Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) voted to pass H.R. 5304. This legislation would extend government funding through December 3, suspend the debt limit to protect the full faith and credit of the United States, and provide emergency funding to address recent natural disasters and the resettlement of Afghan refugees. The bill passed in the House of Representatives today.

“This legislation is absolutely essential to the well-being of the United States,” said Rep. Sewell. “In addition to providing critically important emergency funds to address Hurricane Ida and the resettlement of Afghan refugees, it would also prevent a global financial collapse by ensuring the U.S. meets its financial obligations to the world. Supporting this bill is the responsible thing to do, and I was proud to cast my vote for it today.”

H.R. 5304 includes provisions that would:

• Extend Funding for Critical Programs - The Continuing Resolution extends funding for vital federal agencies, including education, health, housing, and public safety programs through December 3.  The funding will grow opportunity through early child education, investments in our schools, and high-quality job training programs; provide a lifeline to the vulnerable through nutrition and affordable housing; and honor Congress’ solemn responsibility to secure our nation and support our veterans. 
• Provide Emergency Disaster Funding - The emergency disaster funding provides $28.6 billion to address the rising cost of climate change, recent natural disasters including Hurricane Ida, wildfires, severe droughts and winter storms, and other natural and major disasters declared in 2021 and prior years. This funding will help working families, small businesses, and communities get back on their feet and rebuild, while repairing damage to federal facilities.
• Provide Funding to Support Afghan Refugees - The $6.3 billion supplemental to support Afghan evacuees includes funding to temporarily house evacuees at American facilities and in foreign countries, provide necessary security screenings, and ultimately resettle evacuees in the United States. The legislation also includes funding to provide humanitarian assistance for Afghan refugees in neighboring countries.
• Suspend the Debt Limit - H.R. 5304 also includes provisions suspending the debt limit through December 2022, in order to meet the obligations that the government has already made and to protect the full faith and credit of the United States.

Failure to raise or suspend the debt limit would be catastrophic.

• Failure to suspend or raise the debt limit would cause the first default in U.S. history.
• First, a default would jeopardize all U.S. government payments, including Social Security payments, veterans’ benefits, military pay, payments to defense contractors, etc.
• Secondly, a default would hurt all American families by causing interest rates to go up.
• Thirdly, a default could cause a nationwide recession, damaging the livelihoods and savings of millions of working families across the country.
• Fourthly, a default could trigger a worldwide financial crisis. That’s because financial markets currently treat U.S. debt as the safest of assets, with all other assets around the world benchmarked against us. Our default would send waves of financial panic cascading through lots of other markets.

Addressing the debt limit is about meeting obligations the government has already made, including the COVID relief legislation from December, as well as vital payments to Social Security recipients and our veterans.

• A new report shows that only 3 percent of total debt subject to the limit has accumulated under Biden, whereas 27.5 percent of this debt was incurred during the former president’s term.
• Since 2011, every time the debt limit has needed to be suspended or raised, Congress has suspended or raised it on a bipartisan basis and without incident. Since 2011, Congress has taken this action on a bipartisan basis seven times.