Lawmakers in Washington are back to work facing a new funding fight with a looming deadline, raising concerns about a potential partial government shutdown. With only 13 legislative days left, Republicans and Democrats must work together to avert a shutdown by the September 30th deadline.
This week, House Republicans are set to introduce a piece of legislation that would fund the government until March, a longer short-term spending bill than what Democrats had hoped for. The bill includes the SAVE Act, aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from voting in U.S. elections. While it is already illegal for illegal immigrants to vote, Republicans are pushing this as a key issue leading up to the November elections, supported by former President Donald Trump. However, Democrats have labeled this provision as a nonstarter.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has expressed his preference for a shorter-term spending bill without the SAVE Act. The focus this week will be on whether Republicans can secure enough votes to pass the bill in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson holds a narrow majority. Even if the bill passes the House, it faces significant challenges in the Senate, setting the stage for a potential reset when lawmakers reconvene next week.
