Uncertain future for Ukraine supplemental bill due to House and Senate discrepancies.

The ⁢Fate of Defense Spending Bill ​Hangs ⁤in the Balance

The fate of a supplemental defense spending ‌bill⁣ remains ⁢uncertain as the House and ⁣Senate return from August ⁢recess. Both chambers are facing the threat of a government shutdown and a ⁢broader dispute over defense spending levels and⁤ Ukraine aid.

Race Against the ‌Clock

The federal government is set to run out of money on Sept. 30, leaving less than 15 in-session days for the House and Senate to⁣ find a resolution and prevent a shutdown. Complicating matters ⁣further, appropriators in both chambers ⁢have been working⁤ on government funding bills at different spending levels.

Senate’s Efforts

In the Senate, Chairwoman Patty Murray and ​ranking member ​Susan Collins have been advancing the 12 annual appropriations bills using spending levels ⁣agreed upon in a deal between ⁤President Joe⁢ Biden and House Speaker ​Kevin McCarthy. However, senators from both sides of the aisle are ⁣unhappy ‍with the defense caps in the deal, which could hinder the Pentagon’s ability to⁢ allocate resources⁣ effectively.

A Potential Solution

To address the concerns of defense hawks, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch ‌McConnell have pledged to⁤ bring a supplemental defense spending bill up for a vote later in the year. However, House Speaker McCarthy has rejected the idea of passing a defense supplemental.

Short-Term Resolution

Both Speaker McCarthy and Senator Schumer have expressed support for a short-term continuing resolution to buy ‌more time for negotiations on the appropriations bills. However,‍ the president and a majority of senators are still ‌pushing for a defense supplemental ‌that includes Ukraine aid.

The Road Ahead

The path to passing a defense supplemental through the‌ House remains uncertain. Some lawmakers have suggested attaching Ukraine ⁢aid and disaster relief to a short-term ​funding bill, while others have emphasized the need to ⁢address broader challenges such as China and Taiwan. The outcome⁣ will‍ depend on careful ⁤maneuvering and ⁢bipartisan support.

Despite ‍the challenges, there is hope ​that a resolution can be reached, as Senator ⁤Gillibrand noted, “If it‌ starts ​bipartisan in‌ the ⁣Senate, it⁣ means it can ⁢also be bipartisan in the House.”