US Senate approves bill on temporary funding to avert shutdown
The U.S. Senate has passed a bill aimed at preventing a shutdown of the federal government due to lack of funding, a shutdown that could begin as early as Saturday, January 20.
The bill, previously agreed by both chambers of the US Congress, was supported by 77 senators, while 18 were against it. Now it has to be approved by the House of Representatives, after which it will be signed by Joe Biden, Censor.NET reports with reference to European Pravda.
The document provides for different terms of temporary funding for federal programs: agriculture, programs for veterans, transportation, housing, etc. will be provided with funds until March 1, and the rest, including the Pentagon budget, until March 8.
This extension - the second since the start of the current US fiscal year on October 1, 2023 - is intended to give Congress more time to agree on permanent federal funding totaling $1.66 trillion contained in 12 separate bills.
House leaders had previously announced that they would vote on the funding extension by the evening of January 18 (US time).
For the Speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson, this vote will be a test of whether he retains the support of his fellow party members, who, in particular, have criticized the insufficient budget reductions in the past.
Since the bill must be passed quickly and without debate, the speaker of the lower house of Congress must secure two-thirds of the votes, which is impossible without the support of the Democratic Party.
