The Senate passed a $460 billion package of funding bills just before the midnight deadline to prevent a shutdown of crucial federal agencies. This vote marks progress in finalizing their appropriations for the 2024 budget year.
The legislation includes six yearly spending bills and has been approved by the House. It is now up to President Joe Biden to sign it into law. Meanwhile, legislators are in debates about another set of six bills, that involve defense, with the goal of ensuring that all federal agencies are fully funded by a March 22 deadline.
House Republicans Divided Over Spending Packages
Several House Republicans have come together to oppose the large spending packages, leading House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to fast-track a vote on the bills. This accelerated approach requires a two-thirds majority in the House for the measure to pass.
The measure was passed by the House with a clear vote of 339-85, indicating the differing opinions on the spending packages among Republican members.
The bills show relatively stable nondefense spending this year. Advocates say maintaining spending below inflation is a reduction, forcing agencies to be economical and prioritize goals. Johnson mentioned cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (10%), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (7%) and the FBI (6%).
However, the dissenting faction among Republican lawmakers sought more substantial cuts and policy victories. The House Freedom Caucus, comprising numerous conservative GOP members, urged fellow Republicans to oppose both the initial spending package and the ongoing negotiations for the second one.
Despite the objections, House Speaker Johnson defended the compromises made, emphasizing the delicate balance Republicans face with a slim majority in the House against Democratic control in the Senate and White House.
"We have to be realistic about what we're able to achieve," Johnson stated.
In negotiations, Democrats successfully thwarted most policy riders proposed by House Republicans. Notably, efforts to impede new rules expanding access to the abortion pill mifepristone were defeated, according to Omaha World Herald.
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House Republicans Secure Policy Wins
Democrats promoted the bill's dedication to fully funding a nutrition program for low-income women, infants, and children, with around $7 billion assigned to the WIC program, marking a $1 billion increase from the previous year.
Within the negotiations, House Republicans advocated for select states to possess the authority to restrict the purchase of non-nutritious items in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), such as sugary drinks and snacks. Although unsuccessful this time, proponents assert intentions to reintroduce the initiative in the next year's spending bills.
House Republicans gained policy votes despite hurdles. A ban on exporting Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil to China and a ban on the Justice Department investigating parents speaking freely at local school board meetings.
Additionally, the spending package introduced changes to gun rights for specific veterans. The legislation now prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from transmitting information to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System without a relevant judicial authority ruling on the beneficiary's potential danger to themselves or others.
While the bill faced opposition from senators like Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, attempting to force an hours-long shutdown, the bipartisan nature of the legislation prevailed. The package, covering six government sectors, passed the House with significant bipartisan support earlier in the week.
The second spending package, which covers important areas like Defense and Homeland Security, needs to be completed by the end of the month. This will open the way for additional discussions and possible problems, NPR reported.
