House Republicans announced Tuesday they will consider a bill that would fund the government through December in an effort to avert another government shutdown.
Republican aides say they expect the House to consider the bill on Thursday, and members leaving Tuesday’s GOP Conference meeting seem optimistic it would pass.
"I don't know of any significant opposition," House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., said. "People realize it's something we have to do to keep the lights on, to keep the government going, we will not allow a shutdown."
Congress must pass a funding bill before September 30th to prevent the government from partially stopping for the second straight year.
Rogers says the bill will be at the funding level agreed upon by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray in December of 2013. Rogers also said it's likely the bill will include funding for Ebola drugs as well as funds for sending American assets overseas to help with fight the spread of the virus in Western Africa. Rogers would not say how much funding that would include, but said "it's substantial."
If the House passes a temporary funding measure on Thursday, the Senate would then need to consider it next week. If the Senate were to pass it, it's highly likely that the House will cancel their session scheduled for September 29th to October 2nd, meaning that Congress may have their last day in session before the November elections on September 19th.
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-- Frank Thorp V