House leaders unveiled on Sunday their new legislation to avert a shutdown at the end of the month and fund the government until Dec. 20.
The House is expected to vote on the roughly three-month clean continuing resolution by Wednesday, according to GOP leadership aides.
Here’s what’s in the bill:
$231 million in additional U.S. Secret Service funding
Since the second assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, lawmakers from both parties have been pushing for more funding and resources for the Secret Service. The additional aid is confined to helping the agency’s needs for the 2024 campaign, including protecting candidates.
No additional disaster relief
There are, however, funds included in the bill to replenish FEMA.
Speaker Mike Johnson announced his plan to the GOP conference in a Dear Colleague letter sent Sunday.
“The feedback and ideas from everyone have been very helpful, and next week the House will take the initiative and pass a clean, three-month CR to prevent the Senate from jamming us with a bill loaded with billions in new spending and unrelated provisions. Our legislation will be a very narrow, bare-bones CR including only the extensions that are absolutely necessary,” Johnson said in the letter.
Johnson admits that shutting down the government ahead of a presidential election would “be an act of malpractice.”
“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances,” he said.
The speaker concluded his letter by saying, “From now until election day, I will continue with my tireless efforts and singular focus of growing our majority for the 119th Congress. It is my great honor to serve with you all in these historic days. The future of our exceptional nation directly depends upon our success, and I am confident that together we will prevail!”
The announcement from House leaders comes after the chamber last week failed to pass a six-month continuing resolution that included the SAVE Act, which would have required proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. Democrats argued that voting by noncitizens is already illegal and voted against the funding plan.
Former President Trump had called on Republicans to shut the government down if the election security bill didn’t become law. But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “It would be politically beyond stupid for us to do that right before the election because certainly we would get the blame.”
In a statement released moments after Johnson’s new funding proposal was unveiled, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was “pleased” negotiations led to “an agreement free of poison pills.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement that House Democrats will “collectively evaluate” the spending legislation this week.
“Congress is on a bipartisan path to avoid a government shutdown,” Jeffries said.
Still, Schumer knocked Johnson for his previous proposals, which delayed passage of a short-term funding bill.
Congress will now have a little over a week to act on the new proposal before funding runs out.
“If both sides continue to work in good faith, I am hopeful that we can wrap up work on the CR this week, well before the September 30 deadline. The key to finishing our work this week will be bipartisan cooperation, in both chambers,” Schumer said.
House leaders have introduced a new bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown and providing additional funding to the Secret Service. The bill, known as the Government Funding and Secret Service Protection Act, comes in response to the recent concerns over the agency’s ability to adequately protect the President and other high-ranking officials.
The bill includes provisions that would ensure the continued funding of government operations, thus preventing a potential shutdown that could have far-reaching consequences for the country. In addition, the bill allocates additional resources to the Secret Service to enhance its capabilities and address the growing security threats facing the agency.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi emphasized the importance of passing the bill in order to avoid any disruptions in government services and to provide the Secret Service with the necessary resources to carry out its crucial mission. “It is essential that we take action to prevent a government shutdown and ensure that the Secret Service has the tools and funding it needs to protect our leaders and safeguard our democracy,” Pelosi stated.
The bill has received bipartisan support, with lawmakers from both parties recognizing the importance of ensuring the stability of government operations and bolstering the capabilities of the Secret Service. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed his commitment to working with House leaders to pass the bill swiftly and avoid any potential disruptions in government services.
The Government Funding and Secret Service Protection Act represents a proactive approach to addressing the challenges facing the government and the Secret Service. By providing additional funding and resources to the agency, lawmakers are taking steps to enhance national security and protect the safety of our leaders.
In conclusion, the introduction of this bill demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the smooth functioning of government operations and strengthening the capabilities of the Secret Service. It is crucial that lawmakers work together to pass this legislation and prevent any potential disruptions that could compromise national security.
