Government Shutdown 2015: Congress Approves $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill to Avert Shutdown
After weeks of negotiations over legislation to fund the federal government, both chambers of Congress voted on Friday to pass a $1.1 trillion spending package and year-end tax bill that prevents a government shutdown.
The long-term federal spending bill was approved by a vast majority of congressional members: the House passed it in a 316-113 vote, while the Senate backed the bill in a 65-33 vote. The bill is now expected to be signed into law by President Barack Obama.
The bill, commonly referred to as the omnibus, also includes a package of extended tax breaks called "tax extenders."
Despite a hard push from Democrats, the omnibus did not include a bankruptcy provision to grant debt relief for Puerto Rico. It did, however, include a policy rider that lifts the 40-year ban on exporting American crude oil -- a major win for Republicans and Big Oil companies.
The House vote represented a huge feat for new Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., who managed to secure the votes of 150 Republicans. In comparison, Ryan's predecessor, John Boehner, R-Ohio, rarely received that type of support from his party on a spending bill during his tenure as Speaker.
"Today, the House came together to ensure our government is open and working for the American people," said Ryan in a statement following the House vote. "This bipartisan compromise secures meaningful wins for Republicans and the American people, such as the repeal of the outdated, anti-growth ban on oil exports."
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi also applauded Democrats for supporting the bill.
"This is a big win for American's working families. I am very proud of the big vote that we had from our members once they saw what was really, what was actually in the bill," she said at a press conference.
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