Updated Dec. 19: Republicans released an abbreviated version of their original continuing resolution Thursday. Click here for more information. Click here for new bill.
WASHINGTON — CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS announced temporary measures Late Tuesday, it called for government funding to be maintained for three months. that survived within 24 hours After facing growing opposition from Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump.
The 1,500-page measure known as Ongoing solutionwould have done more than maintain government funding at current levels to prevent it. government shutdown. The bill included dozens of additional elements that made it resemble the big year-end spending package that Republican leaders vowed to avoid.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said before announcing the bill Tuesday that it was originally intended to be a “very simple, very clean” stopgap. Financial measures Bring your party into the new year. He is under pressure to respond to growing discontent among his own party members as Friday’s deadline approaches.
House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) acknowledged Wednesday night that the bill is dysfunctional and its path forward is uncertain.
“There is no new agreement at this time,” Scalise said.
Some of the major additions to the bill include:
disaster fund
The bill includes $110.4 billion in disaster assistance, including $29 billion in FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. $8 billion for federal highways and roads. $12 billion in community development block grants and disaster relief. and $3.25 billion in Tribal Assistance Grants. It also replenishes the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program by $2.2 billion. The program was depleted in the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helen earlier this year.
The measure includes a one-year extension of the Farm Bill, as well as $21 billion in disaster relief for farmers and $10 billion in economic aid for farmers.
Transfer to RFK Stadium
The bill clears the way for a long-sought priority in Washington, D.C., to transfer administrative jurisdiction over the RFK Memorial Stadium campus to the district, allowing the city to negotiate the return of the Washington Commanders football team. be able to do it.
The coaches currently play in Landover, Maryland, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has vowed to bring the team back to the area.
baltimore bridge reconstruction
The measure also included a promise that the federal government would pay for the entire cost of rebuilding Baltimore. francis scott key bridgewhich went bankrupt in March.
Maryland Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin said in a joint statement Tuesday that the provision “will allow us to build the bridge as quickly as possible.” And they pointed out that federal taxpayers will be reimbursed through insurance payments and the outcome of lawsuits against the company that operated the facility. cargo ship It crashed into a bridge.
Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
raise the salaries of members of parliament
Wage increases have been blocked in Congress for more than a decade over concerns that the issue would become a political liability, but the continuing resolution included a provision that would allow lawmakers to receive automatic cost-of-living increases.
Since 2009, lawmakers have earned $174,000 a year, with some leadership members earning even more.
Extension and reform of health policy
The legislation includes a medical package that is hundreds of pages long. The bill has a number of priorities for lawmakers, from expanding telehealth flexibility under Medicare to a five-year reauthorization of legislation aimed at combating the opioid crisis and preventing the pandemic. The bill would also require pharmacy benefit managers to provide detailed data on drug spending and pass on the full amount of rebates to lower drug costs for U.S. consumers.
Ticket and hotel price transparency
The funding measure also includes provisions aimed at increasing transparency in hotel and live event ticket prices by banning deceptive advertising. The law requires ticket sellers and hotels to disclose the full amount, and ticket sellers must guarantee refunds in the event of cancellation or postponement.
Addressing the drone threat
Another provision of the bill seeks to combat the threat posed by drones, following a series of mysterious incidents. Drone sighting information It’s causing concern on the East Coast. The bill would extend a section of the Homeland Security Act that gives authorities the power to track and prevent control of unmanned aircraft.
Nikole Killion contributed to this report.
