US Congress Reaches Temporary Budget Agreement... Avoiding Federal Government Shutdown Damage

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The U.S. Congress, ahead of the November midterm elections, agreed on a temporary budget, avoiding a federal government shutdown (temporary work stoppage).

On the 29th (local time), according to the Washington Post (WP) and others, the U.S. Senate held a plenary session to pass a continuing resolution (CR) including aid to Ukraine.

The House plans to vote on the budget on the 30th, the end of the 2022 fiscal year. The bipartisan agreed budget includes $12.4 billion for military support to Ukraine and $2 billion in emergency disaster response funds. However, the budget requested by the Biden administration related to COVID-19 and monkeypox vaccines was not included.

Earlier, on the 27th, the Senate passed a procedural vote on the temporary budget. This budget agreement was expected to be reached more easily than anticipated. Ahead of the midterm elections, both the Democratic and Republican parties inevitably wanted to avoid the fallout from a shutdown. WP reported, "With the midterm elections just around the corner, Congress has rarely taken a bipartisan approach to passing a continuing resolution."