By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Bipartisan negotiators announced a breakthrough on Wednesday, agreeing on half of the essential spending bills and extending funding deadlines into March, again avoiding a devastating government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) issued a joint statement with appropriators, highlighting their progress.
“We are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government,” the leaders stated.
The deal covers six bills that fund key federal agencies, including Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Interior, Justice, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs. Additionally, a short-term funding bill is set for a vote to avert a partial government shutdown this weekend, allowing more time for the full funding deal to be passed.
“After preparing final text, this package of six full year Appropriations bills will be voted on and enacted prior to March 8,” Johnson, Schumer, and the appropriators announced. “The remaining six Appropriations bills will be finalized, voted on, and enacted prior to March 22.”
The House, reconvening after a two-week recess, faces a tight timeline. Johnson committed to providing members a 72-hour window before voting on the funding deal. A short-term continuing resolution is necessary to accommodate this, extending funding through March 8 and 22, with voting expected this week.
“To give the House and Senate Appropriations Committees adequate time to execute on this deal in principle… a short-term continuing resolution… will be necessary and voted on by the House and Senate this week,” the joint statement explained.
The Senate, requiring unanimous consent for a swift vote, adds an element of uncertainty. Schumer emphasized the need to resist the demands of the “extreme hard right” to avoid a shutdown.
The agreement followed President Joe Biden’s meeting with congressional leaders to negotiate funding and aid for Ukraine. A partial government shutdown loomed early Saturday without stopgap measures, affecting various federal agencies.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) jestingly remarked on the Band-Aid budgets, expressing the need to address crucial issues immediately.
“We should be dealing with issues that are meaningful to Americans immediately,” Durbin said, citing the border crisis and the protection of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
