Biden signs temporary funding bill without aid to Ukraine to avoid shutdown

Friday, 17 November 2023, 09:20

US President Joe Biden signed on Thursday a short-term government funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. This bill does not include funding to support either Ukraine or Israel.

Source: White House, reported by European Pravda

Details: The US Senate finally approved the package on the evening of Wednesday, about 48 hours before the deadline for a possible government shutdown at midnight on Friday.  The bill would keep the government funded until mid-January or early February. 

The bill extends funding until 19 January for priority sectors such as military construction, veterans' support, transport, housing and energy. Other government functions will be funded until 2 February.

Biden thus moved the fight with Republicans in the US Congress over the federal budget into the new year.

The spending bill does not include the White House's request for nearly US$106 billion in aid to Israel and Ukraine.

Background:

  • It was reported that the combined package of bills, which includes aid to Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and border security, is planned to be considered in the Senate after Thanksgiving, which will be celebrated in the US on 23 November.
  • Republican Congressman Don Bacon said that the House of Representatives already knows what to do with the bill on aid to Ukraine, as well as how much money they want to allocate to Kyiv. In his opinion, the consideration could take place in December. 
  • The Biden administration is calling on Congress to approve the White House's request for assistance to Ukraine as soon as possible to prevent serious consequences for its defence capabilities.

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