This was a vote on a resolution setting a time limit for debate and prohibiting amendments to legislation funding all government agencies and programs at existing funding levels (i.e., funding levels that were in place in 2010) through September 30, 2011. Such spending bills are known as “continuing resolutions,” or “CRs.” Democratic leaders also attached a food safety bill to this CR. The food safety overhaul increased safety inspections at food processing plants and gave the federal government new authority to recall tainted food products. The CR also froze the salaries of civilian federal workers for two years.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) urged support for the resolution (which set a time limit for debate and prohibiting amendments to the bill) and the underlying legislation (the CR): “…Today the House will consider the…continuing resolution legislation that will fund the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. Additionally, this bill contains the food safety bill…Both these measures need to be passed. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation.”

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) urged opposition to the resolution and the underlying CR: “…[The underlying bill] includes the food safety bill which has been attached to that CR. So it is not a clean bill….This legislation, once again, continues to overspend and overregulate, a common theme over the last two Congresses…. This CR…continues the unsustainable high rate of spending passed by the Democrat majority, aided by, supported, and abetted by the president of the United States, our president, Barack Obama.”

McGovern shot back: “I am sorry the gentleman is not for safer food safety measures, but let me just point out for the record that while the food supply in the United States is one of the safest in the world, each year about 76 million illnesses occur, more than 300,000 persons are hospitalized, and 5,000 die from food-borne illnesses.”

The House agreed to this resolution by a vote of 207-206. 207 Democrats – including a majority of progressives – voted “yea.” All 169 Republicans present and 37 Democrats voted “nay.” As a result, the House proceeded to formal floor debate on legislation funding all government agencies and programs at existing funding levels through September 30, 2011, and implementing new food safety regulations.