This statement can be attributed to Olivia Golden, interim executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy

Washington, DC, December 23, 2024—On Saturday, President Biden signed a continuing resolution (CR) funding the federal government through March 14, 2025. After placing a prior bipartisan agreement at risk to provide easier passage for future tax cuts for billionaires, House Republicans finally introduced the CR just hours before a potential federal government shutdown on Friday.

In addition to continuing the core public services that were placed at risk by the possibility of a shutdown, we are pleased that the short-term budget signed by President Biden provides important disaster relief funds, including support for child care access in areas recently devastated by natural disasters. With the shortage of early educators and affordable, accessible child care in the affected states, the costs of disaster recovery are too significant for any one family or employer to address on their own.

However, we are concerned that this short-term budget stripped out other important provisions included in the earlier, bipartisan CR. For example, the final proposal fails to include a key provision that would have reimbursed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients for benefits stolen through no fault of their own. We remain deeply concerned that the House majority prioritized the possibility of tax cuts for billionaires over the needs of working people. Yet we remain committed to advocating for policies that center workers, reduce poverty, and address the institutional and racial barriers faced by communities of color.