Johnson reaches spending deal with Schumer, leading to passage of another short-term CR

Congress plans to pass another short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that would fund federal agencies through March 8 and 22 to avoid a shutdown.  The vote on that will be held this week in the House and Senate, according to a joint statement released by congressional leaders on Wednesday.

 

“We are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government. Negotiators have come to an agreement on six bills: Agriculture-FDA, Commerce-Justice and Science, Energy and Water Development, Interior, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD," read a statement from House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

"After preparing final text, this package of six full year Appropriations bills will be voted on and enacted prior to March 8. These bills will adhere to the Fiscal Responsibility Act discretionary spending limits and January’s topline spending agreement," the lawmakers added.

The congressional leaders said that the "remaining six Appropriations bills – Defense, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Labor-HHS, Legislative Branch, and State and Foreign Operations - will be finalized, voted on, and enacted prior to March 22."

 

In order to provide the House and Senate Appropriations Committees "adequate time to execute on this deal in principle, including drafting, preparing report language, scoring and other technical matters, and to allow members 72 hours to review, a short-term continuing resolution to fund agencies through March 8 and the 22 will be necessary, and voted on by the House and Senate this week," the lawmakers announced.