Congress Unveils Funding Bill with $100 Billion Disaster Aid to Avert Shutdown

Dec 18, 2024, 12:40 AM

Congressional leaders have unveiled a bipartisan stopgap spending bill to keep the U.S. federal government funded through March 14, 2025, averting a potential shutdown ahead of the Friday midnight deadline. The 1,547-page measure maintains current spending levels and includes more than $100 billion in emergency disaster aid to assist states and local communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as an additional $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers struggling with low commodity prices. House Speaker Mike Johnson said, "We're almost there. We expect the text of a stopgap today." The bill buys time for the next Congress to finalize funding for fiscal year 2025. Lawmakers are expected to move quickly to pass the bill before the deadline, although some House Republicans have expressed opposition to the package. The agreement comes after days of negotiations, with Congress attempting to prevent a government shutdown during the holiday season. The stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), was released Tuesday evening, giving lawmakers little time to review the extensive text before the vote.