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President Biden signs short-term funding bill, keeping government open for 3 more months

The bill will keep government agencies running for the next three months, until after the 2024 presidential election.
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President Joe Biden signed a short-term funding bill Thursday that will keep the government running for another three months.

The U.S. Senate passed the bill with a 78-18 vote Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday in the House of Representatives, the bill passed by a 341 to 82 vote. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson needed the support of Democrats to pass the bill. In fact, more Democrats, 209, supported the bill than Republicans.

The signed bill funds government agencies at current levels through December 20. Extra funds will also pay for more Secret Service protection for presidential candidates ahead of the election.

"The passage of this bill gives Congress more time to pass full-year funding bills by the end of this year," President Biden said in a statement Wednesday. "My Administration will work with Congress to ensure these bills deliver for America’s national defense, veterans, seniors, children, and working families, and address urgent needs for the American people, including communities recovering from disasters."

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But Congress has been slow to pass the full bills to fund the government for the next year. The House has passed five of 12 bills, while the Senate has passed zero.

Some lawmakers have also indicated they would not support an omnibus-style bill that would secure government funding with single measure.

“I have no intention of going back to that terrible tradition,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.