The White House will fly the federal budget to St Croix for President Joe Biden to sign into law ahead of the December 30 deadline, so the government doesn't shut down over New Year's Eve.
The 4,000-page, $1.7 trillion omnibus package to fund the government through September 2023 arrived at the White House on Wednesday evening, after it completed the legislative enrollment process.
It now needs to make its way to St Croix, where Biden is spending the holiday week in a luxury villa owned by a billionaire Democratic donor.
'The White House received the bill from Congress yesterday evening and the President intends to sign it before the government funding deadline,' a senior administration official told DailyMail.com on Thursday.
The White House will fly the 4,000-page, $1.7 trillion omnibus package to fund the government to St Croix for President Joe Biden to sign it into law
President Joe Biden, pictured with Jill Biden and granddaughter Natalie, arrived in St Croix on Tuesday evening to spend New Year's Eve in the sun
The White House has not publicly said how or when the legislation will arrive for the president to sign.
On Wednesday, over 2,800 flights had been cancelled and nearly 3,200 delayed in the after effects of monster storm that hit much of the United States. Southwest was hardest hit - as of Thursday morning it had canceled 2,357 flights - 58 percent of its daily schedule and 96 percent of all canceled trips in the US today.
Congress passed the massive budget bill last week but then it had to go through a complicated enrollment process that involves printing the text of the bill on parchment paper, with a certificate page that is signed by the speaker of the House and the president pro temp of the Senate.
After that is completed, it is transfered to the White House for the president's signature. It would have gone to the staff secretary's office, which is responsible for all the paperwork the president must sign.
It's not the first time a piece of legislation has flown commercial to the president's location.
In May, a $40 billion U.S. package of assistance for Ukraine was sent with a staffer on a commercial flight to South Korea, when Biden was in Seoul for meetings with Asian leaders.
The president signed it into law while he was abroad.
President Biden has escaped the cold of Washington D.C. to enjoy a sunny tropical vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands for free at a three-bedroom luxury villa owned by a billionaire Democratic donor.
St. Croix is the largest of the three islands making up the U.S. Virgin Islands. St. Thomas and St. John are the other two. The Biden family has a long tradition of visiting St. Croix in the winter.
The president, first lady Jill, daughter Ashley, her husband Howard, and grandkids Natalie and Hunter Jr. are staying at the St. Croix home of billionaire Democratic donors Bill and Connie Neville, according to the White House.
The Nevilles made their fortune in software and were among the 300 people invited to Biden's state dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron on December 1.
The Bidens are not paying rent but staying as 'guests' at the home on Solitude Bay, a private community with its own beach. Houses there can sell for around $3 million, according to property websites.
President Joe Biden and family are staying for free at home of billionaire Democratic donor on St. Croix - largest of U.S. Virgin Islands
Three-bedroom house has views of Caribbean sea and a private pool
The villa sits on Solitude Bay, which has access to a private beach
The home is owned by Democratic donors Bill and Connie Neville
A luxury family vacation rental on St. Croix can run up to $5,000 a night, according to vacation websites.
The house has its own pool along with gorgeous views of the Caribbean Sea and its brilliant blue waters.
It also has private beach access and sits on the southern part of St. Croix.
Photos show bedrooms with colorful paint on the walls. Bright, multi-color rugs are on the floor. Colorful throw pillows abound. The kitchen, dining room and living room are in an open space, allowing plenty of time for family chats and togetherness.
Both the president and first lady are known to enjoy beach time. The Bidens own a beach home in Rehoboth, Delaware.
Bill and Connie Neville are big-time Democratic donors. He made his fortune in the tech industry while she is a self-employed designer. They are estimated to be worth a billion dollars.
The couple are from Alabama and made the largest single donation in the history of Auburn University athletics, which resulted in the basketball arena being named after them.
The Nevilles are active on the charity circuit too and even raised money for a St. Croix animal welfare group.
Bill and Connie Neville are Democratic donors estimated to be worth a billion dollars
Luxury villas on St. Croix can rent for $5,000 a night, according to vacation websites
The bedrooms have colorful decor
The bedroom walls are brightly painted with colorful rugs and throw pillows
The Bidens are staying on St. Croix through New Year's Eve
The house has a chef's kitchen and open seating plan, allowing for lots of family time
The president arrived Tuesday evening after a smooth, trouble-free flight on Air Force One while most of the country experiences travel chaos and widespread power outages after a massive cyclone bomb storm.
The first family will celebrate New Year's Eve on the island, returning to Washington D.C. on January 2nd.
English (United States) ·