Congress avoids shutdown but House unable to pass infrastructure bill

Congress successfully avoided a government shutdown with a vote to fund the government through December 3rd.

The bill includes disaster aid for farmers impacted by Hurricane Ida, but it does not include raising the debt limit. The Treasury Secretary says that the department will run out of funding options by October 18th if the debt ceiling is not raised or suspended.

The House was less successful in its attempt to pass the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi was unable to gather enough votes last night after losing support from progressives who wanted to see it linked to reconciliation.

Republicans oppose the so-called “tax and spend” strategy. It is now back on the schedule today for another attempt to get members on board.