Pray for truth and wise decisions in Congress about spending and health care reform. Pray for openness to new ways of dealing with old problems and for lawmakers to do what is best for most Americans.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mk 11:24)

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We know that many of you are deeply concerned about health care. It has come to our attention that there are questions about how the proposed spending bill currently in Congress will affect Obamacare specifically and health care generally. We are not taking a position but want to let you know about the concerns.

To find out more, United in Purpose is hosting a call to discuss health care reform on Wednesday, March 21, 2:00 pm ET with Sen. Rick Santorum and other guests.

“Disagreements over health-care policy, immigration and funding for a New York rail tunnel project persisted as Democrats, Republicans and the White House negotiated the measure that would keep the government open until October and prevent a partial shutdown when its current funding expires at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Congress and President Donald Trump had already agreed to the overall spending levels last month, as part of a two-year budget deal, and senior lawmakers were confident it would pass before week’s end.

As part of the budget deal, the bill will boost defense spending by $80 billion this fiscal year over spending limits set in 2011, although Congress has regularly agreed to lift federal funding since then. Domestic spending would get a $63 billion increase.

A bipartisan congressional effort to shore up the Affordable Care Act was likely to be excluded from the bill, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) told House Republicans Monday evening, although Senate Republicans had been pushing late Monday to get it in the legislation.

Sens. Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.) and Susan Collins (R., Maine) had hoped to include a plan from Mr. Alexander and Sen. Patty Murray (D., Wash.) to restore payments to insurers that offset their costs for providing mandatory subsidies to some low-income consumers on the ACA. Mr. Trump ended those payments last year, and many insurers raised premiums as a result. That meant people who don’t get federal assistance to help with premiums saw their costs rise.

The health-care package also would have provided money to states for reinsurance, which help cover high-cost insurer claims as a way to reduce overall premiums. And it would have given states greater flexibility with waivers on how they implement the ACA. Its omission would deal a major blow to insurers and could further imperil the ailing health law’s markets.“ (Excerpts from the Wall Street Journal, reporting by Kristina Peterson and Stephanie Armour.)