WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States House of Representatives and Senate passed a stopgap funding bill on Saturday, averting a government shutdown and continuing funding for the federal government for 45 days. The new deadline for a long-term agreement is November 17th.

Maine’s Congressional Delegation reacted to the news, praising the bipartisan effort to avoid a shutdown but also expressing concerns about the lack of funding for Ukraine and the potential for drastic cuts to vital government services in the long-term budget agreement.

Senator Angus King said that the stopgap bill is a welcome reality check that avoids the drastic cuts sought by fringe members, but he expressed disappointment that the provision providing funding for Ukraine was removed. He also criticized the bad faith and brinksmanship that led to the last-minute vote.

Senator Susan Collins called the passage of the continuing resolution a victory for common sense and said that government shutdowns are harmful and should be avoided at all costs. She urged Congress to get back to processing the 12 appropriations bills that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said that there has been a bipartisan path forward to keeping the government open for months, and she praised the passage of the stopgap bill with votes from both sides. However, she also expressed concern that nearly half the Republican conference was opposed to the bill and that Republicans denied funding for Ukraine.

Congressman Jared Golden said that the only path to avoid a government shutdown was the agreement that was passed on Saturday, and he praised Speaker McCarthy for putting the 45-day extension on the House floor. He said that Congress now has 45 days to negotiate a long-term agreement and that he will continue working to support the budget deal that Congress agreed to earlier this summer.

The stopgap funding bill is a temporary solution, and it remains to be seen whether Congress will be able to reach a long-term agreement that avoids drastic cuts to vital government services and provides adequate funding for Ukraine.