The vote is a major step toward finalizing the 2024 federal budget after months of stalemate in a divided Congress.
U.S. senators passed the spending bill just before a midnight deadline, averting a partial government shutdown.
The House voted 75-22 on Friday to approve a $460 billion spending package made up of six bills that will fund agriculture, transportation, housing, energy, veterans affairs and other programs through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. If the funding is not passed, it will be announced across multiple departments this weekend.
The vote was a key step toward finalizing the 2024 federal budget after months of gridlock in a deeply divided Congress. The bill was sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.
In a statement ahead of the bill's passage, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer hailed the bill as a “huge step” toward a fully funded government.
“For those who worry that a divided government won't make any progress, this bipartisan package says otherwise. Helps parents, veterans, firefighters, farmers, school cafeterias, and more. “It's a thing,” he added.
The Senate reached an agreement tonight to avoid shutting down the first six funding bills.
We will continue to fund critical programs for mothers and children, veterans, the environment, housing, and more.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 9, 2024
The bill easily passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives earlier this week. Action in the Senate was delayed as some conservative Republicans called for votes on immigration and other issues.
Congress still needs to hammer out a deal on a larger spending bill covering the military, homeland security, health care and other services. Funding for these programs expires on March 22nd.
The bill was just passed, and the pending bills that make up the federal annual budget will cost $1.66 trillion.
All these measures were supposed to become law by October 1, the start of the 2024 fiscal year. Congress rarely misses its deadlines, but this year's deliberations have been chaotic, with congressional leaders using a series of stopgap measures to keep federal agencies funded for weeks or months more. While relying on the bill, it has struggled to reach agreement on full-year spending.
