Flint Wins Funding in the Latest Congressional Budget Standoff

BALTIMORE—After a tense negotiation over a spending bill to keep the government fully funded and operating, leaders in Congress came to an agreement this week to avoid a government shutdown. One major sticking point among congressional leaders was aid for Flint, Michigan, to help residents address its debilitating water crisis.

Democrats refused to vote for a continuing resolution to fund the government that didn’t include $220 million in aid for Flint. A Senate bid to pass a continuing resolution without acceding to this and other Democratic budgetary demands failed on Tuesday, prompting a compromise. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reached a deal to support an amendment to a separate infrastructure-spending bill that would authorize an aid package for Flint.