U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed optimism on Wednesday as Republicans prepared to make another attempt at moving forward with fiscal 2024 spending legislation. McCarthy announced that a procedural vote on a defense appropriations bill would take place on Thursday. Following a closed-door meeting with his Republican majority, the California Republican stated that lawmakers were on the verge of reaching an agreement on a short-term stopgap measure to prevent a government shutdown on September 30. McCarthy also revealed that House Republicans would start advancing other full-scale appropriations bills.

"We're going to be voting tomorrow," McCarthy confidently informed reporters. "I think we made tremendous progress...I think we've got a plan to move forward." These remarks provided a glimmer of hope after House Republicans had faced difficulties advancing both the defense bill and the short-term measure known as a continuing resolution (CR) due to internal disagreements within the Republican party. The stalemate raised concerns about Congress's ability to keep federal agencies functioning as the new fiscal year commences on October 1.

The House, along with the Democratic-led Senate, now has just over a week to pass a CR or long-term spending legislation that President Joe Biden, a Democrat, can sign into law. The situation became complicated on Tuesday when opposition from five Republicans thwarted a vote intended to initiate debate on an $886 billion defense spending bill. These five Republican hardliners sought assurances that fiscal 2024 appropriations would not exceed a 2022 top line of $1.47 trillion, which is $120 billion less than the May agreement between McCarthy and Biden.

However, McCarthy revealed on Wednesday that he had managed to convince two of the five Republicans to change their positions. Despite this progress, discussions among Republicans have yet to yield a breakthrough on a proposed CR that would keep the government open until October 31. The proposed CR aims to cut spending and impose restrictions on U.S. immigration and border policy.

In a separate development, Speaker McCarthy announced on Tuesday that he had postponed a crucial procedural vote for a 30-day stopgap funding measure. The delay was intended to provide more time for the fractured Republican majority to gather the necessary votes to pass the measure. The stopgap, referred to as a continuing resolution or "CR," is facing opposition from over a dozen Republican hardline conservatives, which is enough to impede its progress in the House.

The CR, if passed, would sustain federal agencies until October 31 but reduce discretionary spending by approximately 8% for agencies outside of defense, veterans affairs, and disaster relief. It would also impose certain immigration restrictions and resume construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Critics from both sides of the aisle have voiced objections to the measure. Republican hardliners argue that it does not go far enough in cutting spending and constraining the Biden administration, while Democrats have decried its spending cuts and immigration policy changes.