Senate Sends Biden Bill Averting Federal Shutdown

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tells reporters that the Senate will get the work done to fund the government before the Feb. 18 midnight deadline, at the Capitol in Washington, on Feb. 17, 2022. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

WASHINGTON—The Senate has given final approval to legislation averting a weekend government shutdown, sending President Joe Biden a measure designed to give bipartisan bargainers more time to reach an overdue deal financing federal agencies until fall.

Final passage Thursday was by a bipartisan 65–27 vote, five more than the 60 votes needed. The House easily approved the legislation last week. Each party had concluded that an election-year shutdown would be politically damaging, especially during a pandemic and a confrontation with Russia over its possible invasion of Ukraine.