WASHINGTON – The U.S. House passed a funding bill to keep the federal government open Tuesday, with Alabama’s Congressional delegation voting along party lines.
The measure mostly keeps last year’s funding levels the same, but it would boost defense spending by $6 billion and cut non-defense spending by $13 billion. It will fund the government through the end of September. The bill does not cover Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare funding. The federal government is set to run out of funding Saturday unless both chambers pass a continuing resolution.
The vote was 217-213, with one Republican voting against it and one Democrat voting for it.
Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said continuing resolutions are not ideal but are necessary to keep the government operational. He sits on the House Appropriations Committee.
“(They’re) never something that you want to do, but if it will keep the government open, keeping, making sure that our military is being paid… making sure that all that’s done, we need to make sure that happens at the end of the day,” Aderholt told Alabama Daily News.
All of Alabama’s GOP members supported the measure.
“President Trump has asked the Republican party to move forward with this CR so that we can be one step closer to working on the ’26 budget,” Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, told ADN.
Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, said the bill would provide “$485 million to address shortfalls in immigration detention beds, transportation and removal costs.”
“This continuing resolution kickstarts that effort by funding border security, ensuring a strong national defense, and freezing spending at current levels so we can cut waste, fraud, and abuse and reject the status quo of out-of-control spending,” Moore said in a statement.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, who chairs the Armed Services Committee, said he was in favor of the bill because it supports national security and U.S. servicemembers even though a CR isn’t an “ideal scenario.”
“As far as defense is concerned, it’s pretty good,” Rogers told ADN.
Rogers also touted in a statement that the continuing resolution “prioritizes our national security” and includes pay raises for junior enlisted servicemen that were included in the National Defense Authorization Act.
House Democrats stood united in opposing the measure Tuesday. The bill does not provide specific instructions for the funding and Democrats argue that it will allow Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to shut off or switch funding as they see fit, according to a fact sheet by House Democrats.
Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, said he opposed the 99-page bill because it does more than just continue funding the government at current levels. He said the bill would hurt “seniors, veterans and families.”
“This is a mini Republican budget that seeks to make a lot of cuts under the facade of being a CR,” Figures told ADN.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries mentioned his recent trip to Selma for the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday this past weekend on the House floor to highlight the House Democrats’ fight against the funding bill.
“…as they stood on that bridge knew that there was trouble on the other side, but even though there was trouble on the other side they believed that their cause was righteous, and it was, it was a just one,” Jeffries said.
“It was designed to make America the best version of herself, and we stand here today standing on their shoulders continuing that effort.”
The funding bill now heads to the Senate, where it will need 60 votes to pass. If Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, votes against it, at least eight Democrats will have to join Senate Republicans to pass it.