The Senate gave itself another week to pass a spate of spending bills set to expire this weekend, bringing Washington one step closer to averting a government shutdown.
By a 77-13 vote, the chamber agreed to extend the first of two funding deadlines to March 8 after congressional leaders reached a deal on six of their 12 annual spending bills, four of which will lapse on Friday.
The other six, covering the Pentagon and other more controversial funding, were set to expire next week but will instead be extended to March 22 to allow more time for negotiations.
The bill, known as a continuing resolution, easily cleared the House earlier on Thursday and is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden before the deadline. However, the one-week window sets up a fresh time crunch
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