Erin Kelly

USAToday

WASHINGTON — Just one day before the government runs out of money, the House voted Thursday to fund federal agencies through April, boost defense spending, and send aid to flood-ravaged states and to the lead-poisoned residents of Flint, Mich.

The Senate still must act to avert a government shutdown at midnight Friday. Both chambers are planning to adjourn for the year by week's end.

House members voted 326-96 to pass a stop-gap spending bill that would keep the government running through April 28, giving the incoming Trump administration and the new Congress a chance to weigh in on how billions of taxpayer dollars should be spent.

"At this point, this is our best — and only — path forward," said Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., the outgoing chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, as he urged members to vote for the bill. "It keeps the lights on in our government, preventing the uncertainty and harm of a shutdown."

Senate leaders hope to pass the legislation no later than Friday, but Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., is threatening to hold up the process over health care benefits for about 20,000 retired miners that are scheduled to expire at the end of this month.

The spending bill approved by the House on Thursday provides $45 million to continue those benefits through April 28. But Manchin and other coal-state senators want Congress to approve a long-term extension of the miners' health care coverage.

If Manchin blocks a procedure that would allow a quick vote in the Senate, it could lead to a short government shutdown until early next week.

Rep. David McKinley, R-W. Va., said he agrees with Manchin that the benefits should be extended for a much longer time, but he said voting against the bill and shutting the government is not the answer. Rejecting the bill puts the miners in danger of losing their benefits on Dec. 31, McKinley said.

Instead, McKinley said he would work with congressional leaders early next year to extend the miners' benefits well beyond April. Rogers, whose home state of Kentucky includes coal miners, pledged to work with the West Virginians on a long-term solution.

While the coal miners' situation remains unresolved, the bill provides long-sought relief to the residents of Flint, Mich. It would provide about $170 million to help clean up Flint's lead-contaminated drinking water system, which has poisoned the city's children.

It also contains $4.1 billion in flood relief for Louisiana, West Virginia and Texas and for states damaged by Hurricane Matthew, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

The overall spending level for defense programs is $8 billion above the rate in the current stop-gap spending bill that is about to expire, Rogers said. Military leaders had warned that simply continuing current funding would rob U.S. troops of sufficient money to fight the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

The legislation also includes initial funding for the newly passed 21st Century Cures Act, which funds medical research, speeds government approval of potentially life-saving drugs and medical devices, and helps states fight opioid abuse. The spending bill includes $500 million for states to combat addiction to painkillers.

New York lawmakers said they were angry that the bill provides only $7 million of the $35 million that New York officials say is owed them in reimbursements for overtime paid to New York City police officers to help protect President-elect Donald Trump.

New York taxpayers should not be forced to pay the tab for what is supposed to be a federal responsibility, the New Yorkers said.

"I suspect this is a down-payment on what's to come," said Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., adding that the New York delegation will press for the rest of the money early next year.

Congress poised to pass bill to fund government, boost defense spending