He US Senate approved this Thursday morning a cuts package by close to U $ S9,000 million in federal expenditure. It was after a formal request from the president Donald Trump and the legislation must be ratified again by the House of Representatives Before midnight on Friday to become law.
The measure, which affects key areas such as Foreign aid and public broadcastingwas previously backed by the lower house in an adjusted vote of 214 to 212. However, by suffering modifications in the Senate, it will require a second vote in the Chamber for final approval. If not approved before the established period, the cuts would not take effect.
The leader of the majority in the Senate, the Republican John Thune By South Dakota, he justified the measure as an effort to control federal expenditure. “This is a small but important step towards fiscal wisdom, which we should all agree that it should have long been”, He said in the debate.
The US Senate approved cuts in international assistance and public media
One of the areas most affected by cuts is Public broadcasting corporation (CPB), which would lose near US $ 1,100 million corresponding to the next two fiscal years.
The CPB finances more than 1,500 local public radio and television stationsand distributes part of the budget to NPR (national public radio) and the public broadcasting service (PBS) For national content.
The legislation also provides for a Reduction of almost US $ 8,000 million in foreign aid programs. Among the affected items are included:
- U $ S 800 million for emergency assistance to displaced people
- U $ S 496 million destined to provide food, water and medical care in crisis areas
- US $ 4,150 million for economic and democratic strengthening programs in developing countries
The senator Brian Schatz (Democrat by Hawaii) criticized the cuts and warned about its international consequences. “People are dying right now, not despite us, but because of us. We are causing death”He said.
The package also includes a cut of 400 million dollars to Pepfar, the program to combat HIV/AIDS created during the government of George W. Bush and widely backed by both games. This adjustment caused discomfort even among Republican senators, which fear a negative impact on global public health.
The approval of the package, driven through a “rescission application” of the White House, was completed by simple majority, without the need to reach the usual 60 votes to overcome the legislative block. This use of the mechanism generated criticism between senators of both parties, who fear that the role of Congress in the budget allocation is weakened.
“Let’s not get used to this”, Warned Senator Roger Wicker.
Senator Thom Tillis (North Carolina) anticipated that Republicans will need to negotiate with Democrats to avoid a government closure later in the year: “The only way to finance the government is to get at least seven democrats to vote with us at the end of September”
Donald Trump promotes millionaire investments in energy and infrastructure to lead the AI career
From the Carnegie Mellon University, in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump Headed the inauguration of the Summit of Energy and Innovation, where he announced a battery of agreements by More than US $ 92,000 million aimed at promoting the energy and technological infrastructure necessary for the development of the YoARTIFICIAL NIGENCE (AI).
The former president focused on the need for the United States to lead the technological revolution, especially against China’s progress: “Today’s commitments ensure that the future will be created here, in Pennsylvania, in Pittsburgh, and I have to say, in the United States”he said.
Source: Ambito
