Biden, Congress Reach Deal on Spending Bills to Avert Shutdown, Fund Military and Welcome Afghan Allies
• Biden and congressional leaders announced a deal on the final fiscal year spending bills to avoid a partial government shutdown.
• The agreement provides about $886 billion for the Pentagon and funds other agencies like Health and Human Services.
• The House aims to vote on the package by Friday before funding expires at midnight. The Senate would then quickly take up the bill.
• The bill includes 12,000 special immigrant visas for Afghans who helped Americans during the Afghanistan war.
• Advocacy groups welcomed the visa provision, though more visas are still needed to help all Afghan allies.