Devendra Kumar
The United States Senate has approved a 1.2 trillion dollar package of spending bills, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown in the early hours of Saturday morning. The legislation, which was passed with a 74-24 majority, pushes the threat of a shutdown back to the autumn, as it is now headed to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
The bill includes funding for various government agencies, including defense, homeland security, and state departments, as well as providing funding for education and healthcare programs. Despite the bipartisan nature of the package, it was met with criticism from many Republicans, who felt that it did not adequately address their policy priorities.
House Speaker Mike Johnson brought the bill to the floor, despite vocal opposition from many Republicans, who felt that it was brought to a vote too quickly. The vote tally reflected this anger, with 101 Republicans voting in favor of the bill and 112 against. The criticism from Republicans was stark, with some lawmakers feeling that the bill did not make significant changes to the typical practice of Congress passing massive, complex omnibus spending bills with little time for review.
In contrast, Democrats hailed the bill as a major victory, and President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law, calling it a “complete and utter surrender” to the Republican party. Despite the criticism from Republicans, the bill’s passage marks a significant achievement for Congress, and is seen as a major step forward in avoiding a government shutdown.
The bill is a significant departure from the typical practice of Congress, and its passage was met with jubilation from Democrats, who are hailing it as a major victory. The legislation shows that Congress is willing to work together to avoid a government shutdown, and is a major step forward in addressing the country’s budgetary needs. With the bill now headed to the President’s desk, it is expected to be signed into law and become the largest spending package in U.S. history.