The Senate passed a bill on Saturday that would extend government funding to December 11 in a bid to avert a shutdown ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The chamber moved to tackle the funding deadline over a month in advance of the September 30 deadline. It’s not yet clear though if lawmakers will manage to stave off a funding fight next month.
The bill passed by the Senate would next have to be taken up by the House, where it’s fate is uncertain as that chamber has already passed an alternative measure.
The Senate measure differs from a funding extension passed by the House in several ways, including a lack of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, which have already been funded through the end of President Donald Trump’s term, and a temporary block on a proposed administration rule that critics warn would further politicize federal grants.
The Senate vote to pass the funding bill came in the early hours of Saturday morning, as senators attempted to wrap up a number of legislative items before departing Washington to return to their home states for the August recess.
