President Trump reached a deal Wednesday with congressional leaders to suspend the debt ceiling, extend current funding for the government, and provide a relief package for the victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Specifically, the terms of the deal provide for the government to be funded through December 8, 2017, deferring the threat of government shutdown and national debt default, while providing the first $7.85 billion installment for Harvey relief.
The bill passed the Senate by an 80-17 vote margin Thursday. The House passed the bill on Friday, 316 – 90, with only Republicans voting no. Some conservatives in the House were frustrated that Republican leaders were moving toward extending the debt ceiling without also imposing spending cuts or other conservative policy changes.
The House then resumed debate on the multiagency 12 bill appropriations package called the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, but will not vote on it until next week.
The measure passed today ensures that the government will remain open in October, when the next fiscal year begins, but it sets up another debate in December, when lawmakers will need to approve another funding measure in order to keep the government open.
According to Bloomberg, President Trump’s legislative director Marc Short, stated that the deal is intended to “clear the decks” for a complete legislative focus on tax reform later this year. The bipartisan agreement clears three of the largest priorities on Congress’s busy September legislative agenda.
The bill will now be sent to the President for his signature, and it is expected he will sign it into law later today.
