President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a temporary spending bill a day before a possible government shutdown, pushing a fight with congressional Republicans over the federal budget into the new year, as wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel remains on hold.
The measure passed the House and Senate by wide bipartisan margins this week, keeping the government open until after the holiday season, and potentially giving lawmakers more time to resolve their big differences over government spending levels for the current fiscal year.
Biden signed the bill in San Francisco, where he hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economic summit.
News of the signing came late at night.
The President signed the bill at the Legion of Honor Museum, where he hosted a dinner for APEC members.
The spending package keeps government funding at current levels for about two more months while a longer-term package is negotiated.
President Biden makes a toast during the leaders and spouses dinner during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, California, on November 16, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
It split the deadline for passing a full-year appropriations bill into two dates: January 19 for some federal agencies and February 2 for others, creating two dates when there would be a risk of a partial government shutdown.
The two-step approach is championed by new House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and is unpopular in the Senate, although all but one Democrat and 10 Republicans support it because it keeps the government from shutting down for now.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pose for a photo before their meeting outside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in San Francisco. AP House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) joined by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) during a news conference at the Capitol on November 7, 2023, in Washington, DC. Getty Images
Johnson has vowed that he will not support any further stopgap funding measures, known as continuing resolutions.
He described the temporary funding bill as laying the groundwork for a spending “fight” with the Senate next year.
The spending bill does not include the White House’s nearly $106 billion request for war aid for Israel and Ukraine.
It also does not provide humanitarian funding for the Palestinians and other additional requests, including money for border security.
Lawmakers will likely turn their attention more fully to the request after the Thanksgiving holiday in hopes of negotiating a deal.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
