US Lawmakers introduced a US$1.2 trillion spending package on Thursday that sets the stage for avoiding a partial government shutdown for several key federal agencies this weekend and allows the US Congress, nearly six months into the budget year, to complete its work funding the government through September.
Democrats were able to swat back scores of policy mandates and some of the steeper budget cuts that House Republicans were seeking to impose on nondefense programs, though House Speaker Mike Johnson highlighted some wins, including a nearly 24 percent increase in detention beds for migrants awaiting their immigration proceedings or removal from the country.
This year’s spending bills were divided into two packages. The first one cleared Congress two weeks ago, just hours before a shutdown deadline for the agencies funded through the bills.
Photo: AP
Now Congress is focused on the second, larger package, which includes about US$886 billion for the Defense Department, a more than 3 percent increase from last year’s levels.
The 1,012-page bill also funds the departments of US Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Labor and others.
“Congress must now race to pass this package before government funding runs out this Friday,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
Nondefense spending would be relatively flat compared with the prior year, though some agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, are taking a hit, and many agencies would not see their budgets keep up with inflation.
When combining the two packages, discretionary spending for the budget year would come to about US$1.66 trillion. That does not include programs such as Social Security and Medicare, and financing the country’s rising debt.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise urged Republicans to vote for the measure, saying that more than 70 percent of the spending is to go to defense.
“At a time when the world’s on fire, more than ever, we need to make sure that we are properly funding our nation’s defense and supporting our troops,” he said.
Johnson said the bill is a serious commitment to strengthening national defense while expanding support for those serving in the military. The bill provides for a 5.2 percent pay increase for service members.
In promoting the bill, Republicans cited several ways it would help Israel. Most notably, they highlighted a prohibition on funding through March 2025 for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which is the main supplier of food, water and shelter to civilians in Gaza.
Republicans are insisting on cutting off funding to the agency after Israel alleged that a dozen employees of the agency were involved in the attack that Hamas conducted in Israel on Oct. 7 last year.
However, the prohibition does concern some lawmakers because many relief agencies say there is no way to replace its ability to deliver the humanitarian assistance that the US and others are trying to send to Gaza, where one-quarter of the 2.3 million residents are starving.
Democrats emphasized that humanitarian assistance would increase globally though, by about US$336.4 million.
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