WASHINGTON -- The Senate has cleared a stopgap spending measure to avoid shutting down most federal agencies at midnight Saturday.
The measure gives Congress until Dec. 18 to finish seven incomplete spending measures that were supposed to be wrapped up by Sept. 30.
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The bill cleared for President Barack Obama's signature by a 72-28 vote. The House had passed it hours earlier. The legislation, among other things, extends highway programs and federal loan guarantees for larger mortgages.
The anti-shutdown measure was attached to a spending bill for the Interior Department and environmental programs. Lawmakers are pumping billion of dollars into clean and safe-drinking water projects.
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