The House passed a stop-gap spending bill Thursday that will keep the government funded through Jan. 19.
The legislation — which the Senate is expected to vote on Thursday evening — includes extensions for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, $2.1 billion for the Veterans Choice program and a four-year reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows for the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance program.
Following a conference meeting Wednesday evening, House GOP leadership whipped votes late into the night, meeting with hesitant members to discuss their concerns with the bill. Members of the House Freedom Caucus and defense hawks initially fought to extend Defense funding through the end of the fiscal year. A number of conservative also expressed reluctance to support the bill over the incursion of FISA.
In addition to keeping the government funded, the lower chamber passed an $81 billion disaster relief package before they break for the holidays.
The bill is expected to be voted on in the Senate Thursday evening. Current government funding levels expire Friday at midnight.