Congress Announces Appropriations Deal

Lawmakers on Dec. 16 struck a deal for a $1.4 trillion bipartisan, bicameral spending plan to fund the government through fiscal 2020, including $695.1 billion for the Defense Department. The House is expected to vote on the bill on Dec. 17, with the Senate to follow later in the week. If passed, it would avert a government shutdown before current government funding runs out on Dec. 20. The deal represents a $19.5 billion increase over enacted funding for 2019, and includes a 3.1 percent pay increase for all military personnel, according to a Senate Appropriations Committee summary. Read more ►