The bill does not contain measures restricting the Syrian refugee program, ending funding for Obama’s executive actions on immigration, or defunding Planned Parenthood. Conservatives also opposed the price tag of the$1.149 trillion spending bill, which was set by the Bipartisan Budget Act last month.
Conservatives shook by terrorism fears had said a measure toughening screening of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the United States would have ensured their support for the underlying spending bill, though they believe it spends too much money.
Democrats and President Barack Obama worried the proposed screening measures would effectively slow to a halt the president’s plan to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees this fiscal year, a small portion of the number of Syrians fleeing war in that country.
The spending bill does include a policy provision related to national security that both parties and Obama support: a measure targeting a program that allows foreigners from certain allied countries to travel to America without a visa. Language in the spending bill would reform the visa waiver program, preventing individuals from visiting the U.S. without a visa if they’ve previously traveled to countries like Iraq or Syria, where the Islamic State terrorist group is most active.
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