The US Flag.
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Washington: The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed a stopgap government funding bill to avert a partial government shutdown beginning October 1, sending it on to the Senate for approval.
The bill would keep federal agencies operating at current funding levels through November 21, while providing $88 million to protect members of Congress, the executive branch and the Supreme Court from the threat of political violence in the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination.
The Republican-controlled Senate is expected to hold a vote later in the day. At least seven Democrats will have to vote with the Senate's 53 Republicans to pass the measure and send it on to U.S. President Donald Trump to sign into law.
Republicans insist the funding package does not include political policy riders that could discourage bipartisan support. But Democrats are lining up behind an alternate version which would fund federal agencies through October 31, permanently extend healthcare tax credits under the Affordable Care Act and restore Medicaid spending cut by Trump's tax cut legislation.
The annual funding debate covers only about one-quarter of the federal government's $7 trillion budget, which also includes mandatory programs such as Social Security and Medicare, as well as payments on the nation's $37.5 trillion debt.