The Democratic-led House passed a standalone spending measure Thursday to provide funding for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and other agencies.
The House voted 244-180 to approve the clean funding measure. Twelve Republicans bucked party lines to join Democrats in voting for the bill on the floor.
The chamber then voted 243-183 to pass a separate measure to fund the Department of Agriculture and related agencies through Sept. 30, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats to vote for the measure.
That bill would also allocate funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a top priority for lawmakers concerned that millions of Americans could lose access to food stamp benefits after temporary funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture runs out at the end of February.
The lower chamber is expected to vote on its final standalone spending bill to fund the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday.
Passage of the measures Thursday come on the 20th day of the partial government shutdown, with no clear path forward to reopen agencies as negotiators remain in a stalemate over President Trump
Donald John TrumpViolence erupts between counter-protestors, Trump supporters following DC rally Biden considering King for director of national intelligence: report Here are the 17 GOP women newly elected to the House this year MORE’s demand for border wall funding.
Trump, who is requesting $5.7 billion for border security, has vowed not to sign any legislation that doesn’t provide funding for his proposed barrier. He delivered a prime-time address Tuesday and was traveling to a border town in Texas on Thursday to make the case for getting the money.
Top Democrats have repeatedly said they will not comply with the administration's demands for wall funding.
The 12 Republicans who voted for the Transportation bill Thursday is an uptick from the eight who voted the previous day on a measure to reopen the IRS, Treasury Department and other federal agencies.
GOP Reps. Pete King
Peter (Pete) KingRundown of the House seats Democrats, GOP flipped on Election Day Democrats, GOP fighting over largest House battlefield in a decade Treasury withheld nearly M from FDNY 9/11 health program MORE (N.Y.), Rodney Davis
Rodney Lee DavisIncoming lawmakers arrive for orientation amid worsening pandemic House report says lawmakers could securely cast remote votes amid pandemic Bustos won't seek to chair DCCC again in wake of 2020 results MORE (Ill.), Steve Stivers
Steven (Steve) Ernst StiversGOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power Business groups back pandemic insurance bill modeled on post-9/11 law National Retail Federation hosts virtual 'store tours' for lawmakers amid coronavirus MORE (Ohio) and Chris Smith
Christopher (Chris) Henry SmithWoman tased, arrested for trespassing for not wearing mask at Ohio football game China sanctioning Rubio, Cruz in retaliatory move over Hong Kong China sanctions Cruz, Rubio, others over Xinjiang legislation MORE (N.J.) joined with others Republicans to advance the latest measure, including Reps. Elise Stefanik
Elise Marie StefanikThe year of the Republican woman Republican women break barriers in House on election night Women gain uneven footholds in Congress, state legislatures MORE (N.Y.), Will Hurd
William Ballard HurdHouse GOP lawmaker: Biden should be recognized as president-elect Next Congress expected to have record diversity Republicans rebuke Trump over claims of voter fraud MORE (Texas), Fred Upton
Frederick (Fred) Stephen UptonRepublicans who could serve in a Biden government House GOP lawmaker: Biden should be recognized as president-elect Michigan GOP Rep. Fred Upton wins reelection MORE (Mich.), John Katko
John Michael KatkoRundown of the House seats Democrats, GOP flipped on Election Day Republicans who could serve in a Biden government Fitzpatrick wins reelection in Pennsylvania MORE (N.Y.), Brian Fitzpatrick
Brian K. FitzpatrickOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Down ballot races carry environmental implications | US officially exits Paris climate accord Fitzpatrick wins reelection in Pennsylvania Lawmakers urge IRS to get stimulus payments to domestic violence survivors MORE (Pa.), Greg Walden
Gregory (Greg) Paul WaldenRepublicans in campaign mode for top spots on House environmental committees Ensuring more Americans have access to 5G technology Race heats up for top GOP post on powerful Energy and Commerce Committee MORE (Ore.), Adam Kinzinger
Adam Daniel KinzingerHouse GOP lawmaker: Biden should be recognized as president-elect Most Republicans avoid challenging Trump on election The Memo: Trump lost but is not vanquished MORE (Ill.) and Jaime Herrera Beutler
Jaime Lynn Herrera BeutlerGOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler wins reelection Mild weather could boost voter turnout on Election Day Democratic poll shows tight contest in Washington House race MORE (Wash.). All twelve received fewer than 60 percent of the vote in the 2018 midterm elections. Stivers served as chairman of the House GOP campaign arm in the 2018 cycle.
House Democrats crafted a strategy to pass four individual funding bills aimed at reopening various unfunded parts of the government in an attempt to pressure Senate Republicans, who have said they will not take up spending bills that don’t have Trump’s approval.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellRepublicans seek to batter Warnock ahead of Georgia runoff Haspel not in attendance at latest Trump intelligence briefing: reports Overnight Defense: Another Defense official resigns | Pentagon chief says military 'remains strong' despite purge | Top contender for Biden DOD secretary would be historic pick MORE (R-Ky.) earlier Thursday blocked two House-passed funding bills that would reopen the federal government. One would fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through Feb. 8, and a separate package would have funded the remaining agencies without current-year appropriations through Sept. 30.
Democratic leaders are looking to peel off GOP lawmakers from standing with Trump on the shutdown. Democrats pushed Republicans to vote for the House bills Thursday as they contain identical language to what passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Democrats have also accused Republicans of holding government funding hostage over partisan priorities, calling on the president to support spending bills that reopen portions of the government before they discuss the wall.
While a handful of moderate GOP members backed the Democrat-introduced measures on the floor, top Republicans have expressed confidence that the conference will largely remain unified in supporting the president’s fight for the wall.
Top Republicans have alleged Democratic negotiators are playing politics and have failed to produce a counteroffer to the president. House GOP leaders and administration officials have been urging members to continue to support the president, arguing the clean bills brought to the floor are “show votes” that won’t solve the issue at hand.
– Niv Elis contributed to this story, which was updated at 4:45 p.m.
