US Senate Moves Forward with Funding Measure to Prevent Partial Government Shutdown

The US Senate has passed a bill to provide funding for the government until early March in order to prevent a partial shutdown. The legislation now needs to be approved by the Republican-led House of Representatives and signed into law by President Joe Biden. The House is expected to approve the measure later today, despite some Republican opposition. The urgency to pass the bill has been heightened by an approaching snowstorm in Washington. The Senate easily passed the $1.66tn funding extension by a vote of 77 to 18. Democrats and Republicans have clashed over budget negotiations, with conservative Republicans demanding spending cuts. In November, Congress approved a temporary funding measure, but key federal funding is set to expire on Friday. The Senate has fast-tracked the funding extension to avoid a shutdown, but getting the bill through the House may be more challenging. House leaders may need a two-thirds majority vote to pass the bill due to retirements and medical issues among Republican members. Speaker Johnson will likely need support from Democrats to ensure the bill's passage. The last time House Republicans received support from Democrats for a funding measure, it resulted in the removal of Speaker Kevin McCarthy. However, the likelihood of similar consequences for the current leader is uncertain. Inclement weather has further complicated the situation, as heavy snowfall is forecasted for Friday, leading to the cancellation of House votes. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed optimism that the funding measure could be signed into law by the end of the day, stating that avoiding a shutdown was crucial for the country and showed responsible governance.