The U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution on Thursday that keeps the government funded through December 16—avoiding an election-year partial government shutdown. Senator Tommy Tuberville voted against the C.R. due to the spending increases that were added to the deficit.
“A continuing resolution is meant to maintain government funding at its current level until Congress passes appropriation bills,” Tuberville said in an email to Alabama Today. “But, in what has become standard practice this Congress, Democrats were set on using this legislation to spend as much unrelated money as possible, as quickly as possible. This is a reckless approach to governing. Hastily spending billions of new dollars by attaching them to a continuing resolution is an irresponsible use of taxpayer funds.”
Tuberville and 24 other Republicans opposed the C.R., but 22 Republicans voted with all of the Democrats in favor of the bipartisan legislation, so it passed the Senate 72 to 25.
Sen. Richard Shelby voted in favor of the bill. Shelby is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“The Senate has passed a Continuing Resolution ensuring the government will remain open and functioning,” Shelby said in a statement. Now, with very little time remaining, we must complete the full-year appropriations bills. My colleagues must quickly accept a bipartisan framework that rejects poison pills, maintains important legacy riders, and demonstrates a serious commitment to our national defense. We need to finish the job.”
Sen. Patrick Leahy chairs the Appropriations Committee – which is tasked with passing C.R.s and actual budgets.
“Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that this morning, countless Floridians woke up to a world turned upside down in the wake of Hurricane Ian,” Leahy said in a statement. “And hundreds of thousands in Puerto Rico remain without power more than ten days after the storm that ravaged the island. Vermonters will stand by your side as you rebuild your communities and your lives, and so will this chamber.”
“The continuing resolution we are about to consider contains $18.8 billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, which would bring available resources in the fund to approximately $35 billion to respond to these and other disasters,” Leahy continued. “We likely will not know the extent of the damage for several days, but we are the United States of America, and I am ready to work with my colleagues to respond with what is needed.”
“That said, I am glad that we have reached agreement to fund the federal government through December 16, and I want to thank my friend Vice Chairman Shelby and Leaders (Chuck) Schumer and (Mitch) McConnell for their work and cooperation in reaching this point,” Leahy added. “I am glad that we were able to secure $1 billion to bolster LIHEAP ahead of the winter heating season. In my home state of Vermont, which will receive an infusion of $5.7 million from this funding, this program goes a long way in helping families pay their bills when faced with rising fuel costs and plummeting temperatures.”
“The bill also includes $12.35 billion dollars in emergency assistance for Ukraine; $2.5 billion to support recovery efforts following the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire in New Mexico; and $2 billion in Community Development Block Grants to help communities recovering from major disasters in 2021 and 2022,” Leahy stated.
“I am disappointed that due to Republican opposition, there is no additional funding to combat COVID-19 or Monkeypox, but I will keep fighting for these important resources. Finally, I want to be clear. This is only a temporary measure,” Leahy continued. “As the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I am committed to completing the work of the Committee before the end of this Congress. Running on autopilot after December with rising inflation would be irresponsible. It would leave priorities – of both Republicans and Democrats – underfunded and under-resourced. The federal government funds programs that the American people rely on, and we should do the job they sent us here to do. I want to thank Vice Chairman Shelby’s staff. I also want to thank my staff for their hard work and countless hours. Charles Kieffer, Chanda Betourney, there are too many to name now, so I ask unanimous consent that their names be entered into the Record. This continuing resolution is a strong bill. It is a bipartisan bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.”
The bill will now advance to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass. Following House passage, the bill will be sent to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature, which is anticipated.
The U.S. national debt is $30.9 trillion.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
