Congress Finalizes Deal for Disaster Relief and Farm Assistance

United States: Republican lawmakers said on Tuesday that U.S. congressional negotiators reached a preliminary agreement to avert a partial government shutdown and approve $100 billion in new disaster aid and $10 billion in new economic aid to farmers.

A Democratic source privy to the discussions corroborated the broad sketch of the deal in the offing.

Congress Reaches Tentative Agreement

Congress staffers were drafting bills that may be introduced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, followed by votes the following week. The Senate plans to pass the bill later Thursday and send it to President Joe Biden for signature before the existing funding expires at midnight ET Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), as reported by Reuters.

US Congress negotiators reach deal on stopgap funding bill, lawmakers say https://t.co/3SxbePijvA

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The bill “is coming together. Bipartisan work is ongoing. You are right on the money,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said to the press at a conference.

Bipartisan Support and Democratic Scrutiny

Johnson had been leading a bare and marginal 219-211 Republican majority and has often, over the past year, been able to rely on the Democrats to get key bills passed.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar said that his fellow Democrats would like to scrutinize the agreement that was reached.

🏛️💵 U.S. Congress reaches deal on stopgap funding to avert shutdown, aid farmers and disaster recovery

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U.S. congressional negotiators secured a tentative deal on a stopgap funding bill to prevent a partial government shutdown, extending funding… pic.twitter.com/6HTMzoZvi5

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“We want to see the details,” he said. “We hope Speaker Johnson puts this out soon so that we can vote. … We want to make sure the numbers are right.”

According to Johnson, the proposed bill would involve providing farmers $10 billion in economic assistance.

$10 Billion Aid for Farmers Welcomed

Republican Representative Glenn Thompson, the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, welcomed the aid, noting that extensive agricultural measures had been scheduled to end by the end of the year.

US Congress negotiators reach deal on stopgap funding bill, lawmakers say https://t.co/gPxkZVd0uS

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“The $10 billion is a great start, and I think it’s going to send the right signals to the market that most farmers and ranchers are going to be able to get eligible for the credit that they need to borrow in order to plant a crop or raise a herd,” Thompson said, as reported by Reuters.

The package also includes over $100 billion in funds for recovery operations from hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters, Republican Representative Pete Sessions told Reuters.