WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a fiscal 2024 appropriations bill for military construction and veterans affairs on Thursday, the first of 12 spending measures that Congress must enact by Oct. 1 or risk a government shutdown.
The House voted 219-211 to approve the $155.7 billion military construction and veterans affairs bill, forwarding it on to the Democratic-led Senate where it is unlikely to succeed.
House Republican leaders chose to delay consideration of a second spending bill on agriculture, rural development and the Food and Drug Administration until September, amid party infighting over spending between hardline conservatives and moderates.
House passage of appropriations legislation represents only a first step toward funding the government from Oct. 1.
As lawmakers headed into a lengthy August recess, the two chambers appeared to be at least $120 billion apart on spending.
Persons:
Joe Biden, David Morgan, Jonathan Oatis, Marguerita Choy
Organizations:
Republican, House, Democratic, Food and Drug Administration, Thomson