House Republicans introduced a bill to avoid a partial government shutdown, but the measure, which includes a controversial citizenship requirement for voter registration, faces opposition from Senate Democrats, complicating its chances of passage before the October 1 deadline.
Quick Read
- House Republicans Introduce Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown: On Friday, House Republicans proposed legislation to prevent a partial government shutdown by funding the government until late March 2025.
- Citizenship Requirement for Voter Registration Included: The bill requires states to verify proof of citizenship, such as birth certificates or passports, for voter registration—a controversial addition opposed by Senate Democrats.
- Democrats Say Shutdown Risk Increases: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Appropriations Chair Patty Murray criticized the bill, warning that this partisan approach increases the chances of a government shutdown.
- Need for Bipartisanship: Democrats emphasized the importance of bipartisan cooperation to avoid a shutdown, urging Republicans to present a more collaborative solution.
- House Freedom Caucus Influence: The inclusion of the citizenship requirement follows a push from the conservative House Freedom Caucus, which is banking on a potential Trump victory in 2024 to advance their priorities.
- Republicans Cite Election Integrity: Republicans argue that requiring proof of citizenship will protect the integrity of U.S. elections, ensuring that only American citizens vote.
- Opponents Warn of Voter Disenfranchisement: Critics counter that noncitizen voting in federal elections is rare and that such a requirement could disenfranchise millions of eligible Americans lacking the necessary documents.
- Uncertain Future in the Senate: If the bill passes the House, it faces a tough road in the Senate, where Democrats are unlikely to approve the citizenship requirement.
- Bill Includes Additional Funding for FEMA and Inauguration Security: The bill proposes maintaining current funding levels until March 28, with extra funds for Inauguration Day security and $10 billion for FEMA disaster relief.
- Urgent Deadline Approaching: The new fiscal year begins on October 1, and if an agreement isn’t reached, the government faces a potential shutdown.
House GOP reveal shutdown-avoiding bill. Senate Dems say time is being wasted
Newslooks- WASHINGTON
House Republicans unveiled their proposed legislation on Friday aimed at preventing a partial government shutdown at the end of the month. The bill would fund the government until late March, pushing the final decisions on agency spending and fiscal priorities for 2025 to the next president and Congress. However, the proposal includes a contentious requirement: states would need to obtain proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, when registering someone to vote. This citizenship proof requirement is seen as a “nonstarter” in the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority, potentially complicating the bill’s chances of passage.
Lawmakers are returning to Washington after the August recess with little progress made on the dozen annual appropriations bills needed to fund government agencies for the upcoming fiscal year. Without an agreement, a stopgap measure is necessary to prevent a government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins on October 1. “Today, House Republicans are taking a critically important step to keep the federal government funded and to secure our federal election process,” said Speaker Mike Johnson. “We must ensure that only American citizens can decide American elections.”
However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray criticized the bill, calling for bipartisanship in avoiding a shutdown. “If Speaker Johnson drives House Republicans down this highly partisan path, the odds of a shutdown go way up,” they said in a joint statement. Johnson’s decision to include the citizenship requirement follows a call from the House Freedom Caucus, which is pushing for a measure that funds the government into early next year, giving Republicans more leverage if they win the 2024 election.
Supporters of the citizenship requirement argue it would protect election integrity, while critics argue that noncitizen voting in federal elections is rare and that such a measure would disenfranchise Americans who may not have the necessary documents for voter registration. The bill, if passed, would fund government agencies at current levels until March 28. It also includes additional funding for security during Inauguration Day and $10 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund. What remains uncertain is the bill’s future if it passes the House but fails in the Senate. The deadline for avoiding a government shutdown is fast approaching, with both sides at odds over the path forward.
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