Congressional leaders two stage plan This week, he is trying to avoid a partial government shutdown and buy time for spending negotiations by threatening to raise money in early March.
The bill, announced Sunday evening, would extend funding for some areas of the federal government until March 1st, while extending funding for remaining government agencies until March 8th. This is the third stopgap funding known as a continuing resolution (CR). Funding for fiscal year 2023 expired in September.
Congress must pass the CR by January 19, the deadline for a partial government shutdown.
This two-phase format is the same structure that Congress previously approved, with current deadlines of Jan. 19 and Feb. 2, and the deadline is January 19th and February 2nd, as House Republicans push to unbundle the regular funding bill. The aim is to avoid an omnibus spending bill.
Four of the 12 annual spending bills provide funding at interim levels through the March 1 deadline, including funding for agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Energy, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. It is expected to be extended.
The remaining eight bills fall under the March 8 deadline. Agencies funded by these bills include the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Education.
The agreement comes a week after the two sides reached an agreement on how much money will be provided to the federal government through September. But it will still take time for appropriators to finalize 12 annual spending bills for fiscal year 2024.
The short-term CR agreement is a blow to hardline House Republicans who have been pushing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to adopt a long-term stopgap, which would prevent automatic cuts starting in April as written. A threat will arise. In last year's Fiscal Responsibility Act debt limitation bill. The threat of such cuts, hardliners argue, is both an alternative option to further cut spending and another lever to wring concessions from Democrats on the spending bill, including concessions on the border and immigration policy. do.
The most important funding deal has infuriated House conservatives, who last week urged Speaker Johnson to pull out of the deal.
A short-term agreement is likely to provoke a backlash from conservatives who want to cut spending. Some argue that the funding package needs to include additional border provisions, meaning Johnson will likely have to rely on Democratic votes to pass CR.
Meanwhile, spending cardinals say they are still waiting for allocations for each of the 12 annual bills.
“The challenge is for everyone to figure out how to make this work with less funding,” said Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, the top Republican on the subcommittee that funds the Commerce and Justice Departments. That's what I'm trying to figure out.” this week.
But some have suggested that spending negotiations with certain government agencies have stalled.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the spending cardinal, said in comments to reporters Friday that potential spending could contribute to delays as senators work on separate packages for the border and foreign aid. He cited the Department of Homeland Security as a factor.
“If there is additional funding there, it will potentially impact what we want to include in the regular spending bill,” Cole added. I think the Democratic Party in particular is very concerned about that. ”
Democrats are also sounding the alarm about so-called “poison pill” provisions targeting diversity initiatives and abortion access that House Republicans are pushing in the funding bill.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D): “No one here at home wants a government shutdown or chaos. That's why we need to pass this bill quickly, without using partisan poison, to ensure that it is critical to our country's future.'' Let's work to put together a serious spending bill that protects our investments,'' Washington said on Sunday.
“Last week, House Republicans finally reached an improved top-line agreement that will allow the House and Senate to complete their annual spending bill,” Johnson said in a statement.
“This agreement cuts the worst of the fiscal responsibility law's worst side agreements and includes $16 billion in additional real spending cuts from the Democratic Internal Revenue Service and its coronavirus-era slush fund. As completion deadlines approach, we will complete what House Republicans are working hard to accomplish: an end to omnibus governance, meaningful policy wins, and better stewardship of America's tax dollars. To do so, a short continuing resolution is required. ”
Johnson told members that Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), who was hospitalized this week after a car accident, would not be coming to the Capitol, according to Republican lawmakers who participated in the conference call. It will get narrower. .
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday that the Senate would “begin the process” to pass the bill on Tuesday, giving Congress “ample time to finish the job of funding the government for the remainder of the fiscal year.” I will give you the time you need.” ”
He added: “To avoid a shutdown, we need bipartisan cooperation in the House and Senate to quickly pass the CR and send it to the President's desk by Friday's funding deadline.”
Contributed by Emily Brooks and Michael Schnell
Updated at 9:10 p.m.
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