Critical Year-End Bill Package Passes U.S. Senate
Includes FY2021 Appropriations Bills, COVID-19 Relief Funding, Murkowski-Manchin Energy Bill, Tax Extenders Package, Health Care Package
Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded Senate passage of a year-end omnibus bill, which includes 12 appropriations bills to fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2021, among which is Senator Murkowski’s Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This historic funding package also includes a nearly $900 billion COVID-19 relief package; Senator Murkowski’s bipartisan, bicameral Energy Act of 2020; a bipartisan compromise to address the issue of Surprise Medical Billing; a major tax extenders package, and more. The bill passed the Senate with a 91-7 vote and now heads to the President’s desk.
“Today the Senate passed a year-end bill package that includes significant targeted emergency relief for hardworking Americans and their families at a time when they need it most. As a result of COVID-19, Alaskans are struggling with so much uncertainty, including devastating health impacts, economic disparity, and difficult changes to their everyday lives. I spent weeks working with a bipartisan group of colleagues from both chambers on a relief bill, and that product spurred action that resulted in the bill we passed today. This legislation is not the end-all, be-all of COVID-19 relief, but it will provide Americans and Alaskans with much-needed support to help get them through this difficult time,” said Senator Murkowski. “In addition to COVID-19 relief funding, the package also includes a number of other policy initiatives that are critical to Americans, including appropriations bills to fund the entire federal government on a bipartisan basis, and a number of bills to address the quality and cost of healthcare. I’m also proud that through my leadership as Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the first comprehensive modernization of our nation’s energy policies in 13 years is included in this package. I applaud my colleagues for the bipartisan work that has been put forth to reach a deal before the holidays. My hope is that this package will not only take us one step closer to ‘normal’, but will help make our nation stronger than we were, even before the COVID-19 pandemic.”
