Senate passes funding bill, delays SAVE America Act vote

The Senate passed a short-term government funding bill in an overnight vote early Saturday, extending federal funding through December 11 and averting a shutdown ahead of the November midterm elections. The 90-6 vote came as senators prepared to leave Washington for the August recess, having also confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general and rejected a voter ID measure. Source: AP News Source: CNN

Funding bill details

The continuing resolution funds agencies at current levels until December 11, with bipartisan support. It includes a temporary block on a White House rule on federal grants and delays a national ban on intoxicating hemp products. Democrats secured language preventing money transfers to the Border Patrol. Source: AP News Source: The Guardian The House, which passed a different CR funding through December 4, must still approve the Senate version when it returns from recess. Source: CNN

SAVE America Act stalled

President Donald Trump had demanded the Senate pass the SAVE America Act, a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill, before recess. However, Republicans lacked the votes, and after a late-night call with Trump, GOP senators agreed to delay action and instead try to attach elements of the bill to a future budget package in September. Source: AP News Source: CNN Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, "I think everybody’s, for the most part, on the same page." Source: AP News

Disagreements

Sources differ on the funding bill's impact: AP News notes the bill delays a national hemp ban, while The Guardian emphasizes it blocks a White House grant rule. CNN reports the Senate bill lacks funding for ICE and CBP, which were already funded through Trump's term, a detail not highlighted by other outlets. Source: AP News Source: CNN Source: The Guardian