Before the deadline for the shutdown, congressional leaders pitch members on a $1.2 trillion spending deal
WASHINGTON (AP) – The goal of the bipartisan congressional leadership was to cast a favorable light on the $1.2 trillion spending plan that Congress is trying to adopt before the funding for many important government agencies ends at midnight on Friday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the legislation’s text was still under wraps, but politicians and their staffers were anticipating an official unveiling early on Thursday. Congress will have completed its work on spending measures for the year—nearly six months after the fiscal year started—if the package passes.
The twelve spending legislation for this year were contained in two packages. Two weeks ago, the first bill was approved by Congress only hours before the agencies that the laws funded were set to shut down.
The second, bigger plan, which includes $886 billion for defense—roughly 3% more than last year—is currently the focus of Congress’ attention. The Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Labor, and others are also funded by the bill; non-defense spending is anticipated to remain mostly unchanged from the previous year.
The appropriations proposals represent a “serious commitment to strengthening our national defense by moving the Pentagon toward a focus on its core mission while expanding support for our brave men and women who serve in uniform,” according to a statement from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
A minibus, or small omnibus, of six appropriations measures was passed by Congress earlier this month, supporting around thirty percent of the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year. The package was approved in opposition to a second shutdown deadline.
Less than two days remain for lawmakers to approve the package and deliver it to President Joe Biden‘s desk.
While Senate procedure may force the consideration process to extend into the weekend, Republicans in the House are anticipating a vote on Friday. One senator in the upper chamber has the authority to postpone the quick vote on a bill.
Republicans have directed their legislative attention toward a number of aspects of the package, including funding cuts for non-governmental organizations, funding reductions for the IRS, the retraction of previously obtained concessions that diverted funds from relief efforts for the coronavirus and the IRS, and reductions in overall funding for foreign aid.
Leaders tried to persuade members to buy the package. Speaker Mike Johnson outlined some of the legislative improvements that House Republicans were able to secure in the most recent discussions during a morning closed-door conference with GOP lawmakers. Among them was a ban on financing for a United Nations aid effort for Palestinian refugees, which would run until March 2025. He added that 8,000 more jail beds for noncitizens awaiting immigration procedures or deportation are funded by the measure.
Johnson stated at the weekly press conference of the GOP leadership, “The Homeland (Security) piece was the most difficult to negotiate because the two parties have a wide chasm between them.” “I believe that even with our historically small majority, we were able to achieve a lot of important provisions and wins, and it moved in the direction that we want.”
It is anticipated that the House will vote on the second package on Friday, providing members with over a day to evaluate the legislation. However, by doing so, the leadership is disobeying a House rule requiring members to be given 72 hours to consider key legislation prior to voting on it.
This infuriates some House Republicans, yet adhering to the rule would undoubtedly result in a brief suspension of federal financing for multiple important federal agencies.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., stated he will bring the bill to the Senate floor when it passes the House. “It will be difficult to get this funding package before the weekend deadline, even with bipartisanship,” Schumer stated.
Republicans had pushed for the budget bills to contain a number of policy demands, such as limiting access to the abortion drug mifepristone or outlawing access to gender-affirming medical care. Democrats applauded this victory over these mandates.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, a Democrat from California, stated, “We’re exactly in the position that we knew we were going to end up.” “We were aware that the White House, Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats, and House Democrats would not put up with any major, detrimental cuts or absurd policy riders.”
The expenditure in the plan mainly corresponds to a deal that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy struck with the White House in May 2023. Under that arrangement, spending was limited for two years and the debt ceiling was postponed until January 2025 in order to allow the federal government to continue funding its bills.
The Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Patty Murray, stated, “We have had to stick to some difficult toplines and fight off literally hundreds of Republican poison pills, not to mention some really harsh, almost unthinkable, cuts proposed by House Republicans.” However, a good, bipartisan bill that safeguards vital investments in the American people has just been introduced.
A few months after clinching the debt ceiling agreement, McCarthy was removed from his position as speaker. In the end, eight Republicans sided with Democrats to unseat McCarthy as speaker. Furthermore, a few disgruntled parties from the debt ceiling agreement have voiced concerns regarding the most recent package.
Johnson is anticipated to put the bill to a vote using a shortened procedure that needs two thirds of the members to pass. By a vote of 339 to 85, the previous spending package was approved; Republicans accounted for all but two of the no votes.
Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, declared, “This bill will get pilloried like a pinata if it sits out for two weeks.” Thus, they want to expedite its completion within the next 48 hours.
