Senators unanimously advance shutdown-averting bill

The Senate unanimously agreed to take up the House-passed funding bill on Saturday night, effectively ending the chance of a government shutdown this weekend and punting big funding fights into November.

The stopgap funding bill is expected to pass the chamber by a comfortable margin and head to President Joe Biden’s desk after sailing through the House earlier on Saturday.

“The government will remain open,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, calling the bill a bridge to more talks on Ukraine and other priorities.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) had briefly held up consideration of the bill, livid over the exclusion of Ukraine aid. Before the final passage vote on the stopgap, Senate leaders committed to returning to the Ukraine issue.

“Most Senate Republicans remain committed to helping our friends on the front lines,” said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.