Schumer on 6-bill minibus: Proud to keep government open ‘without cuts or poison pill riders’

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York on Sunday hailed the package of six government funding bills as “good news” that would prevent a government shutdown “without layoffs or poison pill riders.”

Schumer and congressional leaders unveiled the long-awaited bill Sunday afternoon in hopes of passing the set by March 8, the deadline for a partial government shutdown. Congress extended last week’s funding deadline to introduce and pass the package.

“The good news is that Congress has finally reached bipartisan agreement on the first six government funding bills to keep the government functioning,” Schumer said. stated in a statement. “We are proud to keep government open without layoffs or poison pill riders.”

The six spending bills focus on funding the departments of Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Commerce and Energy through this fall. The bill would allocate a total of about $450 billion.

Both Democrats and Republicans responded to the package with victories on specific items. Republican lawmakers touted cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Democrats welcomed protections for certain welfare programs, but the funding package also included the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Many conservative Republicans are calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to abandon negotiations and instead pursue a one-year funding package with universal budget cuts.

The funding bill is expected to be introduced and voted on in the House this week, will likely require bipartisan support, and will likely pass the Senate.

“The clock is ticking until federal funding runs out this Friday,” Schumer said. “Between now and the end of the week, the House must quickly pass this bipartisan package and send it to the Senate.”