WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden signed a temporary government spending bill on Thursday, ensuring that agencies will continue to operate until December. This move came after Congress decided to delay important spending decisions until after the November elections.
The bill provides funding for agencies at current levels until Dec. 20, leading to the possibility of a government shutdown just before the holiday season. However, lawmakers did agree to allocate an additional $231 million to enhance the Secret Service following two assassination attempts made against then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Funds were also allocated to aid in the presidential transition process.
The bipartisan measure passed through Congress with ease, with a vote of 341-82 in the House and 78-18 in the Senate, with all the no votes coming from Republicans in both chambers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emphasized that the bill only addressed essential needs, targeting members of his own party who were concerned about spending levels. Johnson pointed out that the only alternative to the continuing resolution would have been a government shutdown.
This temporary measure became necessary because Congress has not made much progress on the twelve annual appropriations bills that fund a significant portion of the federal government. While the House has passed five of the twelve bills, mostly along party lines, the Senate has not passed any.
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