Congress tries to avoid another government shutdown

The U.S. Senate is attempting to avert another government shutdown set to go into effect at midnight.

Lawmakers are currently debating several amendments to a proposed deal that would fund dozens of Federal agencies.

No matter what the Senate does today, there will be a partial shutdown over the weekend until the House of Representatives returns to Washington on Monday to finalize five long-term spending bills and a 2 week extension of funding to the Department of Homeland Security.

We spoke to West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who hopes to avoid another 43 day shutdown like we saw in October and November.

“We’re in the middle of an ice storm, potential storm coming through maybe later in the week, we need to have our FEMA disaster funds and FEMA disaster folks at the ready and they would be in danger in a shutdown. Also TSA. We saw that while they are essential workers it’s still very difficult for them to do their job in any kind of government shutdown.” - SEN. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, R-WV

Homeland Security also encompasses Border Patrol and ICE, which are at the heart of an ongoing funding debate, as well as Secret Service, the U.S. Coast Guard and other departments.