The U.S. Senate voted 72-25 on Thursday to pass a bill that avoids a partial shutdown of the federal government while also sending $20 million to Jackson, Mississippi as the city continues to battle a water crisis.
Both Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Roger Wicker voted in favor of the stopgap bill, which is the last piece of major legislation Congress is expected to pass until after the November midterms.
“I am pleased my fellow appropriators agreed to provide more resources to correct the serious shortfalls with Jackson’s water and wastewater infrastructure,” Hyde-Smith said. “The $20 million in this legislation will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to continue work on giving Jackson’s residents more reliable water and wastewater services.”
The funding bill also includes $20 billion in aid for Ukraine, an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program, security enhancements for U.S. courts, and a five-year reauthorization of the Food and Drug Administration’s user fee program.
The legislation now heads to the House, where lawmakers are expected to pass it by Friday’s midnight deadline.
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