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The legislation is intended to give the Democratic-majority
Senate and Republican-controlled House of Representatives more
time to pass a $1.59 trillion spending measure for the fiscal
year that began Oct. 1.
The Senate voted 68-13 to begin debate on the temporary funding
bill, moving it closer to passage. Once passed, the House was
expected to promptly consider it.
The bill would extend the pipeline for government agency funding
at current levels but set two new expiration dates: money for
agriculture, nutrition, transportation, housing, energy,
military construction and veterans programs, now set to expire
on Friday, would be extended through March 1.
Appropriations for the remaining agencies, including defense,
homeland security and the State Department, which currently
expire on Feb. 2, would be extended until March 8.
Congress was unable to meet its Sept. 30, 2023, deadline for
approving a dozen spending bills for the 2024 fiscal year
because of demands for deep spending cuts by a small band of
hardline conservative House Republicans.
This bill is the third temporary spending measure this fiscal
year.
A separate battle is being waged over an "emergency" spending
bill to assist Ukraine and Israel in their wars against Russia
and Hamas in Gaza, respectively.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone, Deepa
Babington and Christopher Cushing)
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