Faced with a highly dysfunctional House, the Senate advanced a bi-partisan budget deal that would fund the federal government for an additional six weeks past the September 30th deadline as well as provide billions in funding for Ukraine, the Washington Post reports.
With the initial procedural measures passing by a 71-18 vote, the continuing resolution would provide a speedy framework to pass the House, if it’s brought to the floor for a vote. The Senate is likely taking proactive steps to try to stave off the impression that the federal government is in disarray because of Republican stubbornness, as was outlined in the downgrade of US credit rating by Fitch.
With more than $6 billion in aid to Ukraine, including a set aside of more than $1.5 billion to help rebuild the wartorn nation beginning in 2025, if Kyiv prevails, the bill “will continue to fund the government at present levels, while maintaining our commitment to Ukraine’s security and humanitarian needs while also ensuring those impacted by natural disasters across the country begin to get the resources they need,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.