Congress Passes Budget and Debt Ceiling Agreement, Departs for August Recess

Congress has left Washington for the August recess and is not scheduled to return until after Labor Day. Before leaving town on Thursday, the Senate voted to pass a budget and debt ceiling agreement that the House passed before leaving the previous week. The agreement lifts the nation's debt ceiling for two years while increasing military and non-military spending by $320 billion. While the agreement prevents the federal government from defaulting on its bills and sets budget levels, Congress must still pass appropriations bills to keep the government open beyond September 30th. President Trump signed the budget and debt ceiling agreement on Friday.