WASHINGTON— Congress on Thursday approved legislation to restore funding to most Department of Homeland Security agencies, ending a record 76-day lapse for operations outside immigration enforcement, POLITICO reported.
The House cleared the partial DHS spending bill by voice vote after the Senate passed it more than a month ago, and President Trump is expected to quickly sign the measure.
According to POLITICO, the bill fully funds agencies including the Coast Guard, TSA, Secret Service, FEMA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, while leaving unresolved the policy disputes over immigration enforcement that triggered the shutdown in the first place.
POLITICO said congressional Republicans are now shifting their focus to a separate party-line package that would deliver tens of billions of dollars for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after moving this week to unlock reconciliation procedures that would allow them to bypass a Senate filibuster.
The Defense Credit Union Council reacted Thursday to the news.“DCUC applauds Congress for taking action to end this partial shutdown and provide long-overdue relief to the men and women who continued serving our nation without pay,” said Anthony Hernandez, DCUC president/CEO, Ret. USAF Colonel. “Throughout this period, credit unions stepped up to support Coast Guard members, federal employees, and their families with emergency assistance, affordable financial services, and trusted guidance when they needed it most.”
“This shutdown demonstrated that political impasses carry real consequences for working families and those on the front lines of public service,” said Jason Stverak, DCUC chief advocacy officer. “We are especially mindful of the sacrifices made by Coast Guard members and federal employees who continued reporting for duty despite financial uncertainty. Policymakers must work toward lasting solutions that prevent future disruptions and protect the financial wellbeing of those who serve.”
America's Credit Unions applauded the passage of ther funding bill to.
"While thousands of DHS employees and their families faced financial uncertainty for weeks, credit unions provided consistent relief to them every step of the way," said America’s Credit Unions’ President/CEO Scott Simpson. "From payroll advances, interest-free paycheck replacement loans, skip-a-payment options, and emergency lines of credit, credit unions showed up for those in need, as they always do. America’s Credit Unions remains focused on amplifying just how essential credit unions are to the financial well-being of Americans all across the country. We urge the President to quickly sign the funding legislation into law. As Congress moves forward with reconciliation, we encourage them to keep the credit union difference secured and leave tax provisions out of this process.”