President Biden signed a $1.2 trillion spending package on Saturday, averting a government shutdown after the bipartisan legislation passed through Congress and reached his desk in the early hours of the morning.
The government was at risk of a shutdown if the bill was not signed before midnight on Friday. However, as the Senate vote passed that deadline, the White House announced that shutdown preparations had ceased in anticipation of Senate approval and Biden’s signature.
In a statement, President Biden expressed his approval of the measure, calling it “good news for the American people.” He acknowledged the compromise nature of the agreement, stating that neither side got everything they wanted after months of negotiations.
The spending deal includes provisions to expand access to child care, invest in cancer research, fund mental health and substance use care, support American leadership abroad, and secure the border.
The 1,012-page spending package combined the remaining six of 12 annual spending bills to fund the government through September. It followed months of negotiations and four stopgap measures.
Lawmakers crafted the package to align with the debt and spending agreement reached last year by former House speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden, keeping domestic program spending relatively stable.
Despite opposition from some hard-right Republicans, the bill received bipartisan support and passed with a majority vote in both the House and Senate. Both Democrats and Republicans celebrated victories in the final legislation, including increased funding for various programs and initiatives.
President Biden highlighted the pending legislation on border security and foreign aid, emphasizing the importance of these measures. The Senate previously approved a foreign aid package, but it faces challenges in the House.
