The U.S. Senate returned on Monday to confront the Republican-controlled House of Representatives over government spending, disaster relief, and defense policy ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition into office. Lawmakers have three weeks to avert a partial government shutdown by striking a bipartisan deal to fund federal agencies beyond Dec. 20, when the current stopgap funding measure expires.
Key issues include President Joe Biden’s nearly $100 billion emergency disaster relief request for hurricane-hit areas in the Southeast and other disaster-stricken communities. Congress also faces a Jan. 1 deadline to raise the debt ceiling, though extraordinary measures by the Treasury Department may delay the default risk into 2025.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that lawmakers are working on a short-term stopgap funding bill (continuing resolution, or CR) instead of a full-year spending package. Schumer emphasized the need for bipartisan support and avoiding divisive provisions. House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested the CR may extend into early next year.
Republicans, aiming for greater unity, are pushing for a three-month stopgap that would allow them to dismantle Democratic policies early in Trump’s administration. However, the CR could delay Trump’s first-100-days agenda of tax cuts, deregulation, and border security. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), setting policy for the Defense Department, is expected to be prioritized for floor votes next week. Lawmakers are also grappling with the challenge of securing funding for emergency disaster relief.
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