The top Republican and Democrat in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday revealed that they had reached a deal to take care of the government to stay funded through the rest of the fiscal year that started in the month of October, giving birth to a race to pass it before a weekend shutdown deadline. The last sticking point was funding for the Department of Homeland Security, as a surge in migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border has shown up as a huge problem in the election rematch between Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer showed the agreement in a pair of statements on Tuesday morning. The actual legislative text of the agreement, which must be finalized before lawmakers can vote on it, is still being completed. Current House rules need that lawmakers have three days to consider legislation before bringing it to the floor.The package was anticipated to cover about three-quarters of discretionary government spending, due to come in at about $1.66 trillion for the fiscal year ending September 30.
It holds funding for functions which involves the U.S. military, transportation, housing and food security. But more fights lie ahead as the country’s $34.5 trillion national debt goes on to rise. Biden and House Republicans earlier this month laid out proposed budgets for the next fiscal year, which starts in October that gave sharply contrasting priorities. Johnson so far has also denied to bring up for a vote a $95 billion foreign safety aid package that involves money that advocates say is urgently required for Ukraine in its war in opposition to Russia. The measure has been approved by the Senate with bipartisan support and is thought to have prominent backing in the House if members were given a chance to vote.