US lawmakers strike deal to avert government shutdown, again
The measure would prevent a partial government shutdown set to begin this weekend
Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill on Tuesday reached a deal after weeks of fraught negotiations to keep federal agencies funded and operating through mid-March, thus averting a costly government shutdown before the holidays.
The so-called “continuing resolution” - expected to be the last major bill Congress passes this year - must be adopted in the Republican-led House of Representatives before heading to the Senate, which must vote before week’s end.
The compromise draft would then be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.
The House has a rule stipulating that no bill can be considered on the floor less than 72 hours before the text is released. This means a House vote will likely come on Friday, with the Senate potentially following suit the same day.
Negotiations had been bogged down in Congress as Republicans pushed for billions of dollars in new economic help for farmers, with the shutdown deadline fast approaching.
Democrats pushed for several of their own add-ons, from cash to cover the cost of rebuilding a destroyed bridge in Baltimore and museums in Washington to honor women and Hispanics.