US Senate passes $1.7 trillion government funding bill

The US Senate voted, on Thursday, to approve a $1.7 trillion government funding bill and the related legislation is getting passed onto the House, ahead of the Friday night deadline in order to prevent partial federal government shutdown. The bill is meant to fund critical government operations and to provide emergency aid for Ukraine and natural disaster relief.

The final vote was 68 in favour and 29 opposed. In case the House passes the bill, it will represent a significant bipartisan win for President Joe Biden.

If the House fails to pass this bill, this will be moved to the new year when Republicans will control the House after the results of the midterm elections.

Capitol Hill is generally expecting a shutdown will be avoided, but congressional leaders have little room for error with government funding set to expire at the end of the day on Friday.