In order to avert a partial government shutdown and delay a fight over President Barack Obama’s executive immigration actions until early next year, the Congressional leaders presented a USD 1.1 trillion US spending bill on Tuesday.
Following days of backroom negotiations, the GOP-led House Appropriations Committee unveiled the plan that aims to keep most of the government funded through September next year.
The Republicans successfully negotiated about numerous policy provisions, including easing regulations for several sectors ranging from environment to financial derivatives trading.
The funding deadline has loomed larger for the government and it would technically run out of money at midnight Thursday.
The narrow window offered by the Republicans has raised the possibility of lawmakers opting to pass an expedient spending bill just to buy time.
Republicans’ measure was expected to be presented before the House of Representatives for vote on Thursday.
According to congressional aides, a short-term extension of one or two days was prepared in order to enable the Senate passage.
In a statement, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, said, “This bill will allow us to fulfill our constitutional duty to responsibly fund the federal government and avoid a shutdown.”
The measure largely maintains unchanged domestic spending for fiscal 2015 and adds funds in order to fight against the Syrian unrest, Islamic State militants in Iraq and the deadly Ebola crisis in West Africa.
It will fund all the government agencies till September next year, excluding the Department of Homeland Security, which would be extended through February 27, 2015. The initiative aims at providing Republicans leverage over the agency implementing the immigration order of the US president.
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