09.30.23

Durbin Statement on Passage of Bill to Keep Government Funded

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through November 17:

“Extreme MAGA House Republicans failed.  The right-wing policies that they have been pushing for weeks were removed from the short-term government funding bill and hundreds of thousands of hardworking Americans and service men and women will not be forced to work without pay come Monday. 

“And while today’s particular bill did not include additional funding to Ukraine, I want the brave Ukrainians who continue to push back against Putin to know that the United States still stands, and will continue to stand with you—and we will find additional ways in the future to continue our commitment to you.

“Now, Congress must roll up its sleeves and complete the government funding process before November 17.”

The CR extends government funding at current levels through November 17 and includes the $16 billion in disaster supplemental funding requested by the Biden Administration.  The legislation also:

  • Extends the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through December 31;
  • Extends community health centers and pandemic preparedness authorities until November 17;
  • Extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through November 17;
  • Delays scheduled cuts to Medicaid payments for disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) that serve large numbers of low-income and uninsured patients;
  • Allows the increased base salary for federal wildland firefights authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; and,
  • Maintains participation for beneficiaries of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

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