Topline
The Senate voted Thursday to pass a stop-gap spending package that would keep the federal government funded until mid-December, sending the bill to the House less than 48 hours before a government shutdown, after lawmakers dropped a set of controversial energy-related measures proposed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a press conference at Capitol Hill on … [+]
Key Facts
The legislation passed by a bipartisan margin Thursday afternoon, with 72 senators in favor and 25 voting against.
Along with providing necessary funds to keep federal government operations up and running until December 16, the bill would earmark more than $12 billion in additional aid for Ukraine.
It would also offer financial assistance to help Americans afford increasing energy costs, pledge $20 million in disaster relief for victims of the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, and help cover the costs of resettling refugees from Afghanistan.
A House vote has not been set, but the bill needs to pass through the House and be signed into law by President Joe Biden before midnight Friday to avert a federal government shutdown.
House leaders have indicated they don’t expect any obstacles, and the bill is expected to pass by the Friday deadline.
Crucial Quote
“This legislation avoids a very bad thing—shutting down the government— and does a lot of good things: money for the people of Ukraine, funding for communities reeling from natural disasters, aid to families with their heating bills, just to name a few,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the Senate floor, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Key Background
Earlier this week, the bill was in jeopardy over the inclusion of an energy proposal backed by Manchin. The West Virginia senator’s proposal would have reformed energy permitting and expedited the process for approving oil, gas, solar and wind infrastructure. It was negotiated to help win Manchin’s support for the Inflation Reduction Act, a Democratic-backed climate, healthcare and tax bill that passed last month, but it garnered backlash from progressives over environmental concerns and failed to pick up enough support from Republicans. Manchin requested to withdraw the provision from the government funding package Tuesday evening, and the next day passed a cloture vote for the Senate to officially consider the legislation.
Further Reading
Senate Approves Stopgap Bill to Fund Government, Provide More Ukraine Aid (Wall Street Journal)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/09/29/senate-passes-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown/