Southern Wisconsin Times

Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil emphasizes his commitment to government continuity, indicating his support for the continuing resolution that prevented a government shutdown on Saturday.

"A government shutdown isn't good for anyone," said Bryan Steil. "I just voted to keep the government open and secure the border."

House Republicans and Democrats reached an agreement on a short-term funding bill, commonly referred to as a continuing resolution, or CR, to prevent a government shutdown. The Senate subsequently voted to pass the continuing resolution with just three hours remaining before a potential shutdown, ensuring the government remains open for the next 45 days. The 71-page short-term bill, orchestrated by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, does not incorporate new financial assistance for Ukraine, according to CNBC.

Recent disagreements have revolved around spending levels, border security, and the allocation of additional aid to Ukraine. The United States has already provided over $111 billion in aid to Ukraine, leading to criticism of the Biden Administration's funding decisions in the past year. This assistance encompasses humanitarian, financial, and military aid. In July, President Biden requested an additional $24 billion for Ukraine, which, if approved, would bring the total aid to $135 billion, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"According to the Congressional Research Service, there have been 133 Continuing Resolutions enacted since 1998, including 21 in 2001," said Former CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller. "The CR’s spanned an average of 137 days per year, including 365 days in 2011."

The majority of House Republicans backed the continuing resolution. However, Wisconsin Reps. Tom Tiffany and Scott Fitzgerald voted against it, arguing that the resolution did not provide sufficient support for border security. "Unfortunately, that CR failed with not a single Democrat voting in support of the resolution and a solution to address the crisis," said Fitzgerald, according to a press release. "Today, the House was pushed into a corner and was forced to put forth a CR with no additional resources to secure our border—a proposal I simply could not support."

Tensions persist surrounding the ongoing border crisis, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the Biden Administration's border control strategies. In September, illegal migrant crossings surged, with a notable 60% increase compared to July figures. If this trend continues throughout this month, it is projected that migrant apprehensions may reach 210,000, reaching the highest level since spring 2022, according to CBS News.