Congress releases bill to avert holiday government shutdown

• The bill includes around $100 billion in disaster relief, a one-year extension of the farm bill and provisions restricting U.S. investments in China.
• It also includes a provision that would allow the NFL's Washington Commanders to return to the RFK Stadium site, as well as sweeping health care reforms, the details of which we reported earlier Tuesday.
• The stopgap bill sets up a government funding fight right at the end of President-elect Trump's first 100 days in office, adding to an already-full plate awaiting lawmakers next year.

The big picture: The package includes wins for both Republicans and Democrats.

• The mid-March end date for the short-term bill gives Republicans the opportunity to control funding levels for the second half of fiscal 2025.
• The billions in disaster relief is a win for Democrats and Republicans in states affected by hurricanes this year — President Biden submitted a request for the funding last month. The package also includes $10 billion in economic aid for farmers.

• The restrictions on investments in China are a bipartisan win, and all four corners of congressional leadership wanted to see it make the funding bill. It was pulled out of the year-end defense authorization package last week.

The bottom line: Time is running short. Current funding runs through Dec. 20.