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Pramila Jayapal hails government funding deal, slams Musk-Trump shutdown tactics
The legislation, passed with substantial bipartisan support, now awaits Biden’s signature to ensure continued government operations.
Pramila Jayapal / Image- jayapal.house.gov
The U.S. Congress passed spending legislation early Saturday in a last-minute effort to avert a government shutdown just ahead of the busy holiday travel season. The Democratic-controlled Senate approved the bill in an 85-11 vote, just 38 minutes after the funding deadline expired at midnight. Shutdown procedures were not invoked in the interim.
The legislation now heads to the White House, where President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law.
Read my full statement on the government funding deal https://t.co/9oDhDK8FM6
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) December 21, 2024
Indian American Representative Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, lauded the funding package as a victory for the American people and a rejection of last-minute demands from former President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The two contended that the bill contained an excessive number of unrelated provisions, including a pay increase for lawmakers and a crackdown on pharmacy benefit managers. Some Republicans opposed the package due to its failure to reduce spending. However, the majority of Republicans concurred after the majority of these elements were removed from the bill. This included a provision that restricted investments in China, which Democrats claimed would have been in conflict with Musk's business interests.
“Tonight, in a victory for the American people and a loss for Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the House passed legislation to keep the government open,” Jayapal said in a statement. The deal secures $100 billion in disaster relief for communities affected by climate disasters and $10 billion in aid for struggling farmers and ranchers.
Progressives were instrumental in blocking an 11th-hour push to suspend the debt ceiling, a move Jayapal described as paving the way for “a Trump Tax Scam 2.0.” She emphasized that Democrats would not support policies benefiting billionaires at the expense of working families.
“This was a line in the sand,” Jayapal said. “Democrats will not enable policies that cater to the wealthiest at the expense of working families and vulnerable communities.”
Democrats also criticized Republicans for removing provisions to reduce healthcare costs and fund pediatric cancer care. “As we head into a Republican trifecta, Democrats must remain united to resist cruelty against working Americans,” Jayapal added.
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