US House passes stopgap funding bill to avoid govt shutdown

Washington, Dec 10 : The Democrat-led US House of Representatives has passed a one-week stopgap funding bill to avoid a shutdown of the federal government and keep it open through December 18.
On Wednesday, the House passed the bill, known as a continuing resolution, with a vote of 343-67, sending it to the Republican-majority Senate for approval, reports Xinhua news agency.
Current funding for federal government agencies is set to expire on Friday.
The stopgap funding bill would provide more time for lawmakers to negotiate a deal for Covid-19 relief and long-term government funding.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have said that they want to attach a long-awaited Covid-19 relief legislation to an omnibus funding bill, which will keep the government open while providing targeted relief to households and businesses.
“The impact of this pandemic on our hospitals has been catastrophic, with record-breaking numbers of Americans in the ICU and dire bed shortages. Lives are at stake, and we must pass Covid-19 relief as soon as possible,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer tweeted on Wednesday .