The United States Senate is expected to vote on Friday to advance the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) with the aim of amending it to extend federal funding and bundle in three full-year appropriations bills, according to two Republican sources familiar with the plan (CBS News).
What the Proposal Involves
The strategy calls for the CR to be used as a vehicle: it would provide short-term funding while the included appropriations bills would cover major agencies for the remainder of the year. But advancing the bill requires at least 60 votes in the Senate — a threshold Republicans have repeatedly failed to clear.
Senate Republicans hope moderate Democrats, who have been engaged in negotiations during the shutdown, will support advancing the bill with the understanding that it will be amended to include longer-term funding.
Points of Contention
The proposal notably does not address the expiring health-care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). That omission has deepened divisions within the Democratic caucus: many insist they won’t support the deal unless the subsidies are extended, not just promised.
Two senators — John Kennedy (R-LA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) — coming out of a meeting with the GOP conference, suggested the Friday vote is likely and described efforts to craft an updated CR alongside the appropriations bills (CBS News).
Why This Vote Matters
With the government shutdown now in its 30+ day, the pressure is mounting. A vote on Friday could represent a turning point — either a path toward ending the impasse or another setback if insufficient Democratic support emerges.
If the funding package fails to move forward, federal agencies will continue to operate under the shutdown conditions, delaying pay for federal workers, halting programs, and increasing uncertainty in markets and service sectors.