US could avert shutdown with $1.1-trillion spending plan
Democrats say they defeated cuts by Republicans that would have been a gut punch for US families and the economy
21 March 2024 - 15:25
byDavid Morgan and Makini Brice
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell takes questions from reporters during a press conference afte the weekly Senate republican caucus luncheons on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, on March 20, 2024. Picture: REUTERS/AMANDA ANDRADE-RHOADES
Washington — After days of delay, US congressional leaders unveiled a $1.1-trillion bipartisan spending measure for defence, homeland security and other programmes early on Thursday, giving lawmakers less than two days to avert a partial government shutdown.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives will vote on the sprawling package on Friday, leaving the Democratic-majority Senate only hours to pass the package of six bills that covers about two-thirds of the $1.66-trillion in discretionary government spending for the fiscal year that began on October 1.
“These final six bills represent a bipartisan and bicameral compromise,” the two top Senate negotiators — Patty Murray, a Democrat, and Susan Collins, a Republican — said in a statement.
“They will invest in the American people, build a stronger economy, help keep our communities safe, and strengthen our national security and global leadership.”
The Congressional Budget Office warned that US deficits and debt will grow considerably over the next 30 years, forecasting that the nation’s $34.5-trillion national debt, which represents about 99% of GDP, could grow and rise to 166% of GDP by 2054.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he is “hopeful” Congress can avert a shutdown if Democrats and Republicans in his chamber work together.
The compressed schedule raised the risk of at least a brief partial shutdown after a Friday midnight deadline, unless Schumer can reach agreement with Senate Republicans to expedite the bill.
House Speaker Mike Johnson touted what he called a series of wins for Republicans, from higher spending for US defense and border security to a cut-off of US funding for the main UN relief agency that provides humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.
“This FY24 appropriations legislation is a serious commitment to strengthening our national defence by moving the Pentagon toward a focus on its core mission,” Johnson said in a statement released along with the text of the legislation.
Democrats said they blocked some Republican cuts and policy measures and touted funds aimed at lowering childcare costs, supporting small businesses and fighting the flow of the opioid fentanyl.
“We defeated outlandish cuts that would have been a gut punch for American families and our economy — and we fought off scores of extreme policies that would have restricted Americans’ fundamental freedoms, hurt consumers while giving giant corporations an unfair advantage, and turned back the clock on historic climate action,” said Murray, the Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Slim majority
Two weeks ago, Congress narrowly avoided a shutdown that would have affected agricultural, transportation and environmental programmes.
The text unveiled on Thursday fills in the details of an agreement in principle between Johnson and Schumer, which Democratic President Joe Biden has pledged to sign into law.
With a slim 219-213 House Republican majority, Johnson will have to rely on Democratic votes to get the spending bill to the Senate.
Many House Republicans are still expected to oppose the legislation, including hardliners who want steeper spending cuts.
Besides the departments of homeland security and defence, the bill would fund agencies including the State Department and the Internal Revenue Service as it girds for its April 15 taxpayer filing deadline.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
US could avert shutdown with $1.1-trillion spending plan
Democrats say they defeated cuts by Republicans that would have been a gut punch for US families and the economy
Washington — After days of delay, US congressional leaders unveiled a $1.1-trillion bipartisan spending measure for defence, homeland security and other programmes early on Thursday, giving lawmakers less than two days to avert a partial government shutdown.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives will vote on the sprawling package on Friday, leaving the Democratic-majority Senate only hours to pass the package of six bills that covers about two-thirds of the $1.66-trillion in discretionary government spending for the fiscal year that began on October 1.
“These final six bills represent a bipartisan and bicameral compromise,” the two top Senate negotiators — Patty Murray, a Democrat, and Susan Collins, a Republican — said in a statement.
“They will invest in the American people, build a stronger economy, help keep our communities safe, and strengthen our national security and global leadership.”
The Congressional Budget Office warned that US deficits and debt will grow considerably over the next 30 years, forecasting that the nation’s $34.5-trillion national debt, which represents about 99% of GDP, could grow and rise to 166% of GDP by 2054.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he is “hopeful” Congress can avert a shutdown if Democrats and Republicans in his chamber work together.
The compressed schedule raised the risk of at least a brief partial shutdown after a Friday midnight deadline, unless Schumer can reach agreement with Senate Republicans to expedite the bill.
House Speaker Mike Johnson touted what he called a series of wins for Republicans, from higher spending for US defense and border security to a cut-off of US funding for the main UN relief agency that provides humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.
“This FY24 appropriations legislation is a serious commitment to strengthening our national defence by moving the Pentagon toward a focus on its core mission,” Johnson said in a statement released along with the text of the legislation.
Democrats said they blocked some Republican cuts and policy measures and touted funds aimed at lowering childcare costs, supporting small businesses and fighting the flow of the opioid fentanyl.
“We defeated outlandish cuts that would have been a gut punch for American families and our economy — and we fought off scores of extreme policies that would have restricted Americans’ fundamental freedoms, hurt consumers while giving giant corporations an unfair advantage, and turned back the clock on historic climate action,” said Murray, the Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Slim majority
Two weeks ago, Congress narrowly avoided a shutdown that would have affected agricultural, transportation and environmental programmes.
The text unveiled on Thursday fills in the details of an agreement in principle between Johnson and Schumer, which Democratic President Joe Biden has pledged to sign into law.
With a slim 219-213 House Republican majority, Johnson will have to rely on Democratic votes to get the spending bill to the Senate.
Many House Republicans are still expected to oppose the legislation, including hardliners who want steeper spending cuts.
Besides the departments of homeland security and defence, the bill would fund agencies including the State Department and the Internal Revenue Service as it girds for its April 15 taxpayer filing deadline.
Reuters
US announces new $300m military aid package for Ukraine
US spy chiefs say aid to Ukraine will discourage Chinese aggression
Joe Biden proposes higher taxes and spending in $7.3-trillion budget
Fed needs more confidence in inflation for rate cuts, says Jerome Powell
US House aims to pass spending bill to avert weekend government shutdown
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
US announces new $300m military aid package for Ukraine
US spy chiefs say aid to Ukraine will discourage Chinese aggression
Joe Biden proposes higher taxes and spending in $7.3-trillion budget
Fed needs more confidence in inflation for rate cuts, says Jerome Powell
US House aims to pass spending bill to avert weekend government shutdown
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.