Senate works into the night on spending bills

$1.2 trillion funding package debated as partial shutdown deadline loomed

WASHINGTON — The Senate inched closer to passage of a $1.2 trillion package of spending bills late Friday after reaching agreement on a series of proposed amendment votes, though a final vote on passage was set to occur after a midnight funding deadline.

Prospects for a short-term government shutdown had appeared to grow Friday evening after Republicans said Democrats had rejected their requests for votes on several amendments on border security and other issues. Any successful amendments to the bill would send the legislation back to the House, which has already left town for a twoweek recess.

But shortly before midnight Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a breakthrough. “It’s been a very long and difficult day, but we have just reached an agreement to complete the job of funding the government,” Schumer said. “It is good for the country that we have reached this bipartisan deal. It wasn’t easy, but tonight our persistence has been worth it.”

While Congress has already approved money for Veterans Affairs, Interior, Agriculture and other agencies, the bill at issue Friday is much larger, providing funding for the Defense, Homeland Security and State departments and other aspects of general government.

The White House said it had a “high degree of confidence” the package would pass and President Joe Biden would sign it Saturday.

The House had approved the package earlier Friday, a long overdue action nearly six months into the budget year that would push any threats of a government shutdown to the fall.

The House passed the bill by a vote of 286-134, narrowly gaining the twothirds majority needed for approval. More than 70% of the money would go to defense.