The $50 billion compromise foreign affairs spending bill, which includes billions for foreign assistance, is now law — even if it took a little longer than expected.
The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a wide margin a few weeks ago but was later bundled with other bills, delaying its passage in the Senate.
In the Senate, it was considered alongside a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, which became politically contentious after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a border patrol agent in Minneapolis. Senate Democrats said they would not approve DHS funding without reforms to the agency. Lawmakers eventually reached a compromise, with the Senate voting on Friday to approve five funding bills along with a short-term extension of DHS funding while reform talks continue.