With the federal government facing a potential shutdown, leaders in the US House of Representatives are scrambling to pass a short-term funding bill before the end of the week.
Sources close to the negotiations said the House is looking to pass the bill by the end of the week in order to prevent a government shutdown. The Senate is also said to be preparing to take up the measure as soon as it is passed by the House.
The negotiations have been long and contentious, with Democrats and Republicans both attempting to reach agreement on a package of measures to keep the government funded. Reports have indicated that there is some disagreement over how the bill should be structured and what it should include.
Democrats have pushed for additional funding for Puerto Rico, while Republicans have sought to include provisions to curtail illegal immigration and other policies they consider priorities. In addition, lawmakers have tussled over whether or not to include provisions to allow for the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border.
The standoff has put Congress and the President in a difficult position. Without a new funding bill in place, the federal government could face a partial or comprehensive shutdown. Such an event would be detrimental to all Americans, particularly those who depend on federal services.
The passage of a short-term spending bill is sure to come as a relief for many, but it still leaves the prospects of a longer-term funding agreement up in the air. Both houses of Congress and the President will need to come to an agreement soon in order to avoid the chaos and damage that would follow another government shutdown.
