President Biden Signs $1.2 Trillion Funding Package, Averts Government Shutdown, Announces $150 Million Funding for Cancer Research

President Joe Biden has signed a $1.2 trillion budget bill into law, ensuring that the U.S. government remains funded and averting a partial shutdown. The bipartisan bill, which covers the fiscal year that began six months ago, aims to invest in the American people, strengthen the economy, and enhance national security. The signing of the bill was announced in a statement released by the White House. The bill was passed by the Senate earlier in the day, ending the threat of a government shutdown. The funding package includes funding for various departments and federal programs, such as Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Labor, State, and Treasury. It also includes earmarks for community project funding and addresses the crisis at the border by providing funding for additional detention beds, Border Patrol agents, and port of entry officers. President Biden stated that the bill keeps the government open, invests in the American people, and strengthens the economy and national security. The bill funds the Departments of Defense, Labor, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, State, Energy, and the legislative branch. It was passed by the House of Representatives, 286-134, and by the Senate, 74-24. The signing comes after missing a midnight deadline to avert a shutdown. Biden called on Congress to pass a bipartisan national security supplemental and a bipartisan border security agreement. The bill rejects extreme cuts from House Republicans and expands access to child care, invests in cancer research, funds mental health and substance use care, and provides resources to secure the border. The appropriations process for fiscal 2024 was tumultuous, with several interim stopgaps. The affected agencies will not be shut down due to the short lapse in funding. Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene has filed a motion to vacate House Speaker Mike Johnson's over his bipartisan agreement to fund the government through fiscal 2024. [20fadbdc] [d65ab812] [5c60b23b] [1884bf17] [80b2e34c] [d83ac7a4] [3f1d9c36] [b67ffec4] [1ea91fe4] [0d5ff29f] [e70b47ff]

In addition to signing the budget bill, President Biden has called on Congress to pass a plan to help Ukraine. He urged the House of Representatives to pass a plan for additional funds for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The aid to Ukraine and Israel will be divided into separate projects. The President's call for additional financing comes after signing the budget bill, which ensures the government remains funded. Any new bill to provide additional funds for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan must receive enough votes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Speaker Mike Johnson will consider draft legislation on additional financing to support Ukraine once the central government's financial problem is resolved. [db737c3b]

Furthermore, President Biden has unveiled a $150 million funding initiative as part of his 'Cancer Moonshot' program. The funding aims to develop technology to assist surgeons in removing cancerous tumors. The program, which seeks to reduce the US cancer death rate by at least half by 2047, has already invested over $400 million in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. The eight award recipients of the new funding include Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Washington. The technology funded by the program would revolutionize cancer surgery by allowing surgeons to identify and remove surrounding cancerous tissue before closing the wound. [3b1099b5]

President Joe Biden visited New Orleans to promote his administration's initiative to reduce cancer deaths. During the visit, he announced $150 million in awards from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to support cancer research. The funding will be used to develop technology that assists surgeons in removing cancerous tumors. President Biden aims to cut U.S. cancer fatalities by 50% over the next 25 years. Cancer is the second-highest killer in the U.S., and the President's initiative is personal as he and the first lady have had skin lesions removed and their son died of brain cancer. Advocates have praised Biden for his commitment to cancer research and are calling for sustained funding for the National Institutes of Health. Scientists understand that cancer is not a single disease and different treatments are needed for different types of cancer. [5fab3da6]