Democrats Announce Plan to Avert a Shutdown and Suspend the Debt Ceiling in a Single Bill
District of Columbia | September 20, 2021
Congressional Democrats on Monday raised the stakes for the pending spending showdown, announcing they would attach a 15-month suspension of the federal debt limit to a stopgap funding bill that lawmakers must pass by the end of September to keep federal agencies open.
The move could complicate passage of the continuing resolution, as Republicans have been steadfast in their opposition to a debt ceiling hike or suspension and vowed to vote against any legislation that would do so. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the measure would fund federal agencies through the end of the year and suspend the debt limit through December 2022.
Pelosi and Schumer said in a joint statement the House would pass the legislation this week to “avoid a needless government shutdown that would harm American families and our economic recovery before the September 30th deadline.” The legislation will also include emergency funding to address responses to various natural disasters and the resettlement of Afghan evacuees. President Biden has asked for up to $30 billion for those issues as part of the continuing resolution.
The Democratic leaders said the measure would avoid both a shutdown and default on U.S. debt, noting many Republicans supported and President Trump signed into law a COVID-19 relief package that contributed to the current debt level. The Treasury Department has instituted “extraordinary measures” to avoid breaching that ceiling but it still expects to reach the limit some time in October… (Excerpts from the Government Executive)