Lawmakers release huge spending bill ahead of deadline

The bill, which would provide funding for government agencies through the Sept. 30 end of fiscal 2023, includes $858 billion for national defense, a $76 billion increase over current levels. “From funding for nutrition programs and housing assistance, to home energy costs and college affordability, our bipartisan, bicameral, omnibus appropriations bill directly invests in providing relief from the burden of inflation on the American people.” In the overall bill, the majority Democrats agreed to a roughly 10% increase to defense funding while limiting non-defense funding to a 5.5% increase to gain enough Republican support to pass the measure under the Senate’s filibuster rules.