[The Senate approved a slimmed-down, temporary government spending plan early Saturday morning, averting a shutdown of the federal government. The legislation now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature, and the brief lapse beyond a midnight funding deadline is not expected to have a significant impact.
The passage of the package came after President-elect Donald Trump torpedoed a bipartisan agreement struck earlier in the week. A House vote on a Trump-endorsed funding bill failed on Thursday evening, but the chamber then approved a revised bill Friday evening.
The legislation funds the government through March 14, setting up another spending showdown in the early days of the Trump administration.
The spending agreement includes:
* More disaster aid funding: $100 billion to help Americans recover from multiple natural disasters in 2023 and 2024
* Economic aid for farmers: $10 billion in economic aid for farmers, as well as a one-year extension of the farm bill
* Maryland bridge funding: The federal government will fully fund replacing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland, and the US Treasury Department will be allowed to recoup money from any settlements related to the bridge’s collapse
The spending package did not include:
* A debt ceiling extension, which was included in the GOP package that failed Thursday
* Some other priorities, such as funding for a border wall and additional healthcare funding for rural communities
The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Biden, and lawmakers will need to negotiate another spending package in March to keep the government funded beyond that date.
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