Congress poised to avert shutdown

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., left, and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, right.

(Credit: CBS/AP)

Updated: 7:10 p.m. ET

The Senate is poised to pass a stopgap spending measure that will fund government agencies beyond September 30th and avert a government shutdown.

The deal will eliminate $1 billion worth of disaster aid, as well as $1 billion in offsets from an EPA loan guarantee program for green cars.

An agreement was reached after FEMA made it clear on Monday that it could potentially sustain itself financially through the end of the week.

The House, which is currently on recess, is expected to approve a week-long extension of funding via voice vote this week. Next week, it is expected to vote on an extension that will keep the government funded through November 18.

FEMA spokesperson Rachel Racusen warned in a statement Monday that if FEMA does run out of money, all disaster recovery and assistance operations currently underway would be shut down.

"If Congress does allow the balance of the Disaster Relief Fund to reach zero, there are laws that govern federal agency operations in the absence of funding," Racusen said. "Under law, FEMA would be forced to temporarily shut down disaster recovery and assistance operations, including financial assistance to individuals until Congress appropriated more funds. This would include all past and current FEMA recovery operations."

According to FEMA, the agency currently has about $114 million to get them through the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year.

In remarks Monday, Reid expressed frustration at House lawmakers' absence.

"It's real hard to negotiate with people who aren't here," he said. "It's hard to legislate when one part of our bicameral legislature is not here."

Republican Senator Scott Brown, meanwhile, on Monday called the gridlock in Washington "disgusting."

"The gridlock and partisanship in Washington right now is disgusting," said the Massachusetts senator.

Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/CBSNewsMain/~3/ua2ixFgivZQ/8301-503544_162-20111910-503544.html

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