Biden administration expected to request more federal spending on domestic issues from Congress

The Biden administration is expected to request another supplemental package from Congress for domestic matters this week, according to sources familiar with the proposal. 

Several Senate aides said the request will include funding for child care, disaster relief, a nonprofit security program to fund synagogues, mosques, churches and other houses of worship, and a Federal Communications Commission program to fund broadband internet for low-income people.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency website, the nonprofit security grant program would enhance security for nonprofit organizations “that are at high risk of terrorist attack.”

BIDEN ADMIN URGES MAJOR FUNDING INCREASES FOR AID TO UKRAINE, ISRAEL, AND GAZA CIVILIANS

“Adding money to the nonprofit security grant program came up in the call between the administration and Senators immediately after the attack [on Israel],” a source familiar said.

The aide added, “There’s functionally unlimited appetite to add money to it.” 

The administration has not formally presented the request to Congress yet as details are still being ironed out. 

The request will come as progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have been urging the administration to sponsor so-called domestic issues, which will likely draw opposition from Republican lawmakers. 

CRUZ SAYS BIDEN’S $105 BILLION FUNDING REQUEST ‘DESIGNED’ TO WORSEN BORDER CRISIS

“Congress cannot approve BILLIONS in a supplemental budget that ONLY addresses critical emergencies around the world,” Sanders posted on X Monday. “We have crises here at home too — child care, health care, housing, opioid addiction — that need major funding NOW and must be included in the supplemental.”

In August, a month prior to the government shutdown deadline, Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., linked arms with Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minn., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and House Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., calling on Biden to pour more funding into child care centers. 

“We urge you to join us in supporting an investment of $16 billion a year by any and all means possible – including supporting Congress in efforts to extend the Child Care Stabilization grants passed in ARPA—and through emergency funding for child care in any supplemental appropriations package put forth by the Administration,” the lawmakers wrote at the time. 

Additionally, another funding deadline, which will sunset the current temporary spending patch known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), is fast approaching on Nov. 17. Both chambers will have to agree on getting a funding package for government programs across the finish line for the next fiscal year. 

However, the House is falling behind on spending negotiations as the chamber scrambles to elect a new speaker to replace former speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

SENATE PREPARES FOR BIDEN TO SEND SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING REQUEST WITH ISRAEL, UKRAINE AID

The Biden administration sent an emergency supplemental request to Congress on Friday. The proposal includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel (with $10.6 billion allocated for military aid), $13.6 billion for the border crisis (including measures to combat the flow of fentanyl), and significant investments in Indo-Pacific security assistance, totaling around $7.4 billion. Additionally, there’s $9 billion earmarked for humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza.