US Pres. Biden Signs $1.7T Funding Bill
On Thursday, the US White House announced that Pres. Joe Biden signed a $1.7T omnibus bill to fund the government for the 2023 fiscal year.
Facts
- On Thursday, the US White House announced that Pres. Joe Biden signed a $1.7T omnibus bill to fund the government for the 2023 fiscal year.
- Biden had until Friday to sign the bill to avert a partial government shutdown. Before Christmas, the House passed the bill 225-201, a day after the Senate voted in favor of the bill in a 68-29 vote.
- The bill will provide around $45B in aid for Ukraine and NATO allies, $772.5B in nondefense discretionary programs and $858B in defense spending.
- It also contains funding for natural disaster relief, changes to the Electoral Count Act, and several other policy amendments that were required by Congress in order for a deal to be reached.
- The omnibus bill saw lengthy negotiations between Democrats and Republicans amid disagreements over several key issues that led to Congress passing multiple stopgap funding bills to prevent a government shutdown.
- Biden signed the 4k-page bill while on vacation on the Caribbean island of St. Croix and stated that he was looking forward to more in 2023.
Sources: CNN, Associated Press, DW, and Abc.
Narratives
- Democratic narrative, as provided by CNN. This bill is a final opportunity for Biden and Democrats to make their mark on government spending before Republicans claim the House in 2023, and its signing should be celebrated. Passing legislation has been a high point for the Biden administration in the past two years, and this omnibus bill — a model of bipartisan collaboration — secures funding for several critical areas and implements key policy changes to protect democracy.
- Republican narrative, as provided by RedState. While increased funding for the military and checks on wasteful domestic spending ought to be applauded, the GOP should not have supported the passage of this bloated bill that was rammed through a lame-duck Democratic session. While it wouldn't be pretty, a government shutdown would have been preferable if it meant that the incoming Republican-controlled House could save Americans from Biden's unchecked wastefulness.
