Biden Approves $1.2 Trillion Bill for Government Funding Until October
President Joe Biden signed a $1.2 trillion package of spending bills on Saturday after Congress passed the legislation, ending the threat of a partial government shutdown.
Biden stated, “This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted. But it rejects extreme cuts from House Republicans and expands access to child care, invests in cancer research, funds mental health and substance use care, advances American leadership abroad, and provides resources to secure the border. That’s good news for the American people.”
Lawmakers took six months into the current budget year to near the finish line on government funding due to conservatives pushing for more policy mandates and steeper spending cuts. The White House announced Biden signed the legislation in Wilmington, Delaware.
The first package of full-year spending bills funded various departments and the second covered Defense, Homeland Security, and State, among others, reaching discretionary spending of about $1.66 trillion for the budget year.
The package included $300 million for Ukraine aid and additional funding for several programs. Biden urged Congress to pass more aid, specifically focusing on national security and border security.
To win over Republican support, the package included increases in detention beds for migrants and funds for hiring more Border Patrol agents. Democrats highlighted increases in funding for Head Start programs, child care centers for military families, cancer research, and Alzheimer’s research.
The spending package largely aligns with an agreement made in May 2023, restricting spending for two years and suspending the debt ceiling. Prospects for a short-term government shutdown seemed to grow before a bipartisan deal was reached.
The House passed the legislation by a narrow margin, reflecting Republican anger over the content and speed of the bill. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene initiated an effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson but held off on further action until the House returns in two weeks.
The bipartisan deal was seen as a positive outcome by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who stated, “It is good for the country that we have reached this bipartisan deal. It wasn’t easy, but tonight our persistence has been worth it.”
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
