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This week Washington remained focused on the end of the federal fiscal year.
With the September 30th deadline looming, the House took steps to keep the government open by passing stopgap funding. The House measure passed with a vote of 301-123 to keep the government running until Nov 21st. The bill now shifts to the Senate for a vote and then to President Trump to sign into law. Even with an additional eight weeks to finish up appropriations, it remains a daunting task with so many funding bills still needing congressional consensus.
The Senate continued to make headway on finishing up their appropriations work by advancing Agriculture, Financial Services, and Transportation-HUD bills through the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Committee has now advanced five bills but still has seven more bills to go to finish up their work. The full Senate must approve all of the bills and then the Senate and House will need to negotiate the differences in each chamber's appropriations bills. The final step will be getting the president's signature on the agreement.
If lawmakers can't come together, the end of the year is shaping up to be another fiscal fiasco leading to a government shutdown. Stay tuned to Washington Weekly for all updates.
Faith and the Common Good
Elizabeth Luciano correctly identified, Romualdo Pacheco of California as the first Hispanic-American to serve as a full-fledged representative when he won a seat in the 45th Congress in 1876.
 His election in 1876 was contested and was not certified by the House Committee on Elections. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we share these important moments of history. He was elected again in September 1879 and served through 1883.
Previous to his election there were several Hispanic delegates serving in the House. Delegate Joseph Marion Hernández of Florida was elected as a delegate to Congress in September of 1822 and he served until March 3, 1823 in the 17th Congress. Although he never spoke on the House floor, he submitted many memorials and motions on behalf of Florida residents.
Since 1899, at least one Hispanic-American has served in each Congress. The first Hispanic woman elected to Congress was Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who served from 1989-2019.
Celebrating Diversity
Almighty God, through your Holy Spirit you created unity in the midst of diversity;
We acknowledge that human diversity is an expression of your manifold love for your creation;
We confess that in our brokenness as human beings we turn diversity into a source of alienation, injustice, oppression, and wounding.
Empower us to recognize and celebrate differences as your great gift to the human family.
Enable us to be the architects of understanding, of respect and love;
Through the Lord, the ground of all unity, we pray.
- Author Unknown
Trivia
Who was the first Hispanic bishop in the U.S.?
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