Biden’s bill to prevent another federal shutdown passes through Congress | World | News


The US Congress has approved the new bill that will help prevent yet another federal shutdown just hours before the previous funding commitment was set to run out.

By passing the vote, Congress has also agreed to extend Government funding through to December 3.

If the time had elapsed then federal-run museums, national parks and safety programmes would have been forced to close.

Biden’s new bill passed the evenly split Senate by 65 votes to 35.

In the House of Representatives, which holds a 16-seat majority in favour of the Biden’s Democrats, the bill passed by 254 votes to 175.

US publication the Hill reports the bill also includes a $28.6billion disaster fund for hurricane relief and $6.3billion resettling of Afghan refugees.

Both issues have become increasingly important in Washington after US troops helped evacuate Afghans from Kabul in late August and following on from hurricane Ida that ripped through America’s Gulf Coast states.

Despite passing the funding bill, Biden’s landmark plan to invest in infrastructure, the environment, healthcare and education remains at risk.

According to reports, there is bipartisan support in Congress for the $1.2trillion infrastructure bill and for the $3.5trillion social welfare and environment spending plan.

But both bills are expected to test Biden’s control of the Democratic Party.

Many Democrats on the progressive wing of the party have vowed to vote alongside Republicans to prevent the proposals being made law.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki lambasted the Grand Old Party for playing a “game” over the bill.

She said: “Republicans are playing politics with an economic catastrophe and they’re treating a calamity for working families like a D.C. game.”

But progressive Democrats are said to be frustrated that the bill is not tied to a larger package.

Internal divisions were inflamed after West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin told progressives to take their proposals “on the campaign trail next year” and try to “elect more liberals”.

Pramila Jayapal, who chairs the progressive caucus in Congress, responded by claiming Manchin’s comments had likely encouraged “even more people willing to vote no the bipartisan [infrastructure] bill.”

Negotiations between moderate Democrats that are more supportive of the President and the party’s progressives are said to be ongoing.



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