Key events
Hereâs the full text of the 1,012-page, six-bill spending package unveiled by congressional leaders early this morning.
If passed by Friday night, the package would take the threat of a government shutdown off the table until the beginning of the next fiscal year.
Mike Johnson, the House speaker, touted what he called a series of wins for Republicans in the spending package, from higher spending for defense and border security to a cutoff of US funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
In a statement released along with the text of the legislation, Johnson said:
This FY24 appropriations legislation is a serious commitment to strengthening our national defense by moving the Pentagon toward a focus on its core mission.
In a closed-door meeting with GOP lawmakers on Wednesday, Johnson noted the bill funds 8,000 additional detention beds for noncitizens awaiting their immigration proceedings or removal from the country.
âThe homeland [security] piece was the most difficult to negotiate because the two parties have a wide chasm between them,â he said at the GOP leadershipâs weekly press conference yesterday.
He added:
I think the final product is something that we were able to achieve a lot of key provisions in, and wins, and it moved in a direction that we want even with our tiny, historically small majority.
Congress unveils $1.1tn spending package ahead of shutdown
Good morning US politics readers. Congressional leaders on Tuesday formally announced a $1.1tn spending deal to fund the federal government, giving lawmakers less than two days to avert a partial government shutdown. The package is the most substantial bipartisan legislation that Mike Johnson has negotiated since he ascended to the speakerâs chair, and comes after disputes among House Republicans, Senate Democrats and the White House over border security funding.
The Republican-controlled House will vote on the sprawling package on Friday, leaving the Democratic-majority Senate only hours to pass the package of six bills that covers about two-thirds of the $1.66tn in discretionary government spending for the fiscal year that began on 1 October.
Hereâs what else weâre watching:
-
Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, is in Cairo to discuss the situation in Gaza. He will meet Egyptâs president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and foreign minister Sameh Shoukry as well the representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Palestinian Authority representatives.
-
9am ET. Kevin Hern, chair of the Republican study committee, and other members of the RSC will unveil the FY2025 budget proposal.
-
10am. The House appropriations committee will hear from Shalanda Young, the director of the office of management and budget.
-
11am. Mike Johnson, the House speaker, will host the Gold Medal ceremony honoring the Ghost Army.
-
12.45pm. Joe Biden will headline a fundraiser in Houston, Texas.
-
3.45pm. Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman, will speak in Denverâs Argo Park about rebuilding communities divided by developments decades ago. Heâll be accompanied by Tom Perez, White House intergovernmental affairs director and a Biden senior adviser.
