Biden Signs $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill, Averting Government Shutdown

US President Joe Biden speaks at the US-Africa Business Forum during the US-Africa Leaders Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC on December 14, 2022WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US President Joe Biden said he signed the $1.7 trillion omnibus government spending bill passed by Congress earlier this month, which will fund the work of the government in 2023 and avert a government shutdown. “Today, I signed the bipartisan omnibus bill, ending a year of historic progress,” Biden said on Thursday. The legislation includes $858 billion in defense spending and an additional $45 billion for Ukraine, as well as investments in disaster recovery and veteran health care. Congress passed the bill to close out its lame duck session, avoiding a government shutdown slated to begin when funding expired this month. US House Passes $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill, Sending Legislation to Biden’s Desk23 December, 19:25 GMTThe bill was passed despite objections from some Republican lawmakers, who sought to craft a comprehensive budget next year instead, when they will have a majority in the House of Representatives.

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