Ideological battles over government spending have continued since the start of the federal fiscal year on October 1, delaying funding decisions and generating five threatened shutdowns, each of which was averted shortly before the deadline. Financial markets ignored the drama, assuming that a settlement would ultimately prevail.
The US Senate voted 75 to 22 to approve the package, which was negotiated by congressional leaders from the Democratic and Republican parties. The US House of Representatives approved it overwhelmingly earlier this week.
“For people who worry that divided government means doing nothing at all, this bipartisan package says otherwise,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
“It helps parents, veterans, firefighters, farmers, school cafeterias and more.”
The bill includes money for the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, Commerce, Justice, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Energy and Veterans Affairs as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration and NASA.
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Republicans did win a small portion of local funding outside of veterans' health care, but far short of the 22 percent they had hoped for.
Democrats overcame their demands with hundreds of conservative policy changes, from banning abortion medications to cutting funds for investigations into former President Donald Trump.
Republicans were able to make it easier for veterans deemed mentally incompetent to purchase weapons, a provision that prompted some Democrats to vote against the measure.
