The Senate’s approval of a short-term funding bill prevents a potential US government shutdown. Joe Biden is likely to sign, warning of economic consequences.
A potential US government shutdown was narrowly avoided after the Senate approved a short-term funding bill on Thursday afternoon, following a House vote earlier that day.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, spoke on the floor before the vote, saying he expected it to be quick.
“This agreement is proof that when … bipartisanship is prioritized, when getting things done for the American people takes a high priority, good things can happen, even in divided government,” he went on to say.
The bill extends temporary funding to several departments, including agriculture, transportation, interior, the Pentagon, homeland security, health, and state, until various dates in March.
“These bills will adhere to the Fiscal Responsibility Act discretionary spending limits and January’s top-line spending agreement,” congressional leaders stated on Wednesday.
Biden Set to Sign Short-Term Bill
The bill also reflects congressional leaders’ agreement on six of the 12 annual spending bills, which they plan to pass before March 8 to avoid another partial shutdown.
The short-term extension bill will be sent to Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it before Saturday’s deadline. Earlier this week, Biden met with congressional leaders, including Kamala Harris, and warned that a government shutdown would “significantly” harm the economy.
Congress is expected to approve more than $1.6 trillion in spending for the current fiscal year, which began in October, similar to the previous fiscal year.
Matt Gaetz Criticizes Spending Levels
Some of the most conservative House members wanted to cut non-defense programs more than the agreement’s spending caps allowed.
“Last I checked, the Republicans actually have a majority in the House of Representatives, but you wouldn’t know it if you looked at our checkbook because we are all too willing to continue the policy choices of Joe Biden and the spending levels of Nancy Pelosi,” Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, told The Ultimate News.
However, Chuck Fleischmann, another Republican from Tennessee, urged lawmakers to vote for the short-term extension before the vote, claiming that shutdowns are harmful. “I want the American people to know, Mr Speaker, that this negotiation has been difficult, but to shut down the government at a time like “This would cause harm to people who did not deserve it,” Fleischmann said.
This year’s spending bills focus primarily on domestic appropriations and do not include the $95.3 billion aid package recently approved by the Senate. This allocation is for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The package also included approximately $9 billion in humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine, and other conflict zones.