Just days before the government could be forced into another shutdown, the House passed a temporary spending bill that gives the Pentagon a full year budget of $659 billion. According to Yahoo News, the spending bill passed 245-182, and it now goes to the Senate for voting. The House deal would fund the government for six more weeks.
Republicans have said the bill would provide funding for military planners, who have been frustrated with Congress' lack of ability to pass a long-term spending bill. An agreement is currently being worked out between Senator Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Their deal would increase funding for infrastructure, veterans' health care and the fight against the opioid epidemic.
Senate getting closer to reaching an agreement
The two senators also agreed to lift the budget caps, which have been in place since 2011, as an attempt to reduce the budget deficit. The House deal would fund the government for six more weeks. While leaders carve out a deal, President Trump has threatened a government shutdown if a deal can not be reached. Trump said a shutdown is worth it for our country.
Schumer and other Democrats are wanting to see more assurances when it comes to DACA and immigration negotiations before proceeding. The Democrats were supposed to head to a retreat in Maryland but decided to cancel in order to work out a deal.
McConnell said that he believes an agreement could be made soon, but unsure if he could get the 60 votes needed for approval.
Legislation increases funding for natural disaster recovery
According to Yahoo News, the budget legislation would raise the government's borrowing limit. Also included in the Senate future is expected to be $80 billion for hurricane relief for those in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.
Democrats are standing firm on getting DACA done and passed.
The House has passed the fifth stopgap bill for the federal fiscal year. Stopgaps are used when Congress fails to approve a full budget on time by a date. In the last 40 years, only four times has Congress been able to pass its spending bills.
The Senate is expected to take up the House version on Wednesday and make changes to it, before sending it back to the House for more action.
The House bill avoids anything dealing with immigration. Republicans who have control of both Senate and the House are hoping they can keep immigration and spending separate. The government could end up having trouble paying its bills if Congress can not raise the debt ceiling.
