Republicans and Democrats reach agreement to avoid US government shutdown
- January 7, 2024
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The Republican Party and the Democratic Party announced this Sunday a $1.66 trillion deal to fund the US executive branch in 2024, a first step to avoid a
The Republican Party and the Democratic Party announced this Sunday a $1.66 trillion deal to fund the US executive branch in 2024, a first step to avoid a government shutdown.
The deal was jointly announced by the Democratic Senate Majority Leader. Chuck Schumerand the President of the House of Representatives, Republican Michael Johnson.
Now it needs to be ratified USA congress and overcome likely resistance from far-right House Republicans who were hoping to push through deep budget cuts.
Lawmakers returning to Congress this week after the Christmas break have until Jan. 19 to approve the bill. agreement to avoid a government shutdown.
Moreover, funds for approximately 20% of the state budget will be exhausted on January 19, including for such items as assistance to veterans, and the remaining funds will be exhausted on February 2.
Although no details about the agreement were published, the newspaper reported. Washington Post This will provide $886.3 billion for defense and $772.7 billion in domestic discretionary spending.
These figures, the publication notes, correspond to the agreement reached last spring President Joe Biden and then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suspended the national debt limit.
In a letter released after today’s announcement, Johnson (the current Speaker of the Lower House) explained that he was seeking “key changes” to the start of negotiations in June and that there would be “more than $16 billion in additional spending cuts to offset this.” discretionary spending levels.
“While these final spending levels will not satisfy everyone or reduce spending as much as many of us would like, this agreement gives us a path to move the process forward by reallocating revenue funding toward conservative goals instead of last year’s Schumer-Pelosi package and fight for important policy provisions included in the FY24 House bills,” he said.
On November 15, the US Congress approved a new budget extension to avoid the inevitable administrative closure with two expiration dates – January 19 and February 2 – which should allow Congressmen to discuss the budget for the 2024 fiscal year in a timely manner.
White House has been warning for weeks of a tight timetable for negotiations on the agreement, which includes controversial aspects such as immigration policy and military aid to Ukraine.
Congress is focusing its efforts for the rest of the year on negotiating an economic package of more than $100 billion requested by the White House in the form of military aid for, among other things, Ukraine and Israel.
In exchange for more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine, Republicans asked for tougher policies. immigration policy.
The White House, for its part, warned that the money approved for Ukraine for 2023 has run out and it will not be able to continue supporting Kyiv in the war with Russia.
EFE
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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