Lawmakers in the United States Senate have successfully passed a $460 billion spending package that includes six bills to fund various programs until the end of the fiscal year on September 30. This vote was a crucial step towards finalizing the 2024 federal budget after months of deadlock in Congress. The bill has now been sent to President Joe Biden for approval.
Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer praised the bipartisan legislation, highlighting the impact it will have on families, veterans, firefighters, farmers, and more. The bill easily passed in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives earlier in the week, but was delayed in the Senate due to conservative Republicans pushing for votes on other topics.
While this spending package has been approved, Congress still needs to work out a deal on a larger package of spending bills covering areas like the military, homeland security, and healthcare, with funding set to expire on March 22. The total cost of the pending bills that make up the federal annual budget is $1.66 trillion.
This successful vote comes after months of uncertainty over government funding, with Congress relying on temporary bills to keep federal agencies funded. The legislation is a major relief for many departments and agencies that were facing the threat of a government shutdown this weekend.
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