The House today passed, on a bipartisan 254 to 175 vote, H.R. 5305, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act. House passage clears the legislation for President Biden’s signature.
The legislation continues vital federal funding through December 3 and provides $28.6 billion in disaster relief and $6.3 billion to support Afghan evacuees as the Afghanistan war ends.
“By extending government funding through Dec. 3, this bill provides tens of billions of dollars to support working families who live paycheck to paycheck. As we continue this vital funding for education, health, housing, and public safety programs, we are also providing $28.6 billion to assist survivors of recent disasters and $6.3 billion to support Afghanistan evacuees after the end of 20 years of war," House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “I look forward to soon beginning negotiations with my counterparts across the aisle and across the Capitol to complete full-year government funding bills that reverse decades of disinvestment and ensure government is looking out for the middle class, working families, and small businesses."
The Appropriations provisions of the legislation, which were the product of bicameral, bipartisan negotiations, constitute a Continuing Resolution through December 3 and two emergency supplemental funding bills that address recent natural disasters and developments in Afghanistan, respectively.
* The Continuing Resolution extends funding for vital federal agencies, including education, health, housing, and public safety programs, through December 3. This funding will grow opportunity through early child education, investments in our schools, and high-quality job training programs, provide a lifeline to the vulnerable through nutrition assistance and affordable housing, and honor Congress’ solemn responsibility to secure our nation and support our veterans.
* The emergency disaster funding provides $28.6 billion to address the rising cost of climate change including recent natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Ida, Delta, Zeta, and Laura, wildfires, severe droughts and winter storms, and other natural and major disasters declared in 2021 and prior years. This funding will help working families, small businesses, and communities get back on their feet and rebuild, while repairing damage to federal facilities.
* The $6.3 billion supplemental to support Afghan evacuees includes funding to temporarily house evacuees at American facilities and in foreign countries, provide necessary security screenings, and ultimately resettle eligible evacuees in the United States. The legislation also includes funding to provide humanitarian assistance for Afghan refugees in neighboring countries.
The text of the bill, H.R. 5305 is here. A summary of the bill is. A one-page fact sheet on the bill is.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
