House Averts Government
Shutdown With Passing of
$1.4 Trillion Spending Deal.
On Dec. 17, the United States House of Representatives
voted to approve a $1.4 trillion spending deal to fund
the government through the 2020 fiscal year. .
Their decision came just days ahead of the
Dec. 20 deadline, preventing what many feared
would be another government shutdown. .
At this time last year, Congress failed
to agree on funding, which resulted in the
longest government shutdown in US history. .
Included in the $1.4 trillion spending deal is $1.37 billion
for border barriers, $425 million for election-security grants
and $1.5 billion for preventative opioid crisis grants.
$25 million is allocated for gun-violence research,
marking the first time in 20 years that Congress has
appropriated money for such research. .
Military and civilian federal workers will also see
a 3.1 percent pay raise if approved by the Senate. .
Lawmakers also agreed on an added provision that would
prevent anyone younger than 21 from buying tobacco products. .
White House counselor Kellyanne
Conway said Donald Trump is
“poised to sign” the legislation
once it reaches his desk.