[...] more compromise will be needed next month to keep the government open past September, renew expired tax breaks, reauthorize the Export-Import Bank and extend the government's terrorism insurance program. [...] when it came to improving veterans' health care, overhauling job training programs, authorizing water projects and "unlocking" cellphones for use in other networks, Congress managed to get the job done. The must-do bills included $16 billion to improve veterans' access to health care and a short-term $11 billion measure to prevent federal funding for highway projects and transit systems from drying up this month. Legislation on job training programs advanced after House Republicans dropped their most ideological demands and worked closely with Democratic veterans like Rep. George Miller of California and Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa. A water resources measure, sealed in May and signed by President Barack Obama in June, was the product of the traditionally bipartisan Senate Environment and Public Works and House Transportation and Infrastructure committees. He seems likely to lose to the Senate this fall when Congress renews the government program that backstops insurance companies in the event of a major terrorist attack. [...] he faces an uphill battle against Democrats and establishment Republicans to kill the Export-Import Bank, which helps finance exports by U.S. companies such as Boeing and General Electric.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 9 hours ago.
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