Stopgap Government Funding Bill Passes Senate

The Senate finished work Thursday and passed a bill that eliminated the threat of federal agency shutdowns Saturday by extending expiring federal funding through Dec. 16

"With a little more good-faith negotiation between Democrats and Republicans, I am hopeful that today's the day we'll finish passing a continuing resolution to fund the government," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a pre-vote Senate speech.

The funding bill also contains more than $12 billion in new military and economic aid to Ukraine.

The House of Representatives is expected to promptly pass the measure and send it to President Joe Biden for signing into law before a midnight Friday deadline.