The draft of a bill that President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., negotiated to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, is photographed Monday, May 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The House of Representatives passed partial funding legislation Wednesday in attempts to prevent a government shutdown, with the Arkansas delegation all voting for the plans.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 passed on a 339-85 vote, with the four Arkansas congressmen joining 207 Democrats and 128 of their fellow Republican legislators in approving.
The bill is expected to pass the Senate and avoid the government shutdown that would have occurred Friday without its passage.
Rep. French Hill (AR-02) spoke to the legislation’s reigning in of what he described as irresponsible fiscal policy.
“Since President Biden took office, government spending has been out of control on a scale never seen before,” Hill said. “Passing this funding today was a step in the right direction toward returning to sane fiscal policy, and this is in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was negotiated last June under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.”
Hill said he and his colleagues would work together to pass the remaining 2024 funding.
Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-01) pointed out the bill was the largest cuts to non-VA and non-defense spending in “almost a decade.”
“The spending package brought forward after months of deliberation has many conservative wins to be proud of,” Crawford said. “This legislation cuts spending and prevents a partial government shutdown, which would create more interest-accumulating debt and cost more taxpayer dollars.”
Rep. Steve Womack (AR-03) spoke about the legislation’s impact on the third district in northwest Arkansas.
“First and foremost, this package delivers for the people of Arkansas’ Third,” Womack said. “The district-specific funding will improve our infrastructure and grow our local economy while ensuring the critical FMS mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base is kept on schedule.”
Womack added that the legislation included support for the Marshallese community and other projects for his district.
Six government funding bills for 2024 remain and are due by March 22 to avoid a shutdown.
Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04) had not responded to a request for a statement on the vote as this story was published. If one is provided this story will be updated.
