“Reaching the Summit: Congress Races Against the Clock to Avert Government Shutdown

With less than two weeks until the expiration of the current government funding, the United States Congress faces a steep climb to avoid an impending government shutdown. Five major funding bills remain unresolved in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, leaving only a few days for Congress to pass the bills and have the President sign them before the end of the fiscal year. This looming shutdown has bipartisan implications: Democrats and Republicans are both fighting for their respective agendas and, as a result, it is proving difficult to form an agreement on how to best fund the government. To address the current budget crunch, a series of spending bills needs to be approved and Congress is scrambling to make last minute negotiations. Partisan divides are only deepening, and progress is not likely to come quickly. Furthermore, each of the four spending bills contains a volatile and controversial policy item known as a “rider.” These are provisions which are attached to the bills and dictate how money is spent. A pivotal rider included in the Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency’s budget, for example, rolls back regulations on emissions proposed by President Obama. At the same time, defense spending is something that both parties agree should be figured out. Many in Congress rightly worry about the devastating effects of a possible lapse in funding for the military. With time quickly running out and major issues still unresolved, Congress is in a race against the clock. Although there is still a chance for lawmakers to come to an agreement and avert a shutdown, failure to do so will have dire consequences for the entire country. Only time will tell if Congress can fulfill its responsibility to the American people. With less than two weeks until the expiration of the current government funding, the United States Congress faces a steep climb to avoid an impending government shutdown. Five major funding bills remain unresolved in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, leaving only a few days for Congress to pass the bills and have the President sign them before the end of the fiscal year. This looming shutdown has bipartisan implications: Democrats and Republicans are both fighting for their respective agendas and, as a result, it is proving difficult to form an agreement on how to best fund the government. To address the current budget crunch, a series of spending bills needs to be approved and Congress is scrambling to make last minute negotiations. Partisan divides are only deepening, and progress is not likely to come quickly. Furthermore, each of the four spending bills contains a volatile and controversial policy item known as a “rider.” These are provisions which are attached to the bills and dictate how money is spent. A pivotal rider included in the Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency’s budget, for example, rolls back regulations on emissions proposed by President Obama. At the same time, defense spending is something that both parties agree should be figured out. Many in Congress rightly worry about the devastating effects of a possible lapse in funding for the military. With time quickly running out and major issues still unresolved, Congress is in a race against the clock. Although there is still a chance for lawmakers to come to an agreement and avert a shutdown, failure to do so will have dire consequences for the entire country. Only time will tell if Congress can fulfill its responsibility to the American people.