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Indian American lawmakers welcome passage of stopgap bill but express concern
The fourth of its kind short-term bill will help keep government open till March 22
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Congressmen Shri Thanedar, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Ami Bera respond to averting a government shutdown. Images - Congressman Shri Thanedar, Raja Krishnmaoorthi, and Ami Bera. /
The Senate and House passed a short-term spending bill last week that delayed the looming government shutdown threat to later in the month. It took place just a day before a tranche of government funding was set to expire.
Senators voted 77-13 to send the funding measure to President Biden’s desk for his signature. This action occurred just hours after the House voted overwhelmingly, passing the bill 320-99.
The bill, known as a continuing resolution or CR, is the fourth stopgap spending measure passed for this fiscal year, which started last October.
Indian American Congressmen Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Shri Thanedar welcomed the move but expressed concern over the inability of the Congress to pass a long term funding bill.
Commenting on the bill, Rep. Bera expressed concern over the future. “I just voted to avoid a partial government shutdown. This was the responsible thing to do, but my point remains the same: we cannot continue to govern from crisis to crisis,” he said.
“Going forward, I will continue to urge bipartisan cooperation to pass a comprehensive, long-term government funding bill in line with the Bipartisan Budget Agreement that was supported by a vast majority of Members in both parties last May,” he added.
I just voted to avoid a partial government shutdown.
— Ami Bera, M.D. (@RepBera) February 29, 2024
This was the responsible thing to do, but my point remains the same: we cannot continue to govern from crisis to crisis.
Rep. Krishnamoorthi called for a long-term agreement to eliminate the “cycle of shutdown threats.” “Averting a government shutdown was good for everyone. But now, it’s time for congressional leaders to come to a long-term agreement to finally end the cycle of shutdown threats and uncertainty across the country,” he said on X.
The stopgap bill will maintain funding for several key government departments and offices, including Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Justice, Commerce, and others, through March 8.
“Today, I was proud to vote yes to keep the government open for another week. That gives negotiators more time to reach an agreement that works for everyone. Soon, the much-needed funding that has been delayed by Republican infighting will be on its way to our communities,” Rep. Thanedar said in a post on X.
Averting a government shutdown was good for everyone. But now, it’s time for congressional leaders to come to a long-term agreement to finally end the cycle of shutdown threats and uncertainty across the country.https://t.co/dUNMf44y4R
— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) March 3, 2024
Lawmakers will have until March 22 to finalize funding for various government departments and agencies for fiscal year 2024, including the Pentagon, the legislative branch, foreign operations, as well as the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State, and Homeland Security.
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