US Senate Passes Omnibus Spending Package

A massive spending bill for the fiscal year that began over five months ago is headed to President Joe Biden's desk after the Senate cleared it for his signature late Thursday, putting an end to a frenzied stretch of negotiations in both chambers this week.

On a 68-31 vote, the Senate passed the 2,700-page, $1.5 trillion omnibus containing all 12 fiscal 2022 spending bills, $13.6 billion in supplemental appropriations to address the crisis in Ukraine and a lengthy list of unrelated measures fortunate enough to ride on the must-pass vehicle. Both of Illinois' senators voted in favor of the package.

(DURBIN)

As Republicans sought, the omnibus allows for almost equal increases in defense and nondefense spending from last year’s levels, with a $46 billion or 6.7 percent boost for nondefense programs and a $42 billion, 5.6 percent increase in defense accounts. Democrats had sought roughly double that amount for nondefense programs.

Leaders in both parties spent hours Thursday negotiating with GOP senators, trying to reach an agreement on amendments they were seeking that would allow for a unanimous consent agreement to proceed to the bill quickly.

Illinois US Senator Dick Durbin said, “Ukraine needs humanitarian, military, and economic aid today. That is exactly what this omnibus bill will provide - billions of dollars in military equipment and intelligence support, and even more billions in emergency supplies, food aid, health care, migration and refugee assistance. This is how America stands by our fellow defenders of democracy at their darkest hour.”

Durbin spoke on the need to pass this package for domestic priorities as well.

Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured more than $210 million dollars in funding to Illinois through congressionally directed funding or earmarks. “This funding is going to help build localities in Illinois, launch important infrastructure [projects], access to health care, environmental conservation, strengthen community violence prevention initiatives, support nonprofits doing important work throughout our state, and much more,” Durbin continued.

(DUCKWORTH)

Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed the bipartisan agreement to fund the government through Fiscal Year 2022.

“Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families—and that’s what this bipartisan funding agreement does. While I’m disappointed we couldn’t get additional resources to address the COVID pandemic and help more restaurants pay their bills, I’m proud this bill will help lower costs for hard-working Illinoisans, create jobs, boost our economy, invest in more infrastructure projects and support our Veterans and servicemembers. With this legislation, we’re also sending much-needed support to the brave Ukrainians risking their lives to fight Putin’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of choice. I look forward to President Biden signing this historic agreement into law to help our nation take on the challenges we face.”