President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion legislation into law on Saturday, completing the funding of federal agencies through the fiscal year, which concludes on September 30.
The House approved the package on Friday, followed by the Senate passing it early Saturday morning.
The comprehensive bill addresses various critical government operations, spanning across departments such as Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State, and the legislative branch.
Expressing his views on the legislation, Biden, who received the bill in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday, described it as a “compromise,” emphasizing that it brings “good news for the American people.”
“This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted,” Biden stated, highlighting its rejection of “extreme cuts from House Republicans” while emphasizing investments in child care, cancer research, and mental health.
Additionally, Biden noted the inclusion of “resources to secure the border that my Administration successfully fought to include.”
While signing the bill, Biden urged Congress to continue its legislative efforts, stressing that their “work isn’t finished.” He called upon the House to “pass the bipartisan national security supplemental to advance our national security interests” and urged both chambers to pass the bipartisan border security bill his administration has negotiated, referring to it as “the toughest and fairest reforms in decades.”
“It’s time to get this done,” Biden added.
The enactment of this legislation signifies a significant moment on Capitol Hill, bringing to a close an annual appropriations process that has extended far beyond the usual timeframe. The process has been marked by partisan policy disputes and a historic shift in House leadership after conservatives ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in an unprecedented vote last year.
This legislation constitutes the second segment of a two-tiered government funding process. An earlier six-bill funding package, signed into law earlier this month, encompassed funding for various departments including Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Food and Drug Administration, military construction, and other federal programs.
