The US Senate has approved a key funding bill that could end the nation’s longest government shutdown within days. The measure passed late Monday in a 60-40 vote, with most Republicans and eight Democrats backing it. The agreement will fund the government through the end of January. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives before heading to President Donald Trump, who indicated earlier in the day that he would sign it once approved.
The breakthrough came over the weekend after bipartisan talks aimed at getting federal employees back to work and resuming essential services. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority, the bill needed at least 60 votes to pass the Senate.
Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen, and Jeanne Shaheen crossed party lines to support the deal. They were joined by Maine’s independent senator, Angus King, who typically caucuses with Democrats. The only Republican to oppose the measure was Kentucky’s Rand Paul.
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