House Approves Spending Bill; Package Now Goes to Senate
WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — The House approved a $1.2 trillion package of spending bills Friday, shortly before funding for some federal agencies is set to expire and a partial shutdown could begin.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where leadership hopes for a final vote later in the day.
[Earlier Report: Congress Rushes to Approve Spending Package Before Shutdown Deadline]
This is a long overdue action nearly six months into the budget year. The package, a 1,012-page bill, funds the departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Labor and others.
Lawmakers might still miss the midnight deadline for completely funding the government as the Senate goes through its steps for a vote. But the impact on a short-term shutdown would be minimal, given it falls on a weekend.
In addition, some government services were funded through the first package of budget bills that cleared two weeks ago.
While the House normally would take more time to review legislation, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., presented the bill under a streamlined process that required two-thirds support for approval. It passed by a vote of 286-134.
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