Article Summary –
President Joe Biden signed a $460 billion package of spending bills to prevent a shutdown of key federal agencies and partially complete the appropriations for the 2024 budget. The legislation includes six annual spending bills, with a second set of six bills, including defense, being negotiated. The first package covers the departments of Justice, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Interior, and Transportation, and features provisions including preventing the sale of oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China and prohibiting the Justice Department from investigating parents who exercise free speech at school board meetings.
President Biden Signs $460 Billion Spending Package
President Joe Biden has signed a $460 billion spending package approved by the Senate, enabling key federal agencies to avoid a shutdown. The legislation represents a key step towards completing appropriations for the 2024 budget year.
The six annual spending bills included in the package had previously passed the House. Through signing the legislation, Biden commended both parties in both chambers, ensuring agencies can “continue their normal operations”.
A second package of six bills, including defense, is currently being negotiated, with the goal of achieving full federal agency funding by March 22nd.
Bipartisan Effort Prevents Shutdown
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated the bipartisan effort, saying it sends a positive message to those worried about the paralysis of a divided government. The bill paves the way for the recruitment of more air traffic controllers, rail safety inspectors, a pay rise for federal firefighters, and increased support for homeless veterans.
While the Senate passed the bill 75-22, there were initial concerns about a possible short shutdown due to the uncertain timing of the vote. Despite the passage of the bill, several Republicans sought more stringent cuts and policy victories.
Policy Wins and Compromises
Republicans managed to maintain relatively flat non-defense spending, which supporters herald as progress given the norm of annual federal deficits exceeding $1 trillion. Democrats successfully countered attempts to include policy riders that would have blocked new rules expanding access to mifepristone, an abortion pill.
However, Republicans did secure policy wins including prohibiting oil sales from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, and preventing the Justice Department from investigating parents who voice opinions at local school board meetings. Another provision boosts gun rights for certain veterans.
Funding for 2024 Fiscal Year
Despite the compromise, Congress is projected to set discretionary spending at approximately $1.66 trillion for the full budget year ending September 30. This was achieved after several stopgap bills were relied on to keep federal agencies funded in the meantime.
Among the projects included in the bill are more than 6,600 requested by individual lawmakers, amounting to approximately $12.7 billion. Despite criticism from some, these projects have attracted support from both parties. However, an attempt to remove the projects by Sen. Rick Scott only garnered 32 votes, with 64 against.
The first package covers departments including Justice, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Interior, and Transportation. Even though the approval of spending bills comes five months into the budget year, Republicans view this as progress due to breaking up the bills rather than passing them as one large package.
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