US Congress Passes Bill to Prevent Federal Shutdown
The United States Congress has successfully passed a crucial funding bill aimed at averting a federal government shutdown just before the Christmas holiday. The Senate approved the stopgap measure shortly after midnight, with a decisive vote of 85 to 11, allowing the government to continue operations without interruption. This follows a similar bipartisan approval in the House of Representatives, where the bill garnered significant support with a vote of 366 in favor and only 34 against.
The legislation will fund the federal government at current levels until March 14, 2024, and allocates $110 billion for hurricane reconstruction and agricultural aid. Notably, the bill does not include an increase in the debt ceiling, which had been a point of contention. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the bill's alignment with an 'America First' approach, highlighting his communication with former President Trump regarding the legislative strategy. Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre expressed support for the measure, underscoring that it does not cater to tax breaks for billionaires as previously suggested by some Republican factions.
