House passes two-tiered stopgap funding bill with Dem support

The House voted 336-95 to pass a stopgap continuing resolution that would fund some government agencies until Jan. 19 and others, including the Defense Department, until Feb. 2, with newly minted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) relying on Democratic votes to help push the measure across the goal line.

The bill passed with the support of 209 Democrats and 127 Republicans, while 93 GOP lawmakers joined two Democrats in opposing it.

Many Republicans, including members of the House Freedom Caucus, opposed the CR because it contains no riders that would reduce government spending. A similar situation led to the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) last month.

The Freedom Caucus released a statement opposing the CR because it “contains no spending reductions, no border security and not a single meaningful win for the American people.” But the group also noted that members “remain committed to working with Speaker Johnson,” signaling there is no effort currently under way to remove him from office.

The measure now advances to the Democratic-led Senate where it is expected to pass before the expiration of the current CR on Friday averting a government shutdown.

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) said earlier today he supported the CR and believed Democrats can work with Johnson.

“We still have work to do, but we're better able to do that work if the government is not shut down,” he said.