Biden Signs Whopping $1.7 Trillion Government Spending Bill Into Law
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
A whopping of $1.7 trillion federal funding plan that incorporates several administration initiatives and successfully averts a government shutdown was signed by President Joe Biden on Thursday, capping up what he called “a year of historic progress.”
In a tweet, Biden stated that the funds would go toward “medical research, safety, veteran health care, disaster recovery, (Violence Against Women Act) funding — and gets crucial assistance to Ukraine.”
He added: “Looking forward to more in 2023.”
Biden signed the bill while vacationing on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. The bill was flown to him for signing, the White House said.
“The White House received the bill from Congress late afternoon on Wednesday. The bill was delivered to the President for his signature by White House staff on a regularly scheduled commercial flight,” a White House official told pool reporters.
It’s at least the second time this year that an important bill has been flown to Biden for his signature. While on a trip to Asia in May, a bill authorizing about $40 billion in aid to Ukraine was carried by a staffer who was already scheduled to travel to the region. Biden signed the bill while overseas.
The funding bill is the last chance for Biden and Democrats to influence government spending before Republicans take control of the House the following week. It brings to an end for Biden a remarkable two years of legislative success, which included a Covid-19 relief program, an infrastructure bill, and a measure to boost China’s competitiveness.
The legislation includes $772.5 billion for nondefense discretionary programs and $858 billion in defense funding, according to a bill summary from Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. That represents an increase in spending in both areas for fiscal year 2023.
The sweeping package includes roughly $45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine and NATO allies, an overhaul of the electoral vote-counting law, protections for pregnant workers, an enhancement to retirement savings rules and a ban on TikTok on federal devices.
