The Senate has successfully passed a six-bill package aimed at funding various sectors of the federal government through September, effectively averting a partial shutdown. With a vote of 75 to 22, the bill has been sent to President Biden’s desk just before the midnight deadline.
However, the passage of this legislation was not without its challenges, as Republicans’ demands for amendment votes on immigration-related and other measures slowed down the process and threatened to extend the final vote to Saturday.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, expressed his optimism and relief after the successful vote.
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He stated, “We have good news for the country. We will keep important programs funded for moms and kids, for veterans, for the environment, for housing, and so much more.”
Schumer further emphasized the importance of cooperation between both sides and highlighted the progress made towards fully funding the government. He also mentioned that the bipartisan agreement would provide momentum and space to finish the remaining appropriation bills by March 22.
House Passage and Conservative Opposition
Prior to the Senate’s action, the House of Representatives passed the funding package with the majority of votes provided by Democrats. On the other hand, conservatives remained firm in their opposition due to the absence of their preferred spending cuts and policy riders in previous funding extensions. Despite this opposition, the bill managed to cover agriculture, energy and the environment, housing, transportation, veterans, and the Justice Department until the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
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Remaining Spending Bills and Contentious Issues
While the current funding package has successfully passed both the House and Senate, Congress still has two weeks until March 22 to pass the remaining six spending bills in order to fully fund the government for the same timeframe. However, the second package, which includes funding for the Defense, State, and Homeland Security departments, is expected to face more contention. Resolving this spending fight would put an end to the repeated threats of government shutdowns since last fall and allow Congress to focus on approving next year’s appropriations bills.
Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, expressed confidence in meeting the March 22 deadline. She mentioned that the remaining bills are in various stages of progress, indicating that progress is being made towards fully funding the government.
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Package Details and Opposition
The current six-bill package includes cuts to several agencies, such as the FBI, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. While these cuts were celebrated by House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, the conservative House Freedom Caucus criticized the package for not addressing their policy priorities.
On the other hand, Democrats successfully defended against restrictions on abortion access sought by Republicans. They also secured investments in infrastructure and programs for veterans, as well as full funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program for low-income individuals.
The Path Forward and Future Appropriations Bills
Passing the funding package is a significant step towards avoiding a government shutdown, but Congress still has work to do in order to fully fund the government beyond September. Once the remaining spending bills are passed, Congress can shift its focus to approving next year’s appropriations bills.
The successful passage of the funding package demonstrates the potential for bipartisan cooperation in ensuring the smooth functioning of the government. It provides a glimpse of hope that Congress can work together to address various challenges and efficiently allocate funds to support critical programs and initiatives.
With the deadline approaching, lawmakers will need to navigate through contentious issues and find common ground to reach an agreement on the remaining spending bills. The resolution of these issues would not only prevent a potential government shutdown but also allow Congress to dedicate its efforts towards other legislative priorities.
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