As a new presidential administration and a new group of lawmakers prepare to take office in Washington, the current Congress has three weeks to address two critical tasks. These include passing government funding to prevent a shutdown and approving a defense spending bill.
The current government funding bill is set to expire on Dec. 20, which could potentially lead to a shutdown just before the Christmas holidays if lawmakers fail to reach an agreement. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the importance of avoiding a shutdown during this crucial time of year.
Congress must also address the defense spending bill, which lays out funding for the armed services and includes various conservative priorities. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are expected to release a compromise bill that could garner bipartisan support. However, they must still come to an agreement on the total spending amount.
Additionally, President Biden has requested nearly $100 billion in emergency funding to respond to natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes. There is bipartisan support for this aid package, but disagreements over funding allocations may pose challenges in getting it approved before the end of the year.
During a government shutdown, nonessential federal employees are sent home, while essential workers continue to work and receive their pay. Essential services like Social Security, Medicare, and law enforcement agencies would still operate, but national parks and monuments would close, and some government services may be inaccessible.
Overall, addressing these key issues in the final weeks of the year is crucial to ensuring the smooth operation of the government and providing necessary aid to respond to ongoing natural disasters.
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