US Congress Averts Government Shutdown by Passing Stopgap Spending Measure

The US House of Representatives has passed a short-term resolution to fund the US government from the period of October 1 through December 9, averting a government shutdown.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The resolution was passed on Wednesday with a vote of 342-85. Earlier, the US Senate voted in favor of the stopgap measure (77-21).

The US Congress had to appropriate funding this week to cover for the start of the 2017 fiscal year, which begins on October 1, in order to avoid a government shutdown.

The passed bill, which still needs to be signed by US President Barack Obama, gives the US government time to negotiate the 2017 budget.