Topline
The Senate voted Tuesday to advance a stop-gap spending package that would avoid a government shutdown Friday and keep the federal government funded until mid-December, after a contentious energy permitting deal backed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was removed from the bill at the last minute.
]U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) leaves the U.S. Capitol after a cloture vote September 27, 2022 in … [+]
Key Facts
Lawmakers broadly supported taking up the legislation, with 72 senators voting to advance the bill and 23 voting no, but the Senate still needs to hold a vote on final passage before federal funding expires late Friday.
Along with providing necessary funds to keep federal government operations up and running until December 16, the bill earmarks more than $12 billion for Ukraine aid, in addition to the $54 billion already pledged by lawmakers earlier this year, according to the New York Times.
It would also set up funding for 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 vote for the legislation has not been set, but the bill needs to pass through both the Senate and the House before midnight Friday to avert a federal government shutdown.
Key Background
The vote nearly failed earlier 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, health care 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.
Further Reading
Senate takes key vote to advance government funding after Manchin drops plan amid GOP backlash (CNN)
Senate to vote on funding bill to avert shutdown after Manchin measure scrapped (The Guardian)
Spending Bill Survives Senate Test, Staving Off Government Shutdown Threat (The New York Times)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/09/27/senate-advances-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown-after-manchin-drops-energy-permit-deal/