Spending deal is imminent, leaders say

Source: The Hill



BY MELANIE ZANONA AND MIKE LILLIS - 03/21/18 11:45 AM EDT

After weeks of tense negotiations and drawn-out debate, leaders of both parties on Wednesday said that they’ve all but finalized an agreement on a massive package to fund the government through September and prevent a shutdown on Saturday.

“We’re finalizing the details and I feel like we’re in a very good place,” Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said as he left his Capitol office after huddling with the other top leaders of both parties.

He said the final omnibus package would be released “very soon.”

Emerging from the meeting moments before, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said a deal is imminent.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/379515-spending-deal-is-imminent-leaders-say

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Omnibus to include election cybersecurity funds

BY MORGAN CHALFANT - 03/21/18 11:57 AM EDT

Congressional leaders are hammering out a massive spending bill that will include money to help secure U.S. voting systems from cyberattacks.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said the omnibus bill would provide grants for election security during a hearing Wednesday, though he did not go into detail about the funding.

Sources told The Hill that the omnibus package is expected to include $380 million in election technology grants for states to secure digital systems involved in elections. It is also expected to include $307 million for FBI counter-intelligence efforts against Russian cyberattacks. The money underscores efforts in Congress to address Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which included attempts to target voting-related digital systems in 21 states. Lawmakers have grown increasingly concerned that Russia will look to meddle in the 2018 midterm elections and beyond.

The Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday held a hearing on election security, one day after senators released a summary of recommendations on securing vote systems from cyberattacks.The report, the first product of the committee’s yearlong investigation into Russian interference, calls for the federal government to establish a voluntary grant program for states to boost cybersecurity.

more
http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/379517-omnibus-to-include-election-cybersecurity-funds