Democrats and Republicans pave the way toward final military and government financing agreements

The leaders of the Senate, the Democratic majority, Chuck Schumer (New York), and the Republican majority, Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), highlighted progress to funding of the Department of Defense and the government in general as part of the latest budget agreement of the current Legislature.

“The Senate also has a handful of priorities that we must address before the end of the year: the annual defense authorization bill (NDAA) and legislation to avoid a shutdown right before Christmas,” Schumer noted.

He added that both chambers have given important steps with the budget project with bipartisan supportalthough McConnell indicated that there are delays.

“With the exception of urgent supplemental assistance to states and communities hit hard by natural disasters in recent months, essential and predictable annual appropriations like the NDAA and government funding have already been significantly delayed,” McConnell said.

He added that the Democrats have the financing project on their side, which is why they urged progress to complete the pending agenda, while criticizing the confirmation of new federal judges.

“Letting critical national security legislation gather dust for months while the Senate automatically approves sweeping nominees is an incredible way to keep that elusive readiness or project American resolve,” McConnell said. “The full Senate was denied the opportunity to assert its will on the NDAA.”

Schumer, meanwhile, considered that budget approvals can be achieved “on time.”

“For now, I am pleased that the negotiations are on the right track and I thank those in charge of allocating funds in both chambers for their good work,” he noted. “As for the NDAA, I am hopeful that we are close to beginning the process of advancing a bipartisan bill in both chambers.”

Schumer also expressed actions to achieve the disaster package.

“Senate Democrats will continue to push to finish work on a disaster relief package, to replenish the many aid programs that are dangerously underfunded,” he said. “The president sent us his request last month and explained in great detail the disastrous consequences if Congress does not act.”

Those funds are part of the 2025 funding, the government funding deadline is December 20.

The new Legislature begins work on January 3, 2025.

Keep reading:
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• Vance says GOP should threaten government shutdown