Lawmakers Delay Emergency Spending Bill Text on Disaster Aid
The details surrounding the emergency spending bill are expected to be delayed and may “slip by a day” as the deadline to avoid a government shutdown looms.
Lawmakers were expected to share the text of the emergency spending bill to avoid a government shutdown and address disaster relief on Sunday, but Fox News is told the text “may slip by a day.”
Lawmakers are currently entangled in complex negotiations. The stakes are high as they strive to finalize a disaster aid package aimed at assisting communities ravaged by recent calamities. These discussions involve determining not only the scale of the assistance but also the potential bundling of the package with an essential year-end federal funding bill. This is critical, particularly as the specter of a partial government shutdown looms large during the festive holiday season.
The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, given that government funding expires at the stroke of midnight this coming Friday. A delay could mean that the House may not manage to process the bill until late in the week, dangerously close to the deadline.
Moreover, the Senate holds substantial power to further delay proceedings. The possibility of senators requesting additional time could stretch out discussions even longer. The House operates under a “three-day rule,” mandating that any text must be publicly available for at least three days before it can be debated or voted upon. Waiting until tomorrow could postpone any action until Thursday or Friday—timing that complicates matters significantly.
Sources have indicated that there are no apparent hurdles regarding government funding through mid-March or the disaster package aimed at aiding victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, wildfires in Maui, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, and tornadoes throughout the Midwest. Still, a sticking point remains with agricultural provisions, which have become a priority for leaders on both sides of the aisle.
In the midst of the legislative fray, speculation lingers about whether last-minute provisions will be jammed into the expansive measure, especially concerning sensitive topics like Syria or drone funding. Meanwhile, the Biden administration pleads for over $100 billion to fund disaster aid spurred by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
However, the conservative House Freedom Caucus is sharply opposed, advising Republican leaders to put the brakes on President Biden’s extensive disaster aid request. Their viewpoint revolves around the belief that Congress should only approve a pared-down package, one that addresses what is “absolutely necessary” and is counterbalanced by cuts elsewhere.
With statements that echo a sentiment of caution, the caucus contends, “Congress should not pass a whopping $100 billion unpaid disaster supplemental funding bill — that Democrats will use to cement their own unrelated priorities — in the waning days of Democrat control in Washington right before Republicans take control of the White House and both Chambers.” They advocate for a singular focus on immediate relief for hurricane victims and farmers, suggesting that appropriations bills could wait until after the anticipated transition of power.
This uneasy situation underscores a harsh reality: if new spending isn’t granted through appropriations bills or a stopgap measure, Americans face the unsettling prospect of a partial government shutdown right before Christmas, casting a shadow over what should be a season of goodwill and celebration.
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