House and Senate appropriators Sunday released six spending bills they hope both chambers can pass this week, as The Hill reported. Among the bills is the one that funds military construction and Veterans Affairs.

“The bills represent the first overall cut to non-defense, non-VA spending in almost a decade,” House Appropriations Republicans said in a summary.

The bills are to fund the current fiscal year, which started Oct. 1 and has been operating under a series of continuing resolutions.

Politico noted some of the policy wins that Johnson got in the spending package as well as some of Democrats’ wins.

The six-bill spending package does not include controversial, House-approved policy riders, making it more likely the package will pass with heavy Democratic support. That could further upset far-right House conservatives who have threatened to remove Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from his speakership like they did former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last year.

The Dates to Watch

Tues., March 5: The House and Senate return to session.

Thurs., March 7: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union Address at 9 p.m. Eastern time, with Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) delivering the GOP response a few minutes after.

Fri., March 8: The six spending bills released Sunday must be passed through both chambers and signed into law by President Biden to avoid a partial government shutdown.

Fri., March 22: This is the deadline to pass and get Presidential signature on the other six spending bills, including those that fund DOD and the Department of Homeland Security.

Tues., April 30: If Congress has not passed appropriations bills for the current fiscal year, it will trigger a 1% across-the-board spending cuts, significantly affecting the Pentagon budget.

Tues., Oct. 1: The new fiscal year begins.

Air Force photo by Jason Treffry