This bipartisan legislation, consisting of six bills, addresses the funding expiration of various departments and agencies by this Friday. The departments included in the package are Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Justice and Commerce, Energy and Water Development, Department of Interior, as well as Transportation and Housing.

However, it's important to note that funding for the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon, among others, will still be at risk as their respective expiration date is on March 22.

If the spending package clears the House, it will mark a significant step towards ending the divisive chapter fueled by disagreements over the allocation of federal funds. The divisive climate has primarily been driven by GOP hardliners, who, due to the slim majority held by House Republicans, have wielded considerable influence.

Members of the House Freedom Caucus and their allies have advocated for leveraging a government shutdown to secure substantial spending cuts and conservative policy measures. Nonetheless, these proposals are unlikely to gain traction with the Senate and White House being under Democratic control. The resulting friction within the House GOP has led hardline factions to cast protest votes on procedural matters, temporarily paralyzing the House floor.

In a historic move, a small group of right-wing lawmakers, joined by all House Democrats, ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R- Calif., from power, citing his efforts to avoid a shutdown by working across party lines. Tensions within the House GOP have prompted leaders to bypass traditional mechanisms, such as the House Rules Committee, to expedite the bill's passage under suspension of the rules. This procedural approach raises the threshold for passage from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority, ensuring Democratic support will be necessary for its approval.

This circumvention of traditional processes has frustrated members of all factions within the House GOP, with differing opinions on assigning blame. A senior House GOP aide accused the House Freedom Caucus of undermining Congress's work, while Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., expressed concern that the lack of an amendment process associated with suspending rules diminishes the importance of voters' concerns.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va., echoed these sentiments, criticizing GOP leaders for passing bills under suspension and suggesting it ultimately serves the Democrats' interests. He claimed that such an approach allows the Democrats to achieve their agenda without facing significant obstacles, while Republicans bear the blame.

If the spending package successfully passes the House, it will move on to the Senate for further consideration. Ultimately, it will require President Biden's signature to prevent a partial government shutdown by the end of this week.