Congress Reveals Stop-Gap Spending Legislation, Includes $12.3B in Ukraine Aid

On Monday night, congressional appropriators released a stop-gap legislation that would fund the government until mid-December, specifically allocating $12.3 billion in aid to Ukraine and $3 billion to Afghan resettlement programs.

The continuing resolution (CR), or short-term spending bill, would fund the government until December 16, giving Congress more time to work out a longer-term agreement to keep the government funded.

If Congress does not pass the CR by the end of Friday, the federal government will undergo a shutdown.

Along with funding the government at comparable levels, the CR would include:

• $12.3 billion going to Ukrain as economic and military
• $1 billion allocated for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
• $2.5 billion to fund New Mexico’s recovery from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire
• $20 million going towards water infrastructure in Jackson, Mississippi
• a five-year reauthorization of FDA user fees
• $3 billion for the State Department’s facilitation of Afghan resettlement
• $15 million for vet Afghan refugees
• $35 million to plan and respond to “potential and radiological incidents in Ukraine”

The CR also includes Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) Energy Independence and Security Act, which Schumer (D-NY) vowed to include in exchange for Manchin’s support for the Inflation Reduction Act

If passed, the legislation would significantly shorten the time it takes the federal government to conduct environmental reviews.

Legislation Likely to Face Obstacles

However, Manchin’s legislation may face significant obstacles because both Republicans and Democrats oppose it. Republicans prefer Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s (R-WV) alternative bill, while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and other leftists are concerned about the bill’s environmental consequences.

Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated late Monday night, “We have made significant progress toward a Continuing Resolution that is as clean as possible. But, if the Democrats insist on including permitting reform, I will oppose it.”

On Tuesday night, the Senate will vote on cloture to advance the legislative vehicle for the CR. If the vote fails, Congress could pass an even shorter “bridge” funding bill to give lawmakers more time to work out their differences on the bill.

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