Congressional Republican leaders say they're confident a new spending bill they've just finished can make it all the way to President Donald Trump's desk this week despite expected opposition from Democrats.
The 99-page bill was drafted in close cooperation with the White House, and will stop a possible federal government shutdown that threatens if a new budget isn't in place by midnight next Friday March 14th.
It could face opposition from most if not all Democrats in both the House and Senate, but House Republican leaders say they have enough votes that they don't need the help of Democrats.
The House is expected to take its first vote on the bill Tuesday.
President Trump appears able to keep GOP Congresspeople in line, warning them on social media this week to "remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right."
He added, “Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country's ‘financial house’ in order.".
The budget bill includes $6 billion dollars to be added to the current Veterans Administration budget and an additional $8 billion in defense spending.
Non-defense spending, however, will be cut by $13 billion, one aspect of the bill that will keep Democrats from voting for it.
The bill would also add money to the budget of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make up for a lack of funds that began back in the Biden administration.
And it includes no community spending requested by lawmakers, sometimes called "earmarks" but often called "pork."
The bill, however, is a continuing resolution, which is just a temporary bill allowing federal agencies to keep their spending levels, but is not considered a final budget.
This bill funds the government only through the end of September, the last day of the federal government's fiscal 4th quarter.