US House to vote on Russia oil ban, Ukraine aid and gov’t spending – The Peninsula

US House to vote on Russia oil ban, Ukraine aid and gov’t spending – The Peninsula

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives was poised on Wednesday for a critical series of votes that would ban U.S. imports of Russian oil, provide emergency aid to Ukraine and fund the federal government through Sept. 30.

Democrats and Republicans reached a $1.5 trillion deal overnight to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2022, including $13.6 billion in security and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and $15.6 billion for U.S. COVID-19 response.

Some House Democrats, however, were balking at the distribution of aid to states under the COVID response portion of the legislation, according to a House Democratic aide.

Democratic leadership was trying to resolve the problem, which has delayed action on the House floor.

With money for the federal government due to run out at midnight Friday, the House also plans to vote on a separate measure to keep the government funded through Tuesday.

This was seen mainly as a housekeeping step so that congressional clerks would have enough time to process the $1.5 trillion "omnibus" legislation following House and Senate passage. That clerical work could extend beyond the midnight Friday deadline when existing funding expires.

Acting White House budget director Shalanda Young urged the House and Senate to act promptly to send the