Congressional leaders are racing against a Friday midnight deadline to pass a short-term spending bill and avoid a government shutdown just before the holiday season.
The continuing resolution (CR), expected to pass with bipartisan supportwill fund federal operations into 2024 and likely include billions in disaster relief for states recently battered by hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as severe storms, according to WTop News.
The proposed legislation is also set to address critical infrastructure needs, including funding to replace Baltimore’s Key Bridge, which collapsed earlier this year following a collision with a container ship.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to face minimal political opposition.
Disaster relief at the forefront
Key to the ongoing negotiations is the inclusion of tens of billions of dollars in federal disaster relief. While bipartisan agreement exists on the need for such aid, lawmakers remain divided over the size and allocation of funding.
President Biden’s request for over $100 billion in disaster aid has been described as “robust” by House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, though Republicans have pushed back against what they see as unrelated spending tucked into the proposal, including funding for the State and Education Departments and the Environmental Protection Agency, reported The Hill.
Republicans, particularly members of the House Freedom Caucus, have expressed opposition to “unpaid” disaster relief, signalling that Democratic votes will likely be needed to move the legislation forward. Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, have called for a top-line agreement on disaster funding to expedite the process.
Broader legislative agenda in the Lame-Duck session
The stopgap measure, expected to extend government funding through March, is part of a packed legislative agenda. Lawmakers are also working to finalize the $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted personnel and a 4.5% overall military pay hike.
As per the WTop News, the Senate is expected to pass the NDAA this week after the House approved it with bipartisan support last week.
Meanwhile, Republican leaders are laying the groundwork for next year’s legislative priorities under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
Discussions are already underway about using budget reconciliation—a procedural tool requiring only a simple Senate majority, to advance Trump’s agenda, including immigration reforms and the extension of tax cuts from his first term.
Concerns over delayed funding and debt limit
Despite the optimism surrounding the current CR negotiations, some lawmakers are wary of delaying fiscal decisions too far into next year.
House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) has warned against carrying unresolved funding issues into Trump’s first months in office, citing potential risks of automatic spending cuts and further delays in addressing the nation’s $36 trillion debt.
With Congress nearing the end of its lame-duck session, lawmakers from both parties are under pressure to not only finalize short-term funding but also set the stage for smoother legislative proceedings in 2024.
