Congress seeks to avoid a government shutdown by the end of September

Published: Tuesday, September 5, 2023 - 4:31pm
Updated: Tuesday, September 5, 2023 - 4:33pm

Federal agencies will run out of money on Sept. 30 if lawmakers in Washington can’t agree on a new budget.

Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly, who returned to Washington with other senators on Tuesday, said he’s confident the upper chamber will do its part and pass a spending plan.

“We’ll get it done in the Senate the way this place is supposed to work: bipartisan,” Kelly told reporters.

Kelly is less sure of the outcome in the House, where members are due to return next week.

Far-right conservatives are pressuring House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to include several provisions in any spending plan — such as a GOP border security bill — that won’t fly with Democrats in either chamber.

“I think it’ll be a real tragedy if, on a partisan basis, the U.S. House puts us into a situation where we have to have a continuing resolution and a government shutdown,” Kelly said. “That’s not good for our country.”

“We’re going to do our part and we’re going to encourage the House to get their stuff together,” Kelly added.

Politics