77 to 19 to proceed with work on the legislation.

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In addition to funding the government at current levels, the legislation would provide nearly $6 billion in aid to Ukraine between funding between the Department of Defense and State Department. There is also nearly $6 billion in disaster relief.

Senators on both sides of the aisle pushed for assistance to Ukraine to be included in the temporary spending bill, especially after President Volodymyr Zelensky visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill last week.

The deal would also extend the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization through the end of the year. The authorization was slated to run out at the same time as government funding.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the deal helps buy more time for the full appropriations process to play out.

“While we continue work on annual appropriations bills to address our country’s full needs in the year ahead, this legislation prevents a shutdown, keeps our government funded, and provides critical dollars to support communities struck by disaster and support Ukraine at a pivotal moment in its defensive efforts against Putin’s brutal, unprovoked war of aggression,” Murray said in a statement.

“The bill ensures wildland firefighters will not see a pay cut, and it prevents critical laws from lapsing to ensure the FAA and community health centers can continue operating. We have much more to do, but we should pass this legislation immediately—there is no time to waste,” she added.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called the deal a “standard short-term continuing resolution,” saying it buys time for the full appropriations process to play out.

Senate leaders aim to pass the bill by the end of the week and send it to the House before Saturday night to avert a government shutdown. However, some senators had other plans. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said he will object to any quick passage of a continuing resolution with Ukraine aid.

“I will object to any kind of easy passage or speeding up of the time,” Paul said on Tuesday. “I think it’s bad policy to borrow money from China to send it to Ukraine.”

Leaders in the Senate are still hoping to send a message to House Republicans with a strong bipartisan vote, increasing pressure on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

“The clearest path forward is a standard short-term continuing resolution,” McConnell said on Tuesday. “Delaying action on short-term funding doesn’t advance the ball on any meaningful policy priorities.”

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It’s unlikely McCarthy will bring the bill to the House floor for a vote after his right flank threatened to remove him as speaker. McCarthy has previously said Ukraine aid should move separately from government funding.

The proposal is also likely a nonstarter with many House Republicans who have made it clear they oppose federal funding at current levels and even have demanded steep cuts in a temporary funding deal.