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The Senate approved provisional legislation on Thursday to prevent the government shutdown which will finance it until December 12. The upper house, where the Democrats have a majority, needed 60 affirmative votes to carry it forward and backed it with 72 in favor and 25 against.
The short-term spending bill to maintain government funding, will continue its processing in the House of Representatives, also under Democratic control.
The current fiscal year ends this Friday 30 of September and to request the funds starts a day later, so the approval of the House of Representatives and the ratification of the president, Joe Biden, must take place before Friday at midnight.
Legislation includes $12,4 billion in military and diplomatic assistance to Ukraine in its seven-month war it is with Russia, but it does not include the money that the Biden administration requested for vaccines, tests and treatment for the coronavirus or monkeypox.
After Democratic Senator Joe Manchin’s concession last Tuesday, the permitting language was removed from the bill. All Republicans and some Democrats had opposed that measure, raising the possibility that a fight over the issue could have led to a government shutdown.
“This legislation prevents something very bad, shutting down the government, and does many good things; money for the people of Ukraine, funding for communities reeling from natural disasters, help families with their heating bills, just to name a few”, said Charles E. Schumer, through a statement.
And he continued: “I I’m glad we came to a timely conclusion and didn’t go over the edge and risk closure. Millions and millions of people can breathe easy knowing that we have done it at the right time and that the money to continue the government will be there,” Schumer specified.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke to reporters on Wednesday and shared with them that a Republican majority in the upper house was a “possibility of 50-50″.
“We are in a lot of close races. It will be very close either way in my opinion,” shared McConnell, who had warned that the additional proposal moved away from bipartisan bargaining.
The interim government financing bill mostly does not promote new spending. Reserve $1,000 additional millions for a low-income energy utility assistance program, approximately an increase of 25%.
Although finally the bill did not incorporate the request for funds to continue fighting against COVID and also monkeypox, due to lack of agreement between both parties, the White House has reiterated its support for this project.
“Our short-term priority is to keep the government open. We have been very clear about this to ensure that vital services for the American population continue uninterrupted”, said Karine Jean-Pierre.