And on top of that, Congressional Democrats are aiming to pass President Joe Biden’s nearly $2 trillion social spending and climate measure - the Build Back Better bill - before Christmas.ĭifficult? Yes.They must also act to approve the annual defense budget bill - the National Defense Authorization Act - which Congress has passed in bipartisan fashion for six decades.15, lest the country default on its debts for the first time ever, potentially setting off a global economic catastrophe. Congress has to come to an agreement on addressing the debt limit prior to Dec.What are some of the items that Biden said “need to get done?” "It's the bare minimum of what we need to get done.” "Funding the government isn't a great achievement," Biden said. The measure passed after an amendment proposed by Republicans that would bar use of federal funds to enforce or implement vaccine mandates failed, 50-48.Īhead of the bill’s signing Friday, Biden called for Congress to come together on a long-term funding bill that addresses the country's needs. 18 and provide $7 billion for resettlement of Afghan refugees. Last week, the Senate voted 69-28 to pass a House-approved bill that will keep the government open through Feb. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., warned colleagues in a letter Monday that it will require “more long days and nights, and potentially weekends” in order to get it all done.Congressional Democrats are aiming to pass President Joe Biden’s nearly $2 trillion social spending and climate measure - the Build Back Better bill - before Christmas.Congress must pass the annual defense spending bill and address the debt limit before Dec.Last week, Congress passed a bill to fund the government through February, averting a government shutdown – but that may have been the easiest part of their lengthy December to-do list.