The Senate approved a short-term measure Saturday to fund federal agencies into early December, thereby avoiding a government shutdown during the critical pre-election period. The bill passed with a 90-6 vote, reflecting lawmakers' desire to prevent a repeat of recent shutdowns that have drawn voter ire.
Normally, Congress acts on such short-term funding measures in the final days before a deadline. However, this year, the Senate moved nearly two months before the fiscal year ends on September 30. Senate Majority Leader John Thune sought to address the funding issue before senators left for a five-week recess focused on reelection campaigns.
The measure generally maintains current funding levels for federal agencies until December 11. However, it includes several negotiated exceptions. Democrats successfully ensured that no funds could be transferred to the Border Patrol and blocked the White House's request for $1 billion to begin work on a new battleship.
The bill also delays a national ban on most intoxicating hemp products by one month, a provision that drew criticism from some Senate Republicans. Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., voiced concerns that the delay allows intoxicating hemp products to remain accessible to children, citing a near tenfold increase in related emergency room visits by minors in his state since 2017.
"This is a public health crisis that deserves this Senate’s immediate attention," Budd stated. "Our children should never be the testing ground for an industry willing to exploit a loophole in federal law for profit."
The hemp industry, however, argued that the delay provides Congress time to develop legislation that supports hemp farmers and businesses while implementing child safety measures.
Separately, Democratic lawmakers and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, included language to block new regulations on federal grants for the duration of the funding patch. These regulations would have required a senior political appointee to review grants, which Democrats fear is an attempt to halt grants to Democratic-leaning states. The White House maintains the rule aims to improve accountability and prevent misuse of taxpayer funds. This issue is expected to be a subject of future negotiations for a full-year spending bill.