The House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on the final set of outstanding government funding bills as a partial federal government shutdown looms on Jan. 30.
The House earlier in the day narrowly cleared a crucial procedural hurdle on the bills when it voted 214-213 to adopt a rule for the bills’ consideration, signaling the measures likely have the votes to pass. A final vote is expected later Thursday afternoon.
The four bills account for the largest chunk of government spending, about $1.2 trillion in total. They would fund the departments of Defense; Health and Human Services; Homeland Security; Labor; Housing and Urban Development; Transportation; and Education.
The bills represent the final quartet of 12 annual appropriations bills required to fund the government and avoid a partial shutdown on Jan. 30. If they pass, the Senate would still need to approve them before they head to President Donald Trump’s desk for a signature. The Senate does not return until next week.
House lawmakers are widely expected to pass the bills on Thursday, with lawmakers desperate to avoid another shutdown after enduring a record 43-day shutdown last year.
