The US Senate on Wednesday passed legislation to keep the federal government operating just hours before agency funding runs out with the start of a new fiscal year on Thursday.
The measure, passed by a wide margin, next goes to the US House of Representatives, which is expected to take it up promptly so that President Barack Obama can sign it into law before a midnight deadline, Reuters reported.
Under the bill, a range of government activities would be funded at current levels until Dec. 11, giving congressional negotiators and Obama more time to work out a budget deal at least for the rest of the 2016 fiscal year ending next Sept. 30.
