An agreement has been reached on the debt ceiling, but the deal will still need to go to a vote in both the House and Senate before it reaches President Biden. The deal is for two years, which means the issue of the debt ceiling won't come up again until after the next presidential election.
What is inside the debt deal?
The Republicans wanted to add new work requirements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TNAF). The new requirement will increase the age at which those receiving food stamps must seek work. The age has increased from 49 years old to 54. This means SNAP recipients up to the age of 54 must be looking for work while receiving the benefits. There are exemptions for the homeless and veterans. Republicans had also pushed for Medicaid recipients to also be seeking work, but Medicaid will be exempt from the work requirements.
Another big push from Republicans was that unspent COVID funds be returned, and that is included in this deal.
The IRS's funding will be cut by $1.9 billion. This deal will also cap non-defense spending and continue to provide full medical care for veterans, including funding for the Toxic Exposure Fund.
The deal will also end the current freeze that Biden placed on student loans, requiring student loan payments to restart in 60 days.
McCarthy said with this deal, “There are no new taxes, no new government programs." Biden said the deal "protects my and Congressional Democrats' key priorities and legislative accomplishments," adding that it "represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want. That's the responsibility of governing."
Reader discussion:
What are your feelings on this deal? Should McCarthy have pushed for more cuts? Do you think this deal is going to pass a vote in the House and Senate?
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