House Democrats have announced their opening bid to end the shutdown when they retake the majority on Thursday, stating their plan to pass a combination of six Senate appropriations bills to fund agencies that are closed as well as a continuing resolution for the Homeland Security Department.
With no breakthrough expected on Wednesday on the 115th Congress’ final day, the House on Thursday—the opening day of the 116th Congress—will vote on a consolidated package of bipartisan bills that came out of the Republican-controlled Senate Appropriations Committee to provide full fiscal 2019 funding for the departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, State, Interior, Agriculture, Treasury, Commerce and Justice, as well as a number of independent agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Personnel Management and General Services Administration.
