Massive Spending Bill Unveiled With Disaster Relief And NFL Provision

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., is followed by reporters as he walks to the House Chamber for a vote on an interim spending bill to avoid a government shutdown next week, at the Capitol in W

Lawmakers have recently revealed a comprehensive spending bill that encompasses various legislative priorities and funding measures. The bill extends government funding at current levels until March 14 and includes provisions ranging from health care to disaster relief.

Notably, the bill allocates nearly $100 billion for disaster relief efforts, with $29 billion designated for FEMA's disaster relief fund and an additional $2.2 billion for the Small Business Administration's disaster loan program. Furthermore, $21 billion is earmarked for farmers, including $10 billion in economic assistance, and $3.5 billion is allocated for state and tribal assistance grants to aid water systems affected by disasters.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's disaster relief program is set to receive $12 billion, while federal highway and roads disaster relief will total $8 billion.

$100 billion allocated for disaster relief, including FEMA and SBA programs.

Bill extends government funding until March 14 with various allocations.

$21 billion earmarked for farmers, $3.5 billion for water systems.

One significant aspect of the bill is the provision allowing the Washington Commanders, an NFL team, to negotiate a return to RFK stadium. This decision follows years of deliberation and satisfies demands from Maryland leaders, including federal coverage for the replacement of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The legislation also enables the US Treasury department to recover funds from settlements related to the Key Bridge collapse for rebuilding purposes.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has been actively engaged with Democratic leaders throughout the negotiation process, culminating in the agreement reached.