The House passed a short-term bill Friday to fund the government through next Wednesday, and President Barack Obama promptly signed the measure into law, averting a government shutdown that would have happened Saturday. Congressional negotiators now have five more days to reach a deal on a $1.1 trillion spending package to fund federal agencies through September 2016.
The temporary spending measure was approved by the House in a voice on Friday after the Senate approved the measure by voice vote on Thursday, reported The New York Times.
"I hope we take this new time period to avoid a shutdown permanently rather than just do it (temporarily) again and again and again," said Jared Polis, D-Colo., a member of the House Rules Committee, according to CBS News.
In September, lawmakers set the Dec. 11 deadline for passing the spending bill, but they were unable to meet the deadline due to disagreements over a number of policy riders attached to the bill.
Democrats take issue with efforts by Republicans to block new environmental rules that would reduce power plant emissions, weaken financial industry regulations and make it more difficult for the Obama administration to resettle at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the U.S. over the next year, according to USA Today.
Democrats also demand that Republicans remove a nearly 20-year-old funding ban that has prevented the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from researching gun violence.
Congress now has until midnight on Wednesday to reach a compromise and pass another spending package to avoid a government shutdown next week.
"Where we end up will undoubtedly be a compromise," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a member of the Rules, Budget and Appropriations committees. "If we all sit here and wait til we get 100 percent of what we want, nothing will ever pass in the U.S. House of Representatives...Give the American people what they deserve: some peace, quiet and certainty in the Christmas season."
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said that votes are expected to take place on Tuesday evening, meaning the Senate would only have 24 hours to meet the new funding deadline, according to Reuters.
Some Democrats have suggested that another temporary funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, or "CR," may be needed to fund the government over Christmas break and into January.
However, McCarthy dismissed this idea, saying, "It is our intention to have our work done and not need to pass any further CRs."
