B’nai B’rith International expressed cautious optimism that a newly reached plan between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to fund the government through Jan. 15 and lift the debt limit through Feb. 7 would pass in House and Senate votes. The plan would effectively end the two-week partial government shutdown.

“We urge Congress to do two things: pass an immediate fix to open the government and raise the debt ceiling, and avoid a similar debacle when these short-term fixes end. Defaulting would be an unprecedented disaster,” B’nai B’rith said in a statement. “

On Tuesday, the national director of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA and The Military Coalition said that the government shutdown was causing the neglect of veterans and current members of the military…more.