Vermont Congressional Delegation Supports Eleventh-Hour Funding Deal to Avert Shutdown
Vermont’s congressional delegation was split in its support for a last-minute deal that prevented a government shutdown and provided billions in aid to municipalities and farmers affected by recent natural disasters. Senator Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint voted in favor of the deal, which will fund the government through mid-March 2025 while Congress continues to debate full appropriations for the fiscal year. The package includes about $100 billion in disaster aid and renews crucial agriculture legislation.
The spending package allocates $30 billion to FEMA and $2 billion to the Small Business Administration for ongoing disaster recovery efforts in Vermont. It also includes funding for road repairs, economic assistance to farms, and aid to child care centers damaged by natural disasters. Senator Bernie Sanders opposed the deal, citing omissions such as reforms for pharmacy benefit managers and protections for food stamp beneficiaries.
Chaotic negotiations were almost derailed by President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who criticized the initial deal for excessive government spending. The revised package was signed into law by President Joe Biden and excludes a provision to raise the debt ceiling, a measure Trump had pushed for. Sanders criticized the influence of wealthy individuals on legislation, calling it oligarchy. Despite the division in the delegation, the bipartisan effort was praised for providing relief to families and communities in need.
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