President Joe Biden has successfully signed a 45-day government funding bill into law, thereby averting a potential government shutdown. The bipartisan votes in both the House and Senate earlier on Saturday ensured the legislation’s passage. This funding bill will keep the government funded until November 17, providing much-needed stability.
The legislation, however, did not include any funding to support Ukraine’s war effort against Russia. This omission raised concerns among lawmakers, including Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, who stressed the importance of sending a signal of support to Ukraine. Despite this, the bill did include disaster relief funds that had been requested by the White House.
President Biden emphasized the significance of preventing a government shutdown in a statement, highlighting the relief it brings to hardworking Americans. He mentioned that the bill guarantees the payment of active-duty troops, minimizes airport delays for travelers, and ensures crucial nutrition assistance for millions of women and children.
Nonetheless, President Biden expressed his concern over the lack of funding for Ukraine in the agreement. He stressed that American support for Ukraine must not be interrupted and expects the Speaker of the House to secure the necessary assistance to aid Ukraine during this critical moment.
The House of Representatives attempted to pass a separate stopgap package on Friday, but it did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority. The package proposed funding until October 31 and aimed to reduce public spending by 8.1285%. Democrats refused to endorse the package due to conflicts surrounding issues at the southern border and immigration policy.
The Senate introduced its funding deal earlier, but it faced criticism from many House Republicans. They raised objections to provisions that allocated $4.5 billion in aid to Ukraine and felt that the southern border concerns were not adequately addressed.
President Biden stated earlier in the week that he had no intention of speaking with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy regarding the potential shutdown. However, the White House maintained communication with McCarthy throughout Saturday regarding the votes.
