Congress unveils final spending package, as Friday midnight deadline looms

Congressional leaders have released the second and final bipartisan package of six 2024 fiscal year appropriations bills, teeing up a race against the clock for lawmakers to pass the bills before a deadline of Friday at midnight.

The $1.2 trillion package includes defense, homeland security, financial services and general government, labor-HHS, the legislative branch, and state-foreign operations. It funds the federal government until the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

"This bill funds our highest national security priorities — it invests in a more modern, innovative, and ready fighting force, continues our strong support for our great ally Israel, and provides key border enforcement resources," House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger, R-Texas, said in a statement.

Democrat Sen. Patty Murray of Washington and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who are chair and vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said "there is zero need for a shutdown or chaos."

"Members of Congress should waste no time in passing these six bills, which will greatly benefit every state in America and reflect important priorities of many Senators," the pair said in a statement.

The package represents the second set of annual spending bills. Congress voted on the first batch on March 8.

Now that the text is released, the question becomes whether Congress can vote on the package before the deadline of Friday at midnight.

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Wednesday he expected the House would vote on Friday. That timeline means his members won't have the 72 hours to read the text before voting on the package that House GOP leadership had promised.

"The Republican Party believes in the idea that you review