President Joe Biden signed legislation on Dec. 21 to avert a government shutdown just ahead of Christmas, concluding a week of political turmoil in Washington. The White House announced on the morning of Dec. 21 that Biden had signed into law the American Relief Act (H.R. 10545), which funds the government at current levels through March 14, 2025, and provides $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural aid to farmers. The bill passed the Senate in a late-night 85–11 vote that concluded shortly after the midnight shutdown deadline on Saturday. The House of Representatives passed the same bill in a 366–34 vote on Dec. 20, with Biden’s signature marking the final step in a contentious legislative process that saw a previous funding deal collapse amid opposition from President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans….