The legislation, which passed by a vote of 339-85, will fund federal agencies for the next six months. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it must be passed by midnight Saturday to prevent agencies from shutting down when funding lapses.

Drafted by bipartisan leaders in both chambers, the spending bill is not expected to face substantial opposition in the Senate. However, a larger and more contentious shutdown deadline looms just over two weeks away, on March 22. Lawmakers remain deeply divided over how to fund agencies and which policies to attach to the legislation.

Despite the challenges ahead, Congress is on track to finally conclude the 2024 fiscal year appropriations process after extending the deadline four times. Disagreements within the fractious House Republican conference led to the historic ousting of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Speaker Mike Johnson has defended the pathway to prevent a government shutdown, as Republicans recognize they could face heavy political consequences during an election year.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer expressed optimism about the progress, stating that passing these bills will provide the momentum needed to meet the March 22 deadline. However, Schumer emphasized that bipartisan cooperation will be crucial to successfully finish the job.

Conservative Republicans in the House sought to use the appropriations process to curtail spending by restricting funding for Planned Parenthood, reducing resources for the Education Department, imposing immigration restrictions, and reallocating funding from the White House's climate agenda. Speaker Mike Johnson highlighted the need for realism, acknowledging the challenges posed by divided government.

President Biden is expected to address the progress and lingering impasse in the State of the Union address, where he will also make his case to voters for a second term. However, some of his priorities and Congress's spending debates have become entangled with U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel, as well as immigration issues at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Republicans, including members of the House Freedom Caucus, argue that Congress should not fund agencies that they believe contribute to the influx of migrants, facilitate access to abortions, or support LGBTQ and diversity measures. The debate surrounding these policy issues has complicated the government funding picture.

The newly approved bill will cover approximately 30 percent of the federal government, including crucial departments such as Justice, Transportation, Energy, Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development, as well as agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. It is a result of bipartisan compromises in Washington, though far-right legislators have scrutinized and threatened these agreements.

Last spring, President Biden and former Speaker McCarthy agreed to suspend the nation's debt ceiling in exchange for restraints on federal spending in 2024. House Republicans, however, contested the deal, leading to McCarthy's ousting. Speaker Mike Johnson upheld the commitments made in the agreement and reached another one with Schumer on a top-line discretionary spending amount for the year.

While some Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with the $1.7 trillion spending total, attempts to attach policy provisions to the legislation were mostly unsuccessful. Controversial measures, such as limits on food stamp purchases, restrictions on abortion medication, and bans on menthol-flavored cigarettes, did not make it into the final bill. Including such provisions would have jeopardized its chances of passing.

The lack of cohesion among Republicans necessitated rule suspensions and reliance on Democrats to ensure bills passed with the requisite majority. Despite the challenges along the way, Speaker Mike Johnson expressed relief and satisfaction with the progress made, stating that the process had been long and methodical.

As the spending bill advances to the Senate, the ball is now in their court to prevent a government shutdown and continue the appropriations process. It remains to be seen whether bipartisan cooperation can overcome the divisions and deliver a comprehensive funding package by the March 22 deadline.