Wahsington: Early Tuesday, congressional leaders unveiled a $1.7 trillion government-wide spending plan that includes another significant round of aid to Ukraine, an increase in defense spending of nearly 10%, and emergency spending of nearly $40 billion. primarily to help entire communities as the nation recovers from droughts, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

The 4,155-page bill would fund non-defense discretionary programs by about $772.5 billion and defense by $858 billion, running through the end of the fiscal year in September.

The massive package, which is probably the last major piece of legislation in the current Congress, was packed with as many priorities as possible by lawmakers.

Also Read: Wednesday's hearing regarding the extradition of the founder of FTX to the United States

They have until midnight Friday to pass it, or they risk a possible partial government shutdown until the Christmas holiday. Just before 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, specifics of the bill were released by the lawmakers who are leading the negotiations.

Ukraine's spending plan includes about $45 billion in emergency aid. Even above President Joe Biden's $37 billion emergency request, this would be the largest ever US aid to Ukraine and would guarantee funding for the war effort for months to come.

During previous rounds of military, economic, and humanitarian aid, the United States provided Ukraine with approximately $68 billion. According to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, "the chills of winter have descended on Eastern Europe, and if our friends in Ukraine hope to win over Russia, America must stand firm on the side of our democratic friends abroad." Must stand by."

A landmark amendment to federal election law is also part of the legislation, which aims to prevent any future president or presidential candidates from rigging the ballot.

The bipartisan change to the Electoral Count Act comes as a direct result of former President Donald Trump's efforts to persuade Republican lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence to object to the certification of Biden's victory on January 6, 2021.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., declared that we are now one step closer to protecting our democracy and avoiding another Jan. 6.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell threatened to seek another short-term reform next year if the fiscal year 2023 spending measure does not gain bipartisan support this week. This would ensure that the package would be shaped by the newly elected Republican majority in the House.

In the end, according to McConnell, the GOP's negotiations were successful. Despite the fact that many Republicans would undoubtedly vote against the long-term spending bill, he presented it as a victory for the GOP. He claimed that the Republicans were successful in passing Biden's request for an increase in defense spending while reducing some of the increase Biden sought for domestic spending.

McConnell said, "We have diverted a large amount of money from the Democrats' wish list of spending toward our nation's defense and armed forces, but without allowing an increase in the overall cost of the package."

But a group of 13 House Republicans, including McConnell, has threatened to oppose his party's legislative priorities in the upcoming session. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who is expected to become the next speaker of the House, tweeted Tuesday that he agreed with her.

Also Read:  Musk promises to continue leading Twitter until a replacement is found

If this nearly $2T monstrosity is allowed to proceed despite our objections and the wishes of the American people, their bills will be declared dead on arrival in the House when I become Speaker," McCarthy sent a tweet.

Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, told reporters that "tensions are high in the House." There's a lot going on out there right now, but in the end, I believe after the dust settles and the smoke clears, Republicans in the House and Senate will need to find a way to cooperate next year.

Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said in a statement that neither party got everything they asked for. She nevertheless praised the agreement, saying that it was "good for our economy, our competitiveness and our country, and I urge Congress to send it to the President's desk without delay."

Non-defense program spending would increase by 6%. The numbers include a 22% increase for VA medical care, to help pay for an expansion of medical services and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits while serving. The fact that funding for organizations like the National Park Service and the Environmental Protection Agency hasn't kept up with inflation has angered some environmental advocacy groups.

Negotiations over language pertaining to the location of the FBI's future headquarters caused the bill's introduction to be delayed for a number of hours.

Legislators in Maryland have argued that the selection process should give more weight to ensuring that communities with a majority of Black residents receive their fair share of federal investments. 

They are arguing for one of the two locations in Prince George's County, Maryland, which has a large Black population. Virginia is vying for the headquarters as well.

The bill included a clause requiring the General Service Administration to hold "separate and detailed consultations" with representatives of the Maryland and Virginia sites to obtain their opinions before making a decision.

Numerous policy changes were incorporated into the spending bill after intense lobbying by lawmakers who wanted to avoid having to start over in the new Congress the following year.

Sen. Josh Hawley's (R-Mo.) amendment, for instance, prohibits the use of TikTok on government-issued cell phones due to security concerns. Another clause included at the behest of Maine lawmakers secured a six-year moratorium on rules for the lobster and Jonah crab fisheries that were intended to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglement in fishing nets and thus help save them.

Environmental advocacy groups criticised the delay despite the lawmakers' claims that the regulations would endanger those industries without providing meaningful protection for whales.

In response, Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity, gave a scathing response. "A hundred years from now, nobody will remember or care about the trivial victories Democrats will try to claim in this legislation, but they'll mourn the loss of the right whale," he said.

After months of negotiations, some proposed policy changes were unable to pass final scrutiny, disappointing those who saw the so-called omnibus bill as their last, best chance for quick action.

Also Read:  World Bank lowers China's growth outlook due to COVID and housing issues

Democrats' attempts to increase the Child Tax Credit, for instance, were unsuccessful. Bipartisan legislation that would have enabled the tens of thousands of Afghans who had already been admitted to the country to apply for legal permanent residency after passing additional background checks was also dropped.