US Senate passes bill to fund federal govt

KABUL (Pajhwok): The US Senate has given the go-ahead to a budget deal to prevent the maiden federal government shutdown in five years, the BBC reported on Saturday.

The Senate voting came hours after the House of Representatives approved the legislation. The breakthrough came soon after a midnight deadline expired.

President Joe Biden will now sign the stop-gap funding bill into law. Biden's spokeswoman said the president was supportive of the deal.

The Senate passed the bill not long after midnight — technically after the funding A shutdown of the federal government would have had widespread impacts if the Democratic-controlled house had not passed the bill by 85 to 11 votes.

According to CNN, the legislation extends government funding into March and provides disaster relief and farm aid.

However, the measure excludes a suspension of the debt limit Donald Trump had asked Republicans to address.

PAN Monitor/mud