Washington, D.C. As lawmakers moved to prevent a partial government shutdown that was slated to start after midnight, the Democratic-led House enacted a short-term spending plan on Friday that funds the federal government through mid-December and delivers another influx of military and economic help to Ukraine.
By a vote of 230 to 201, the House approved the bill. After then, President Joe Biden will sign the legislation into law.
Republicans largely opposed the proposal.
Some wished to continue funding the government into January, when they might have greater sway over determining federal spending for the entire fiscal year depending on the outcome of the midterm elections. Others countered that the proposal needed to go further in addressing border security.
Democrats argued that enacting the bill was crucial to aiding both the victims of recent natural catastrophes in the United States and Ukraine.
, such as Hurricane Ian, because it gives the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster fund funding for a year at once as opposed to just for 2.5 months.
“Put the news on. Take a look at what is going on right now in Florida. Consider what occurred in Puerto Rico. Take a look at what’s going on in Alaska. I mean, people need support,” remarked Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern “Also, observe the situation in Ukraine. Do we support efforts to protect Ukraine’s democracy or not? What’s at risk here is that.
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Republicans, however, claimed the bill brought to the floor did not take into account their interests and was not the result of House deliberations including both parties.
“We are aware that the southern border is in trouble. Every night, you can turn on the television. You may observe the tragedy of human trafficking by observing the fentanyl flooding the nation. Is there anything in this bill that requires us to take a different or novel action? Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, a Republican, remarked
It is a shame that all you ask for is permission to maintain the situation on the southern border.
In the end, Democratic lawmakers all agreed to support the package. Ten Republican lawmakers were the only ones to vote in favour.
The resolution offers Congress extra time to come to an agreement on legislation setting spending levels for the fiscal year 2023. It funds the federal government through December 16th.
In general, the bill maintains spending at the existing level, but it does offer more than $12. 3 billion in help for Ukraine. The funds will be used to provide American weapons systems and ammunition as well as to equip, train, and assist logistics for the Ukrainian military. They will also help the Ukrainian government deliver essential services to its people.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the Democratic head of the House Appropriations Committee, said, “This contribution assures we continue upholding our moral commitment to defend the people of Ukraine in the face of a savage invasion that continues to require immediate action from us.”
The interim measure also included $2 in disaster relief.
$5 billion will be used to aid communities in New Mexico in recovering from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the biggest wildfire in the history of the state; $2 billion will go toward a block grant programme that helps communities recover economically from recent disasters; and $20 million will be used to upgrade the water and wastewater infrastructure that was previously approved for Jackson, Mississippi.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from Florida, stated that “we cannot leave communities behind who are still picking up the pieces from terrible floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and even basic water system failures.”
The plan would add $1 billion to a programme that assists low-income people with home heating costs. In addition, the State Department would receive $3 billion from a Pentagon aid programme to continue its Afghan resettlement efforts.
The Food and Drug Administration’s user fee agreements were also renewed by lawmakers for a further five years, ensuring that the agency can continue its vital product safety inspections and preventing the need to fire thousands of personnel who work on drug and medical device applications.
The additional billions of dollars in financing that Biden requested to support the response to COVID-19 and monkeypox are one thing that is absent from the package.
The health spending was attacked by Republicans as being unneeded. The money, according to the White House, would have been used to support the worldwide response, speed the development of vaccines and medicines, and get ready for potential COVID variations in the future.
House passes legislation to prevent a government shutdown and help Ukraine
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