President Joe Biden acted swiftly on November 16, signing a stop-gap spending bill to avert a potential government shutdown within 24 hours, as reported by NTD on November 17, 2023.
This is the second such bill this year, underscoring the challenges in reaching a timely and comprehensive agreement on federal spending.
The White House confirmed that the bill extends government funding for specific departments and agencies until January 19, 2024, and for others until February 2, 2024.
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This temporary measure provides breathing room for lawmakers to negotiate a more lasting budget solution.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) used the occasion to critique the House’s method of passing spending bills, pointing out the reliance on Democratic votes for passage. Schumer expressed satisfaction that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) acknowledged the necessity of bipartisan cooperation to avoid a shutdown, emphasizing the potential for future collaboration.
However, not all lawmakers supported the stop-gap bill. Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas) strongly opposed it, citing the absence of spending cuts and policy changes. Roy criticized the bill for funding the Department of Homeland Security, led by Alejandro Mayorkas, and allocating funds to the United Nations, including money indirectly benefiting Palestinians and, consequently, Hamas.
Roy stated, I just think we should try to do better.
The stop-gap measure became essential after the House and Senate failed to pass the required 12 spending bills by the federal fiscal year’s end on September 30, risking the suspension of non-essential government functions.
After two unsuccessful attempts, the House approved a 45-day stop-gap bill, extending government funding until November 17. The Senate promptly adopted the measure, and President Biden signed it into law, averting a government shutdown just hours before the deadline.
The recurring reliance on temporary funding measures highlights the challenges of bipartisan agreement on crucial fiscal matters, leaving room for continued negotiations on the future of government spending.
