The House approved a major funding package on Wednesday, taking a significant step toward a longer-term solution to the spending saga that has stretched on for months.
Lawmakers voted 339 to 85 to approve the package of spending bills that extends funding for some federal agencies through September, surpassing the two-thirds majority needed. More Democrats than Republicans supported the measure, which now heads to the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday that the upper chamber will move quickly on the funding package to avert a partial shutdown at week’s end.Â
“As soon as the House passes these appropriations bills and sends them to the Senate, I will put the bills on the floor so we can pass them and fund these six departments with time to spare before Friday’s deadline,” the New York Democrat said.Â
Congressional leaders unveiled a six-bill spending package on Sunday, finalizing a bipartisan plan to fund the government that was unveiled last week. The package, which is the first of two to resolve the government funding issue, largely extends spending levels through the end of the fiscal year with some cuts, which Democrats accepted to stave off GOP policy changes. The agreement gave both parties something to tout.
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