Title: Lawmakers Introduce $1.2 Trillion Spending Package to Avoid Partial Government Shutdown

In a bid to avoid a partial government shutdown, lawmakers presented a $1.2 trillion spending package on Thursday. This package will provide funding for key federal agencies and allow Congress to complete its work in funding the government through September, nearly six months into the budget year.

Democrats successfully pushed back against several policy mandates and steep budget cuts proposed by House Republicans for nondefense programs. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., highlighted some victories, including a nearly 24% increase in detention beds for migrants awaiting immigration proceedings or removal from the country.

The spending bills for this year were divided into two packages, with the first one clearing Congress just two weeks ago, narrowly avoiding a shutdown deadline for the agencies funded through those bills. Now, the focus is on the second, larger package, which allocates around $886 billion for the Defense Department, reflecting a more than 3% increase from the previous year's levels. Additionally, this 1,012-page bill funds other departments such as Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and Labor, among others.

With government funding set to expire this Friday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urged Congress to swiftly pass this package. While nondefense spending will remain relatively flat compared to the prior year, some agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency, will experience budget cuts, and many others will not see their budgets keep up with inflation.

When combined, discretionary spending for the budget year will total around $1.66 trillion. It's important to note that this figure does not include programs like Social Security and Medicare, as well as financing for the country's rising debt.

The House is expected to take up the measure first on Friday, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., called on Republicans to support the bill, emphasizing that over 70% of the spending is allocated to defense. Scalise stressed the importance of properly funding the nation's defense and supporting the troops at a time when global tensions are heightened.

Once passed by the House, the bill will proceed to the Senate, where senators must reach an agreement on expedited consideration to avoid a partial shutdown. Typically, such agreements involve voting on proposed amendments to the bill.

Representative Johnson described the bill as a significant commitment to bolstering national defense and supporting military personnel, with a provision for a 5.2% pay increase for service members.

Republican proponents of the bill highlighted its impact on supporting Israel, particularly through a prohibition on funding the U.N. Relief and Works Agency until March 2025. The agency supplies food, water, and shelter to civilians in Gaza. This move comes after Israel alleged that a dozen agency employees were involved in the attack carried out by Hamas on October 7. However, this prohibition raises concerns among relief agencies as it could hinder the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to the 2.3 million starving residents of Gaza.

Democrats, on the other hand, emphasized that global humanitarian assistance will increase by approximately $336.4 million. Senator Patty Murray, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hailed the $1 billion increase in funding for Head Start programs and new child care centers for military families. Democrats also highlighted a $120 million boost in funding for cancer research and a $100 million increase for Alzheimer's research.

"We successfully defeated extreme and far-right riders that would have restricted women's reproductive freedoms and delivered a blow to American families and our economy," said Senator Murray, D-Wash., in reference to the battles fought against policy measures sought by House Republicans.

As the deadline for government funding approaches, lawmakers must now work diligently to pass this comprehensive spending package and ensure the functioning of critical federal agencies.