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The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a short-term spending bill that would stave off a looming government shutdown, as lawmakers bought time to work on a bigger budget agreement.
The House bill, which passed 272-162, funds the government through March 11, and now goes to the Senate for a separate vote. President Joe Biden would need to sign the measure into law to avoid a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 19.
House and Senate lawmakers have been trying to come up with a comprehensive budget package that would fund the government through Sept. 30, which is the end of the 2022 fiscal year.
On Monday, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, said lawmakers were making progress on a bigger deal, but more time was needed.
“Our country needs a government funding agreement to create good-paying jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class, and protect our national security,” she said in a statement. “We are close to reaching a framework government funding agreement, but we will need additional time to complete the legislation in full.”
Also read: Here’s how the stock market has performed in past government shutdowns
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