Manchin, who chairs the Senate Energy Committee, had secured a commitment from President Joe Biden and Democratic leaders to have a vote on the permitting package in return for his support of a landmark law to curb climate change. Lawmakers from both parties are eager to wrap up and spend time on the campaign trail, lowering the risk of a federal stoppage. It represents the last bit of unfinished business for lawmakers before the midterm elections in November. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “We support Senator Manchin’s decision not to press for a floor vote" and promised the administration “will continue to work with him to find a vehicle to bring this bill to the floor and get it passed and to the President’s desk.”īoth chambers of Congress must approve legislation by Friday, which is the end of the fiscal year, to prevent a partial government shutdown. “Senator Manchin, myself and others will continue to have conversations about the best way to ensure responsible permitting reform is passed before the end of the year," Schumer said. Manchin said he was ready to work with colleagues to move forward with permitting legislation at another time.
Manchin in a statement confirmed he had asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to remove the permitting language and said he was holding to his belief that “we should never come to the brink of a government shutdown over politics." The most contentious piece of the legislation was Manchin’s plan to streamline the permitting process for energy projects and make it easier for a pipeline project in his home state and Virginia to proceed. At least 10 Republican senators would have to support the measure to overcome procedural hurdles and advance in that chamber. Republican lawmakers were overwhelmingly opposed to the health funding. The measure excludes the White House call for spending $22 billion to respond to COVID-19, and $3.9 billion to fight against an outbreak of the monkeypox virus. The assistance would be on top of some $53 billion Congress has already approved through two previous bills. In addition to government funding, the spending measure provides about $12.3 billion in assistance related to Ukraine, including training, equipment, weapons and direct financial support for the Ukraine government.
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