US: Hours ahead of shutdown deadline, Senate passes USD 460 billion spending package

The US Senate passed a package of six government funding bills worth USD 460 billion, Friday evening (local time), averting the shutdown just hours ahead of the deadline, CNN reported.

After lawmakers raced the clock to get the measure across the finish line, the legislation now advances to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

Biden is expected to sign the package into law on Saturday. The Office of Management and Budget ceased shutdown preparations Friday because Congress had approved the bill, the White House said, according to the pool.

“Because obligations of federal funds are incurred and tracked on a daily basis, and the President will sign the bill tomorrow, agencies will not shut down and may continue their normal operations tomorrow,” the White House said in a statement.

The Senate voted 75-22 Friday evening to pass the measure, after the House approved the legislation on Wednesday.

The spending bills – backed by the top Democrats and Republicans in both chambers – represent a major breakthrough for lawmakers after months of averting shutdowns at the eleventh hour with stopgap bills, according to CNN.

Although, the Congress has finally passed updated legislation to fund critical government departments and agencies through the rest of the fiscal year, the work isn’t over yet, because the lawmakers still need to finalize and pass a second slate of funding bills ahead of a March 22 deadline.