With a critical government funding deadline approaching, the U.S. Senate is returning to Washington with renewed urgency—and a noticeably more cooperative tone—to avoid another costly shutdown. Lawmakers have roughly three working weeks to pass the remaining spending legislation before the January 30 deadline, and both parties are signaling a willingness to work together after previous… Senate Pushes To Prevent Government Shutdown As Funding Deadline Nears

With a critical government funding deadline approaching, the U.S. Senate is returning to Washington with renewed urgency—and a noticeably more cooperative tone—to avoid another costly shutdown.

Lawmakers have roughly three working weeks to pass the remaining spending legislation before the January 30 deadline, and both parties are signaling a willingness to work together after previous talks stalled late last year.

Bipartisan Signals After December Stalemate

Funding negotiations collapsed earlier in December when Congress left town without major progress. This time, however, leaders say the mood has shifted.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, said Democrats aim to complete the full slate of 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the government.

“We want to get through the process and get the appropriations bills done,” Schumer told reporters.

So far, neither the Senate nor the House has passed all required measures, leaving lawmakers racing against the clock.

Sharp Contrast With Earlier Shutdown Strategy

This cooperative posture marks a clear change from Democrats’ earlier stance. Previously, they triggered a record 43-day government shutdown in an effort to force action on expiring Obamacare subsidies.

Democrats have also been wary of working with Republicans after Donald Trump pushed through a roughly $9 billion clawback package over the summer.

That move reversed funding for programs that had already been approved, passing on a strictly partisan vote.

Colorado Dispute Disrupts Progress

Another major obstacle emerged just as the Senate was preparing to advance a five-bill spending package.

Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper halted progress over the administration’s plan to scrutinize—and potentially dismantle—the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

That same day, Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, criticized NCAR as “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.”

The Colorado senators remain firm.

Bennet said uncertainty now hangs over hundreds of NCAR employees and warned that communities recovering from historic flooding and wildfires could lose critical support.

Obamacare Subsidies Remain a Key Pressure Point

The expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies adds another layer of complexity. By the time lawmakers return, those subsidies will already have lapsed.

A bipartisan Senate group is exploring a potential fix. Meanwhile, the House has two competing proposals—one GOP-backed bill that has already passed and another bipartisan measure expected to reach the floor in early January.

Democrats are widely expected to use healthcare funding as leverage during the broader spending negotiations.

Senate Advances Five-Bill Plan, House Lags Behind

Senate leaders are determined to move forward with a five-bill appropriations package covering major federal departments, including:

• Defense





• Labor





• Health and Human Services





• Education





• Commerce





• Justice





• Interior





• Transportation





• Housing and Urban Development

However, for any package to reach the president’s desk, the House of Representatives must also act. So far, the House has passed only a limited number of spending bills and has not taken up major appropriations measures for months.

GOP Leadership Prepares a Backup Plan

John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, said Republicans are preparing contingency options in case negotiations falter.

“We’ve got to fund the government by the end of the month,” Thune said, adding that lawmakers are working to avoid “staring at a shutdown again.”

As the government shutdown deadline looms, the Senate is under intense pressure to succeed where previous efforts failed. While bipartisan cooperation appears more likely than in recent months, unresolved disputes over Obamacare subsidies, climate research funding, and House inaction still threaten progress.

Whether lawmakers can bridge these divides in time will determine if Washington avoids yet another disruptive shutdown.

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Source: DanKaminisky
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