US Senate approves spending bill to fund government

Washington, May 5 (IANS) US Senate on Thursday passed a $1.1 trillion of spending bill to fund federal government through September, media reports said.

In a vote of 79-18, the Senate approved the bill which increases defence spending while keeps some Democratic priorities in place, Xinhua news agency reported.

The House already passed the bill Wednesday in a 309-118 vote. The bill will now head to President Donald Trump for signing.

The bill includes $15-billion increase in funding for the defence, and $1.5 billion for border security, but does not include funding for the construction of border wall with Mexico which Trump has required.

The bill also increases funding for NASA, medical research and federal law enforcement agencies.

"Tireless efforts led to a constructive bipartisan agreement that protects important programs like federal disaster relief and avoids dangerous reductions in funding for our armed forces," said Shai Akabas, director of fiscal policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

It's clear that continuous introduction of stopgap funding bills are a barrier to federal agencies operating efficiently and effectively, said Akabas.

US Congress passed at least one temporary funding bill every year since 1997.

"Hopefully fiscal year 2018 will not be the 21st straight fiscal year in which such stopgap measures are used," said Akabas.

After the approval of the bill, the next big budget challenge will now be passing legislation to fund the government for fiscal year 2018 which starts October 1 this year.