Details of the emergency spending bill may be delayed, and “slip” by a few days as the deadline for avoiding a government shutdown looms.
On Sunday, lawmakers were supposed to release the text of an emergency spending bill that would address disaster relief and avoid a shutdown. However, the text could “slip by a day.”
The announcement comes at a time when both House and Senate members are negotiating over the size of the disaster relief package and whether or not it should be included in a federal funding bill for the end of the year that is critical to avoid a partial shutdown of the government during the holiday period.
The government funding ends at 11:59 pm on Friday. This could mean that the House will not be able to process the bill before the end of this week.
The Senate can also be slowed down by senators who demand more time.
The House has what is called a “three-day rule” that requires the text to be published for three days prior to debate and voting. The House could not vote on the bill until Friday or Thursday if it waited until tomorrow.
There are no delays in government funding for the hurricanes Helene and Milton, the wildfires on Maui, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, or tornadoes across the Midwest. However, there may be a problem with agricultural provisions, “and other important things to leaders from both sides.”
A source refused to respond when asked if any last-minute provisions were tucked into the catchall measure that would cover Syria and drones.
Mike Johnson, R.-La. House Speaker, stated in early October that Helene was likely to be “one the most costly storms the country has ever seen.”
The Biden administration is asking for more than $100 billion to be allocated for disaster relief in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus has called on Republican leaders not to grant President Biden’s request for disaster aid.
The group wants a package that is less comprehensive, covering only what is “absolutely essential,” and offset by spending cuts elsewhere.
The House Freedom Caucus released a statement that stated, “Congress shouldn’t pass a huge $100 billion disaster supplemental funding measure — which Democrats will use to cement unrelated priorities of their own — during the waning hours of Democrat rule in Washington just before Republicans take over the White House and both chambers.”
The House should only consider what is necessary to provide immediate relief to hurricane and farmer victims and offset it with wasteful government spending. Wait for President Trump’s arrival to better manage disaster aid.
A partial shutdown of the government could occur before Christmas if new spending isn’t approved through appropriations or stopgap measures.
