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US negotiators reach deal to avoid government shutdown (Second Lead)
Washington, Feb 12 (IANS) US House and Senate legislators have reached an agreement “in principle” to provide $1.375 billion for barriers at the Mexico border, a figure far lower than the $5.7 billion that President Donald Trump had demanded, to avert another government shutdown.
The agreement which was reached on Monday night, is going to stave off a second partial government shutdown at midnight on Friday. The first shutdown that began on December 22, 2018, and ended on January 25, was the longest US government shutdown in history.
The deal however, still needs to pass the House and Senate and secure Trump’s signature, reports The New York Times.
The framework would allow for 55 miles of new bollard fencing, with some restrictions on location based on community and environmental concerns, according to Congressional aides.
The negotiators announced they had reached the agreement after three private meetings on Monday.
It is expected to be finalised as early as Tuesday, well before the Friday deadline when funding would again lapse for a number of federal agencies.
“The fact that it looked like there was going to be another shutdown imminently brought renewed efforts on Monday,” The Washington Post quoted Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard C. Shelby as saying after announcing the deal.
Asked if the White House would support the agreement, Shelby, a Republican from Alabama, told the media: “We think so. We hope so.”
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Nita M. Lowey, who was in Monday’s meetings, said she hoped the negotiators would have a finished product by Wednesday.
The California Democrat said she ran the proposal by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and she signed off on it.
“Some may be happy, some may not be happy,” said Lowey, assessing how Democrats would receive the deal and saying she hoped the agreement would have the votes needed to pass the House. “We did the best we could.”
Besides Shleby and Lowey, Vermont Democrat Patrick J. Leahy and Texas Republican Kay Granger participated in the Monday meetings. They are part of a bipartisan conference committee charged with striking a border security deal.
The White House and congressional leaders have struggled for months to reach an agreement on a government funding bill because of major differences between Democrats and Republicans over immigration policy.
Trump called for using $5.7 billion in taxpayer money to construct more than 200 miles of a wall along the US-Mexico border.
Democrats objected to this and Trump forced the first partial government shutdown to try to exert pressure on Congress to act.
The White House and Republicans eventually backed down, agreeing to a short-term spending bill for a number of agencies that was meant to give congressional negotiators more time to reach a longer-term deal.
Asked by the media if the government would shut down again for the second time, he responded: “That’s up to the Democrats.”
Meanwhile, Trump has readied a plan to declare a national emergency on the southern border, which he believes will allow him to redirect taxpayer money from other projects to build parts of a wall – without approval from Congress.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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