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Massive spending bill moves to Senate ahead of shutdown deadline US Congress passes huge spending bill ahead of shutdown deadline
(about 9 hours later)
The US House of Representatives has approved a sweeping $1.3tn (£921bn) package to fund the government until September. The US Senate has completed congressional approval of a sweeping $1.3tn (£921bn) package to fund the government until September.
The 2,232-page bill passed by a vote of 256-167 on Thursday less than 24 hours after it was made public. Senators passed the 2,232-page bill in a 65-32 vote early on Friday, hours after the House backed it.
A Friday night deadline is looming to avert another shutdown of federal government agencies. To become a law, the bill needs to be signed by President Donald Trump ahead of a Friday midnight deadline.
The measure now goes to the US Senate, where every member is required to consent in order to meet the deadline. This would fund the federal government until 30 September, and avert another government shutdown.
Due to the procedural rule requiring "unanimous consent", any of the 100 US senators could hold up the bill. Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan celebrated the package as a means to enact President Trump's policy positions.
This tactic was used by Senator Rand Paul in February, triggering a brief government shutdown overnight.
On Thursday, the Kentucky Republican complained on Twitter that the legislation was taking over two hours to print.
The measure would fund the federal government until 30 September 2018, and was passed by a bipartisan House majority.
Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan celebrated the package as a means to enact President Donald Trump's policy positions.
"This bill starts construction on the wall," he told reporters in a news conference on Capitol Hill."This bill starts construction on the wall," he told reporters in a news conference on Capitol Hill.
"It funds our war on opioids. It invests in infrastructure. It funds school safety and mental health," he continued."It funds our war on opioids. It invests in infrastructure. It funds school safety and mental health," he continued.
It provides $1.6bn in funding for Mr Trump's border wall, far short of the $25bn the White House had sought.It provides $1.6bn in funding for Mr Trump's border wall, far short of the $25bn the White House had sought.
It also includes a provision that would legally allow the slaughter of wild horses roaming the American West.It also includes a provision that would legally allow the slaughter of wild horses roaming the American West.
In a last-minute addition, it added funds to include the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for gun sales.In a last-minute addition, it added funds to include the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for gun sales.
It also includes a 9% budget increase for the US National Park Service to address a repair backlog that advocates say are urgently needed. It includes a 9% budget increase for the US National Park Service to address a repair backlog that advocates say are urgently needed.
"This is a necessary investment with broad returns, and we hope this trend continues," in future spending bills, said Kristen Brengel of the non-profit National Parks Conservation Association."This is a necessary investment with broad returns, and we hope this trend continues," in future spending bills, said Kristen Brengel of the non-profit National Parks Conservation Association.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called the bill "a tremendous victory for the American people". The bill also boosts military spending.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called it "a tremendous victory for the American people".
"If you want to think you're getting a wall, just think it and sign the bill," she said, in a remark aimed at Mr Trump's Republican supporters in Congress."If you want to think you're getting a wall, just think it and sign the bill," she said, in a remark aimed at Mr Trump's Republican supporters in Congress.
But despite cross-party support, at least 90 conservative Republicans objected to the measure, calling it government spending run amok.But despite cross-party support, at least 90 conservative Republicans objected to the measure, calling it government spending run amok.
"This omnibus [spending bill] doesn't just forget the promises we made to voters, it flatly rejects them," Representative Mark Meadows, head of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, said after the vote."This omnibus [spending bill] doesn't just forget the promises we made to voters, it flatly rejects them," Representative Mark Meadows, head of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, said after the vote.
"This is wrong. This is not the limited government conservatism our voters demand.""This is wrong. This is not the limited government conservatism our voters demand."