WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after Congressional lawmakers announced agreement on a stopgap appropriations bill to avert a partial federal government shutdown that could go into effect just after midnight this Saturday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the Legislative Branch subcommittee, issued the following statement:

“Leaders came together at the last minute to avoid a wasteful government shutdown.  But we can’t afford to allow a minority of House Republicans to continue thwarting meaningful action to responsibly fund the government. 

“It’s past time for responsible members of Congress to put the American people’s interest ahead of partisanship.  Democrats have proven their commitment to doing just that.  But a minority of House Republicans is still just obstructing and wasting time and taxpayer dollars.

“We’ve got to shut down all these shutdown threats and pass regular, full-year appropriations bills, which are long overdue.”

Negotiators came to an agreement in principle to extend the deadline on six appropriations bills through March 8: Agriculture-FDA; Commerce-Justice and Science (CJS); Energy and Water Development; Interior; Military Construction-Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA); and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (THUD).  After preparing final text, this package of six full year Appropriations bills will be voted on prior to March 8.  

Under the agreement, the new bills will adhere to the Fiscal Responsibility Act discretionary spending limits and January’s topline spending agreement.

The agreement also calls for the remaining six appropriations bills – Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor-Health, Human Services, and Education (LHHSE); Legislative Branch; and State and Foreign Operations – to be finalized and voted on prior to March 22.

The fiscal year 2024 began back on October 1, 2023 and runs through September 30, 2024.