The bill was approved with 366 votes in favor and 34 against, reports Voice of America.
Now the Senate needs to pass this bill in order to send it to President Joe Biden for his signature. The White House has stated that Biden will sign it to ensure the smooth operation of the U.S. government.
The legislation provides for the extension of government funding until March 14, allocates $100 billion for states affected by natural disasters, and includes $10 billion in support measures for farmers. However, the package does not include an increase in the debt ceiling — a complex issue that Trump insisted on addressing before he took office on January 20, notes Reuters.
A government shutdown would disrupt the operations of law enforcement and the U.S. National Park Service, as well as lead to the suspension of paychecks for millions of federal employees. The U.S. Travel Association warned that a government shutdown could result in airline losses of $1 billion per week, disrupt hotel operations — all during the busy Christmas season.