Congress faces showdown over funding bills as shutdown deadline nears

Congress is bracing for a high-stakes battle as both chambers take up competing funding bills aimed at preventing a government shutdown on September 30.

(CNN)- Congress is bracing for a high-stakes battle as both chambers take up competing funding bills aimed at preventing a government shutdown on September 30.

Both Democratic and Republican proposals include increased security for lawmakers, but the plans diverge sharply beyond that. Republicans are pushing a “clean” bill that would fund the government for seven weeks. Democrats’ plan would reverse Medicaid cuts, preserve Affordable Care Act subsidies, and restore other reductions while extending funding through October.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said his chamber has the votes to pass the GOP measure, calling it “a total good-faith effort to allow appropriators on both sides of the aisle to continue their work.”

Democrats countered with a focus on healthcare. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) said, “Let’s talk about a way to help keep people’s costs down for their healthcare.”

The Senate is also set to vote on the bills today, though neither currently appears to have enough support to pass. Republicans would need several Democrats to cross the aisle to break a filibuster. While some votes may shift, Democratic leaders signaled little appetite for compromise.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) warned that a shutdown would “harm millions of Americans,” while Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) criticized Republicans for refusing bipartisan talks, saying, “We’ve always had bipartisan negotiations on this.”