Updated March 23, 2024, 1:23 p.m. EDT
top line
After months of negotiations over government funding, President Joe Biden on Saturday provided funding through the remainder of the fiscal year while increasing defense spending and setting spending guidelines for several government agencies. Signed a $2.2 trillion spending bill.
important facts
The package, approved by the Senate early Saturday morning, sets spending guidelines for the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services and states through the end of the fiscal year in September.
Defense spending was increased to $824 billion, an increase of nearly $27 billion (3%) from the previous year, while basic military pay increased by 5.2%, the largest increase in more than 20 years.
The package includes a $1 billion increase in funding for child care and Head Start programs, as well as an additional $200 million for a new FBI headquarters in Maryland.
The package does not include funding for a new border wall, but it does provide funding for 2,000 new Border Patrol agents and 8,000 additional detention beds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is included.
The package also includes a one-year ban on funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, $300 million in security aid to Ukraine, and $300 million in military funding to Taiwan.
chief critic
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a motion Friday to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) over the bill just before voting began in the House. Other far-right lawmakers have criticized some of the provisions that were left out, including funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including funding for reproductive health services, gender-affirming care and It says it could impede access to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
amazing facts
The spending bill includes a provision that prohibits the display of flags other than the Stars and Stripes on State Department facilities, as well as other eligible flags, including POW/MIA flags, flags of Indian tribal governments, and flags of U.S. public agencies. It is included. Prime Minister Johnson hailed the provision as a victory for conservatives, as the ban would prevent U.S. embassies from flying LGBTQ+ pride flags, Bloomberg reported.
Main background
The spending package caps a month-long effort by Congress to approve the budget after the fiscal year 2023 budget was extended in four installments to keep the government open and narrowly avoid a government shutdown. . Congress approved extensions known as “continuing resolutions” in September, November, January and February in an effort to reach a full-year agreement. Efforts to approve the new deal have been largely stalled by bipartisan disputes over Border Security and Homeland Security funding.
References
House passes $1.2 trillion budget with bipartisan support, likely averting government shutdown after months of negotiationsforbes)
Marjorie Taylor Greene files motion to remove Speaker Mike Johnson over funding bill (forbes)
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