After much anticipation, Congressional leaders finally unveiled the Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025, a Continuing Resolution (CR) that would stave off the government shutdown slated for Friday night. The 1,547-page legislative package would fund the government through March 14, 2025.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is seeking to pass the bill through the House Rules Committee, which would allow it to then pass through the full House with just a simple majority. A number of prominent GOP members, however, have cast doubt on its ability to pass through the committee. If that is the case, Johnson would have to bring up the CR for consideration on the House floor under a procedure called Suspension of the Rules, which would require a two-thirds majority for passage. This would require Johnson to rely heavily on House Democrats to pass the bill.
While the most significant purpose of this CR is the continuation of government funding through March 2025, the legislation contains a vast array of important riders and add-ons. The additional provisions are known as a Christmas tree provisions.
The bill overhauls the pharmacy benefit managing process, provides $100 billion in disaster relief aid and $30 billion in aid to farmers, and contains language restricting U.S. capital investment in China. Also notable are provisions that set aside billions of dollars for the Navy to purchase more nuclear-powered Virginia-class attack submarines and the first pay raise for Members of Congress in 15 years.
Some of these provisions have garnered criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. The biggest hurdle to passage appears to be GOP hardliners, such as Reps. Chip Roy and Michael Cloud both of Texas, who have taken issue with the limited amount of time Members will have to consider the bill, as well as the lack of measures to offset spending. Elon Musk has also chimed in, posting on his website X that “this bill should not pass, any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserved to be voted out in 2 years!”
Some more mainstream members have also voiced opposition to the “Christmas tree bill,” with, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) arguing that Republican leadership “should be fighting to deliver wins for our members, not the Democrats.”
Some House Democrats have also signaled their intention to oppose the bill, such as Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME). In a statement put out by his office, Golden cited the congressional pay raise, as well as the addition of more generous healthcare benefits for members, as his rationale for not backing the bill.
Faced with heavy opposition, Johnson’s leadership team is reportedly considering a plan B. The backup plan would drop the $100 billion in disaster aid and the $30 billion in farmer aid, among many other attachments, and focus on passing a “clean CR,” and then dealing with the other issues in the new year.
Whichever path Johnson and fellow leaders choose to take, they will need to act quickly. If the CR is able to pass the House, it will still need to be considered and voted on by the Senate, all before midnight on Friday.