US Senate passes government funding bill, averts shutdown
(VOVWORLD) - The US Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilizing government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.
 US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer attends a press conference with Senate Democrats on the judiciary committee in Washington, US, December 20, 2024. (REUTERS/Nathan Howard) |
The Democratic-controlled Senate in an 85-11 vote passed the bill to continue government funding 38 minutes after it expired at midnight (0500 GMT Saturday). The government did not invoke shutdown procedures in the interim.
The bill will now be sent it to White House, where President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law.
The package had earlier cleared the Republican-controlled House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
Congress did not act on Trump's demand to raise the debt ceiling, a politically difficult task, before he takes office on Jan. 20.
The federal government spent roughly 6.2 trillion USD last year and has more than 36 trillion USD in debt, and Congress will need to act to authorize further borrowing by the middle of next year.
The legislation would extend government funding until March 14, provide 100 billion USD for disaster-hit states and 10 billion USD for farmers, and extend farm and food aid programs due to expire at the end of the year.