Congress Averts Shutdown with Stopgap Spending Bill, Approves $100 Billion in Disaster Relief

Congressional leaders have passed a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown, averting a crisis just hours before the deadline, The Associated Press reports.

The measure, a continuing resolution (CR), will fund the federal government through March 14 and includes over $100 billion in emergency aid for disaster recovery and farm support.

The bill provides $100.4 billion for disaster relief, addressing the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and other natural disasters. An additional $10 billion is earmarked for farmers struggling with low commodity prices and high input costs. This addresses President Biden’s request for roughly $114 billion in disaster aid, although it falls slightly short.

House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the urgency of the aid.

“We have to be able to help those who are in these dire straits.”

He hinted at further farm aid in the next Congress, acknowledging the current allocation isn’t fully comprehensive.

The CR maintains current spending levels for government agencies, deferring final budget decisions to the incoming Republican-led Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the agreement as “free of cuts and poison pills,” highlighting its inclusion of Democratic priorities such as childcare and workforce development funding.

The legislation also includes several other key provisions:

• Healthcare: Extension of telehealth coverage for Medicare and measures to curb pharmacy benefit manager profits.
• China Countermeasures: Expansion of restrictions on investments in countries posing national security threats, reflecting bipartisan concern about China’s technological ambitions.
• RFK Stadium Land Transfer: Transfer of the old RFK Stadium site to the District of Columbia, potentially paving the way for a new stadium.
• Francis Scott Key Bridge Reconstruction: Full federal funding for the bridge’s reconstruction, with federal costs to be reimbursed through insurance and litigation proceeds.

While some, like Rep. Glenn Thompson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, expressed hope for greater farm relief, the bill is widely seen as a necessary compromise to avert a shutdown before the holidays.