Top Democrats and Republicans said late Tuesday they reached an agreement in principle on a “framework” to fund the federal government through most of 2023. That’s an important first milestone in the race to hold off a looming shutdown on Friday.
House lawmakers were expected to vote as early as Wednesday on a temporary funding measure that would fund federal agencies and operations through December 23. The vote had not happened as of press time. The continuing resolution would replace the existing stopgap, which expires at the end of this Friday, December 16. Congress must act by the deadline or critical government operations are set to stop, reports The Washington Post.
The week-long continuing resolution would also give congressional negotiators more time to finalize details of the longer-term “omnibus” funding package. The omnibus would fund the federal government through the 2023 fiscal year, which ends September 30.
“We have a framework that provides a path forward to enact an omnibus next week,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee. “Now, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will work around-the-clock to negotiate the details of final 2023 spending bills that can be supported by the House and Senate and receive President Biden’s signature.”
But the legislative process still depends greatly on the cooperation of Democrats and Republicans, particularly in the Senate. Some GOP lawmakers already have said they would prefer to delay debate until next year, when Republicans assume control of the House, according to The Washington Post.
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